Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Sea-Level Rise Along the Coast of Bangladesh

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Disaster Risk Reduction Approaches in Bangladesh

Part of the book series: Disaster Risk Reduction ((DRR))

Abstract

Sea-level rise along the Bangladesh coast was estimated using tide gauge data. It showed considerable variation in sea-level change in different parts of the coastal zone. The tide gauge station at Hiron Point in the Sundarbans showed a SLR of 3.38 mm/year. SLR at Reyenda and Amtali was observed as 3.64 and 3.16 mm/year, respectively. Sea-level rise along the central coast was observed as 5.73 mm/year at Char Changa station in Hatiya. The station in Companiganj, representing the Noakhali Feni coastal zone, showed a SLR of 2.5 mm/year. Sea-level change along the eastern part of the coast showed very low rise or fall. Sadarghat station in the Chittagong coastal zone showed a sea-level fall of 11.75 mm/year. Sea-level rise calculated from the PSMSL dataset was observed as 1.36 mm/year at the Cox’s Bazar station. However, similar calculations from BIWTA in Moheshkhali and Teknaf showed a sea-level fall of 5.59 and 8.33 mm/year, respectively. Additionally, Physical vulnerability of the coast towards sea-level change was assessed revealing that the coastal areas along Patuakhali and Bhola Districts and Hatiya Island are very high vulnerable and the coastal areas along the Sundarbans and Barguna coastal zones are high vulnerable. The Noakhali Feni coastal zone is moderately vulnerable in terms of sea-level change. Vulnerability along the eastern part of the coast is very low.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 149.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 199.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 199.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Abuodha P, Woodroffe CD (2010) Assessing vulnerability to sea-level rise using a coastal sensitivity index: a case study from southeast Australia. J Coast Conservat 14:189–205

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ali A (2000) Vulnerability of Bangladesh coastal region to climate change with adaptation option. Bangladesh Space Research and Remote Sensing Organization (SPARRSO), Dhaka

    Google Scholar 

  • Bala B, Hossain M (2010) Modeling of food security and ecological footprint of coastal zone of Bangladesh. Environ Dev Sustain 12:511–529

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Begum S, Fleming G (1997) Climate change and sea level rise in Bangladesh, part I: numerical simulation. Mar Geodes 20:33–53

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Choudhury AM, Haque MA, Quadir DA (1997) Consequences of global warming and sea level rise in Bangladesh. Mar Geodes 20:13–31

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Church JA, White NJ (2006) A 20th century acceleration in global sea-level rise. Geophys Res Lett 33:L01602

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cruz RV, Harasawa H, Lal M, Wu S, Anokhin Y, Punsalmaa B, Honda Y, Jafari M, Li C, Ninh NH (2007) Asia. In: Parry ML, Canziani OF, Palutikof JP, von der Linden PJ, Hanson CE (eds) Climate change 2007: impacts, adaptation and vulnerability. Contribution of working group II to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp 469–506

    Google Scholar 

  • Douglas BC (1997) Global sea rise: a determination. Surv Geophys 18:279–292

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dwarakish GS, Vinay SA, Natesan U, Asano T, Kakinuma T, Venkataramana K, Pai BJ, Babita MK (2009) Coastal vulnerability assessment of the future sea level rise in Udupi coastal zone of Karnataka state, west coast of India. Ocean Coast Manag 52:467–478

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Emanuel K (2005) Increasing destructiveness of tropical cyclones over the past 30 years. Nature 436:686–688

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Emery KO, Aubrey DG (1989) Tide Gauges of India. J Coast Res 5:489–501

    Google Scholar 

  • Goodbred SL, Kuehl SA (2000) Enormous Ganges–Brahmaputra sediment discharge during strengthened early Holocene monsoon. Geology 28:1083–1086

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gornitz V (1991) Global coastal hazards from future sea level rise. Palaeogeogr Palaeoclimatol Palaeoecol (Glob Planet Chang Sect) 89:379–398

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gornitz V, Kanciruk P (1989) Assessment of global coastal hazards from sea level rise. In: Sixth symposium on coastal and ocean management, Charleston, ASCE

    Google Scholar 

  • Gornitz V, White TW (1991) The global coastal hazards data base. In: Future Climate Studies and Radio-Active Waste Disposal, Safety Studies. Norwich, England, 214–224

    Google Scholar 

  • Gornitz VM, Daniels RC, White TD, Birdwell KR (1994) The development of a coastal risk assessment database: vulnerability to sea-level rise in the U.S. Southeast J Coastal Res (Special Issue No 12):327–338

    Google Scholar 

  • Gornitz VM, Beaty TW, Daniels RC (1997) A coastal hazards data base for the U S West Coast. Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, ORNL/CDIAC-81, NDP-043C, Oak Ridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Groisman PY, Knight RW, Karl TR, Easterling DR, Sun B, Lawrimore JH (2004) Contemporary changes of the hydrological cycle over the contiguous United States: trends derived from in situ observations. J Hydrometeorol 5:64–85

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Haigh I, Nicholls R, Wells N (2009) Mean sea level trends around the English Channel over the 20th century and their wider context. Continent Shelf Res 29:2083–2098

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • IPCC (2007) Summary for policy makers. In: Climate Change 2007: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability. Contribution of Working Group II to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Parry ML, Canziani OF, Palutikof JP, van der Linden PJ, Hanson CE (Eds.), Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK, 7–22

    Google Scholar 

  • Islam T, Peterson RE (2009) Climatology of landfalling tropical cyclones in Bangladesh 1877–2003. Nat Hazards 48:115–135

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Karim MF, Mimura N (2008) Impacts of climate change and sea-level rise on cyclonic storm surge floods in Bangladesh. Glob Environ Chang 18:490–500

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Khan TMA, Singh OP, Rahman MS (2000) Recent sea level and sea surface temperature trends along the Bangladesh coast in relation to the frequency of intense cyclones. Mar Geodes 23:103–116

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Khan MSH, Parkash B, Kumar S (2005) Soil-landform development of a part of the fold belt along the eastern coast of Bangladesh. Geomorphology 71:310–327

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Khandker H (1997) Mean sea level in Bangladesh. Mar Geodes 20:69–76

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Knutson TR, McBride JL, Chan J, Emanuel K, Holland G, Landsea C, Held I, Kossin JP, Srivastava AK, Sugi M (2010) Tropical cyclones and climate change. Nat Geosci 3:157–163

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Malik M (1988) Fear of flooding: global warming could threaten low-lying Asia-Pacific countries. Far East Econ Rev 142:20–21

    Google Scholar 

  • Meehl GA, Washington WM, Collins WD, Arblaster JM, Hu A, Buja LE, Strand WG, Teng H (2005) How much more global warming and sea level rise? Science 307(5716):1769–1772

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Milliman JD, Broadus JM, Gable F (1989) Environmental and economic implications of rising sea level and subsiding deltas: The Nile and Bengal examples. Ambio 18:340–345

    Google Scholar 

  • Morgan JP, McIntire WG (1959) Quaternary geology of the Bengal Basin: East Pakistan and India. Bull Geol Soc Am 70:319–342

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nicholls RJ, Wong PP, Burkett VR, Codignotto JO, Hay JE, McLean RF, Ragoonaden S, Woodroffe CD (2007) Coastal systems and low-lying areas. In: Parry ML, Canziani OF, Palutikof JP, von der Linden PJ, Hanson CE (eds) Climate change 2007: impacts, adaptation and vulnerability. Contribution of working group II to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Oliver-Smith A (2009) Sea level rise and the vulnerability of coastal peoples: responding to the local challenges of global climate change in the 21st century. UNU Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU EHS), Bonn

    Google Scholar 

  • Ortiz CAC (1994) Sea-level rise and its impact on Bangladesh. Ocean Coast Manag 23:249–270

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ozyurt G, Ergin A (2010) Improving coastal vulnerability assessments to sea-level rise: a new indicator-based methodology for decision makers. J Coast Res 26:265–273

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sarwar GM (2005) Impacts of sea level rise on the coastal zone of Bangladesh. MSc Thesis, Lund University, Lund

    Google Scholar 

  • Sarwar GM, Khan MH (2007) Sea level rise: a threat to the coast of Bangladesh, Internationales Asien Forum. Int Q Asian Stud 38:375–397

    Google Scholar 

  • Shaw J, Taylor RB, Solomon S, Christian HA, Forbes DL (1998) Potential impacts of global sea-level rise on Canadian coasts. Can Geogr 42:365–379

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Singh OP (2002) Spatial variation of sea level trend along the Bangladesh coast. Mar Geodes 25:205–212

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Umitsu M (1997) Landforms and floods in the Ganges delta and coastal lowland of Bangladesh. Mar Geodes 20:77–87

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Unnikrishnan AS, Shankar D (2007) Are sea-level-rise trends along the coasts of the north Indian Ocean consistent with global estimates? Glob Planet Chang 57:301–307

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • WARPO (2006) Coastal Development Strategy. Ministry of Water Resources, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, Dhaka

    Google Scholar 

  • Warrick RA, Ahmad QK (eds) (1996) The implications of climate and sea level change for Bangladesh. Kluwer, Dordrecht, pp 1–415

    Google Scholar 

  • Webster PJ, Holland GJ, Curry JA, Chang HR (2005) Changes in tropical cyclone number, duration, and intensity in a warming environment. Science 309:1844–1846

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • White NJ, Church JA, Gregory JM (2005) Coastal and global averaged sea level rise for 1950 to 2000. Geophys Res Lett 32:L01601

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Woodroffe CD, Nicholls RJ, Saito Y, Chen Z, Goodbred SL (2006) Landscape variability and the response of Asian Megadeltas to environmental change: the Asia-Pacific region. In: Harvey N (ed) Global change and integrated coastal management. Springer, the Netherlands, pp 277–314

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Woodworth PL (1991) The permanent service for mean sea level and the global sea level observing system. J Coast Res 7:699–710

    Google Scholar 

  • Woodworth PL, Player R (2003) The permanent service for mean sea level: an update to the 21st century. J Coast Res 19:287–295

    Google Scholar 

  • Woodworth PL, Teferle FN, Bingley RM, Shennan I, Williams SDP (2009) Trends in UK mean sea level revisited. Geophys J Int 176:19–30

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Woodworth PL, Gehrels WR, Nerem RS (2011) Nineteenth and twentieth century changes in sea level. Oceanography 24:80–93

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

I acknowledge guidance by and inputs from Professor Colin Woodroffe. However, mistakes remain with me. Additional advices received from A/Prof. Brian Jones are also acknowledged. Dr. Aminul Islam encouraged submitting the paper to this book. Engineer Ahmed Sayeed (BIWTA) helped in data collection stage. This research was done as part of my PhD research at the University of Wollongong (UoW), Australia; with financial supports from Australian Leadership Award (ALA) Fellowship. Mapping was done using resources at the Spatial Analysis Lab (SAL), UoW, Australia.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Bangladesh Unnayan Parishad (BUP), Dhaka, Bangladesh

    Md. Golam Mahabub Sarwar

Authors
  1. Md. Golam Mahabub Sarwar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Md. Golam Mahabub Sarwar .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Kyoto University, Yoshida-Honmachi, Kyoto, 606-8501, Japan

    Rajib Shaw

  2. , DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE, BRAC University, 66 MOHAKHALI , DHAKA 1212, Dhaka, ---, Bangladesh

    Fuad Mallick

  3. , SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT UNDP, UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME (UN, IDB BHABAN, SHER-E-BANGLA NAGAR, DHAKA 1207, Dhaka, ---, Bangladesh

    Aminul Islam

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2013 Springer Japan

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Sarwar, M.G.M. (2013). Sea-Level Rise Along the Coast of Bangladesh. In: Shaw, R., Mallick, F., Islam, A. (eds) Disaster Risk Reduction Approaches in Bangladesh. Disaster Risk Reduction. Springer, Tokyo. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-54252-0_10

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation