The Climate Of Bangladesh

Bangladesh has a subtropical monsoon climate characterized by wide seasonal variations in rainfall, moderately warm temperatures, and high humidity. Regional climatic differences in this flat country are minor. Three seasons are generally recognized:

Hot, humid summer from March to June A cool, rainy monsoon season from June to October A cool, dry winter from October to March

In general, maximum summer temperatures range between

32°C and 38°C.

April is the warmest month in most parts of the country.

January is the coldest month, when the average temperature for most of the country is 10°C.

DISASTERS

From March to May, violent thunderstorms, called northwesters by local English speakers, produce winds of up to sixty kilometers per hour.

During the intense storms of the early summer and late monsoon season, southerly winds of more than

160 kilometers per hour cause waves to crest as high as 6 meters in the Bay of Bengal, which brings

disastrous flooding to coastal areas.

Rainfall

Heavy rainfall is characteristic of Bangladesh. With the exception of the

relatively dry western region of Rajshahi, where the annual rainfall is about 160 centimeters, most parts of

the country receive at least 200 centimeters of rainfall per year.

About 80 percent of Bangladesh's rain falls during the

monsoon season.

Between 1947 and 1988, thirteen severe cyclones hit Bangladesh, causing

enormous loss of life and property. In May 1985, for example, a severe

cyclonic storm packing 154 kilometer-per-hour winds and waves 4 meters

high swept into southeastern and southern Bangladesh, killing more than

11,000 persons, damaging more than 94,000 houses, killing some 135,000

head of livestock, and damaging nearly 400 kilometers of critically needed

embankments.

Primary concept on Climate Change

The planet named the Earth is becoming hotter day by day. This global warming is bringing the

problem like climate change and sea level change. For the influence of global warming

advanced sea water will submerge the coastal area with saline water and will increase the

natural calamity day by day.

Adaptation Strategies

Adaptation is defined as any adjustment of physical infrastructure, natural

systems, social and economic activities or institutional arrangements that reduce the vulnerability to climate

change or enhances the opportunities these changes offer (Bangladesh climate change and sustainable

development, World Bank, July, 2001)

Why adaptation is required?

Most of the effect of climate change in Bangladesh is long term, irrevocable and

gradual. In some cases the impact increases the intensity of extreme events. In both cases to

minimize the losses or to increase the effectiveness of mitigation measure it is necessary to implement the anticipatory

adaptation measure. Beside this, to implement or to construct any long term structural

measure it is required to consider the climate change to avoid any affect in the long run.

Risks in Individual Sector

Coastal Zone of Bangladesh

Drainage congestion is one of the important problems in the coastal area. Drainage congestion caused by the high water flow and over sedimentation in the flood plain.

Saline water intrusion is increasing as the sea water encroaches the land due to the sea level rise and Lower River flows.

Coastal land is degrading due to the erosion by the changing dynamics in river flow.

Coastal storm-surges make serious impact on the adjacent area due to the imbalance between the coastal land and the sea level.

Fresh Water Resources

Fresh water availability is decreasing due to the increasing demand (increased population), increase of evapo-transpiration and lower river discharge.

Drainage congestion for the high water flow and increased the level of the bed due to the sedimentation in the flood plain.

Land erosion is increasing due to the change in dynamics in the river flow but not filling up in that way.

Agriculture

Due to the increase in temperature the agricultural production is under threat.

During the flood period a vast area/amount of agricultural product is damaged by the food water.

In the coastal area due to the intrusion of saline water and for the increase in salinity in water and soil the agricultural production is hampered.

Public Health Diarrhea, Cholera and other water born

diseases increases due to climate change.

Reduction of drinking water availability Risk in human lives is increasing with

the increased intensity of extreme events.

Loss in agricultural production cause ultimate threat to the food chain.

Ecosystem and Biodiversity

Increased salinity cause adverse effect on the trees of Sunderban.

Lower river and ground water flow may cause desertification in the coastal zone in some sensitive area.

Increase in temperature reduces the availability of fishes.

Adaptive Measures/Steps in different sectors

To avoid the drainage congestion in the coastal zone it is necessary to make infrastructure for over sedimentation in the flood plain or in the bed.

To protect the morphological change by erosion different structures like- mangrove greenbelt, river training, dams etc can be made.

To minimizing the impact of storm surge, cyclone etc cyclone centre, advanced forecasting system and plantation (mangrove greenbelt) can constructed.

To increase the fresh water availability it is important to increase the flow in upstream and any alternative like water storage can be made.

Improved drainage system after flooding is required to avoid the congestion of fresh water.

To adapt the increased morphological dynamics of the river physical adaptation is required to build protection against bank erosion and dredging of navigation channels.

For improved and efficient irrigation, crops diversification and conjunctive use of surface and ground water is important to reduce the impact of drought.

To provide safe and quality drinking water, water treatment facility can be established.

Adaptive Measures/Steps in different sectors

Sewage treatment is another important issue should consider to keep the local water body clean.

Improved public health education for reproductive health system is essential.

In case of Sundarban a sustainable water flow is required in the water body.

Coastal green belt, agro-forestry is very important as an adaptive measure.

To aware the people about the adaptation of the ecosystem is indispensable.

To adapt different important species of Sundarban can be attempted.

Sources

1. The Library Of Congress Country Studies. 2. www.nccbd.org

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