“The impacts of climate variability and upland land cover on shoreline erosion, and coastal subsidence in the Bangladesh Delta Region”

Abstract : Sea-level rise and coastal subsidence are two of the most significant impacts of climate change in the Bangladesh Delta Region. Bangladesh is one of the most vulnerable countries to the effects of climate change due to its low-lying topography, making it sensitive to sea-level rise, and its dependence on the Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers, making it vulnerable to flooding, land degradation as well as the salinization of freshwater sources. Landcover in the uplands of Bangladesh are largely regulating water flows and sedimentation to the delta. However, deforestation and land-use change in the uplands can also have a negative impact on the delta.

This study attempts to analyze the impacts of climate variables, and changes in upland landcover in deliberation with regional sea-level rise, erosion, and subsidence at a regional scale., This study aims to find a distinctive correlation between these phenomena in a GIS environment. Trend analysis of regional and local sea level rise on Bangladesh coast was taken from  Department of Environment, Ministry of Environment and Forests from 1992 to 2012. GMSL reference  was from AR4 and AR5 from 1901 to 2012. The study would help to anticipate the risk and  planning required on long run to restore coastal ecosystems, and  livelihood security.