COASTS: Bangladesh

Question 1

how have local factors increased flood risk in Bangladesh?

Answer 1

a

Question 2

how has global sea level rise increased flood risk in Bangladesh?

Answer 2

a

Question 3

key facts Cyclone Sidr

Answer 3

2007 Cyclone Sidr hit southwest Bangladesh

40% of all recorded storm surges have occurred in Bangladesh

Bangladesh is most at risk from sea-level rise (between 6 and 20mm a year)

1.5m rise in sea level would flood 22,000km2 and displace between 15million and 17million people

much of the country is a very low-lying river delta, only 1 to 3m above sea level

cyclones in Bangladesh case many metres of coastal erosion and can reshape whole stretches of coastline

wetter environments by the sea and rivers become breeding ground for diseases such as Cholera and Malaria

category 4 tropical cyclone, 240km/h winds

storm surge reached 10m in places

Question 4

impacts of Cyclone Sidr

Answer 4

caused $1.7 billion in damage (mostly to houses)

coastal flooding affected 3 million households

2 million people lost their source of income