Flooding In Wales And Bangladesh
Published on Nov 24, 2015
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FLOODING IN WALES AND BANGLADESH
LAURA WILLIAMS 12k
I decided I wanted to find out about the causes and impacts of flooding in Bangladesh compared to Wales and how the flood risk is managed.
Photo by vgm8383
WHY DID I CHOOSE BANGLADESH?
- Low lying country which often suffers from flooding
- I would see contrasts between Bangladesh and Wales
I chose to compare Wales to Bangladesh because it is a Less Economically Developed Country and it is a low lying country which often suffers from flooding. 80% of the country is just five metres above sea level and rising sea levels due to climate change are having a huge impact on the country. The fact it is an LEDC means the government may not be able to invest as much money into flood protection as we can in Wales.
Photo by insane_capture
FLOODING
- Flooding is a controversial issue and affects many people
- 1 in 8 people in Wales are at risk from flooding
- The flood risk varies depending on where you live
- It is increasingly becoming a news item due to flash floods or the development of brownfield sites
- £32.2 billion is spent on flood management in Wales
Flooding is a controversial issue in many countries and affects many people; their homes may be flooded or people may experience travel disruption. One in eight people in Wales are at risk from flooding and although the flood risk varies depending on where you live, it is increasingly becoming a news item, sometimes due to huge flash floods or because of the increasing development of brownfield sites. We hear of budget cuts in the news and some may argue that the amount spent on flood management in Wales should not be cut, but increased, to account for the possible increase in flooding due to climate change and rising sea levels.
Photo by @Doug88888
CLIMATE CHANGE
- The UK has experienced heavy floods over the last decade
- Some computer predictions show an increase of more extreme weather events in the future
- Just over two million homes are at risk from flooding in England and Wales
- To tackle this problem we need to adapt our homes
- We can do this by building them on higher ground and away from floodplains
The UK in general has experienced heavy floods over the past decade, which have affected lots of people and caused millions of pounds of damage. Although it is impossible to be sure if this flooding was a result of climate change, some computer predictions show an increase of more extreme weather events in the future combined with increased temperatures.
According to the Environment Agency, just over two million homes and many businesses are at risk from flooding in England and Wales. To tackle this, it seems important to adapt our homes to cope with flooding by building them on higher ground and away from floodplains.
According to the Environment Agency, just over two million homes and many businesses are at risk from flooding in England and Wales. To tackle this, it seems important to adapt our homes to cope with flooding by building them on higher ground and away from floodplains.
Photo by Billy Wilson Photography
FLOODING IN LESS DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
- Buildings may not be as good a quality as in MEDCs
- There may be less money to spend on flood defences or management
- Flooding in Bangladesh has left millions homeless and many permanently displaced
Flooding in many less developed countries can have much more serious implications as buildings may not be constructed to as good a quality as in more developed countries , and there may be less money to spend on flood defences or management. Flooding in areas like Bangladesh has left millions homeless and many permanently displaced , but coastal areas around the world will also be at risk as sea levels rise.
Photo by REM (rembcc)
What are the causes of flooding in Wales and Bangladesh?
My first subquestion is What are the causes of flooding in Wales and Bangladesh?
Flooding can be caused by a number of factors and these vary from place to place depending on the make up of the drainage basin system. There can be natural and human causes of flooding.
Flooding can be caused by a number of factors and these vary from place to place depending on the make up of the drainage basin system. There can be natural and human causes of flooding.
Photo by tommaync
CAUSES IN BANGLADESH
- Much of the land is a flat delta which easily floods
- Confluence of the Meghna, Brahmaputra and Ganges
Bangladesh sees a high number of floods; one reason for this is that it is a very low lying country and over 70% of the country is less than one metre above sea level.
After major floods in 1998, Bangladesh was unable to control the sudden increase in river flow from rain and snowmelt in the Himalayas, so all the country could do each year is predict the flow and prepare for the worst.
The country receives large amounts of water because it holds the confluence of the rivers Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna. These rivers all have high volumes of water so could easily flood much of the country. There are many tributaries to these three main rivers and 10% of the land in Bangladesh is made up of lakes or rivers.
After major floods in 1998, Bangladesh was unable to control the sudden increase in river flow from rain and snowmelt in the Himalayas, so all the country could do each year is predict the flow and prepare for the worst.
The country receives large amounts of water because it holds the confluence of the rivers Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna. These rivers all have high volumes of water so could easily flood much of the country. There are many tributaries to these three main rivers and 10% of the land in Bangladesh is made up of lakes or rivers.
Photo by Alcove of Dreams
Untitled Slide
- Heavy rainfall due to its location near the Himalayas
- Snowmelt in spring
Bangladesh has a subtropical monsoon climate. It experiences hot, humid summers from march to June, a cool and rainy season from June to October and a cool and dry winter from October to March. There is often heavy rainfall because of its location near the Himalayas. Areas in north East Bangladesh can receive over 4000mm of rain per year. Bangladesh receives over 80% of its rainfall in the monsoon season.
The graph shows the highest amount if rainfall is in June and July and the least rainfall is in December and January, which only have one or two days of rain during the month.
In the spring, the snow in the Himalayas melts and there is a sudden increase in the amount of water in the river channel which can overspill and flood the land.
The graph shows the highest amount if rainfall is in June and July and the least rainfall is in December and January, which only have one or two days of rain during the month.
In the spring, the snow in the Himalayas melts and there is a sudden increase in the amount of water in the river channel which can overspill and flood the land.
CAUSES IN WALES
- Most of Wales is within 10 miles of one of a river or it's tributaries
- Maritime climate often cloudy, wet and windy but mild
- More than 3000mm of rain per year in Snowdonia
- Mostly mountainous relief
In Wales the most common types of flooding are river, coastal, surface water and sewer flooding. There are many pressures on the water system which increase the risk of flooding. These are climate change, housing development and changes in land use. There are also many natural causes of flooding. Perhaps the most significant in Wales is it's heavy rainfall. There are also a number of rivers in Wales especially in some regions and the altitude may affect flooding in some areas.
Most of wales is 10 miles away from a river or its tributaries.
Wales' climate is maritime and the weather is often cloudy, wet and windy but mild. Upland areas often experience harsh weather but thre is milder weather towards the coast. The amount of rainfall Wales receives varies, but is up to 3000mm in Snowdonia and as little as 1000mm per year in more sheltered areas near the coast.
Wales is mostly mountainous and lots of the land is more than 150 metres above sea level. Large areas of Wales are sparsely populated because of the relief in the region.
Most of wales is 10 miles away from a river or its tributaries.
Wales' climate is maritime and the weather is often cloudy, wet and windy but mild. Upland areas often experience harsh weather but thre is milder weather towards the coast. The amount of rainfall Wales receives varies, but is up to 3000mm in Snowdonia and as little as 1000mm per year in more sheltered areas near the coast.
Wales is mostly mountainous and lots of the land is more than 150 metres above sea level. Large areas of Wales are sparsely populated because of the relief in the region.
Photo by c@rljones
What are the impacts of flooding in Wales and Bangladesh?
My second subquestion was what are the impacts of flooding in Wales and Bangladesh. I looked at economic, social and environmental impacts of flooding in the two countries.
Photo by REM (rembcc)
IMPACTS IN BANGLADESH
- 25 million people left homeless in 1998
- Seven million homes destroyed
- One million tonnes of grain imported
- Half a million cattle and poultry lost
Bangladesh experienced severe floods in 1998
Photo by Stuck in Customs
Untitled Slide
- Deposition of silt
- 20% decrease in production - reduced export industry
- Roads and villages wrecked
- Villages destroyed
Roads and railways were swept away by the floodwater which made rescue operations difficult. Phone lines were also affected by the water making rescue and business efforts difficult. Roads and bridges were wrecked and villages destroyed . During a flood, silt is deposited which creates land people can live on, for example the Ganges delta. This land is usually temporary but can be used for farming for a short period of time.
Bangladesh's export industries saw a 20% decrease in production after the 1998 floods. Over 400 clothing factories were forced to close and the floods cost the country $1 billion.
Bangladesh's export industries saw a 20% decrease in production after the 1998 floods. Over 400 clothing factories were forced to close and the floods cost the country $1 billion.
Photo by ecstaticist
IMPACTS IN WALES
- Roads forced to close and Talybont bridge damaged
- Shops and businesses forced to close
- Residual danger from bio hazards from sewerage and other contaminants
During flooding in 2012, 1000 people had to be evacuated from mid Wales, many of these were from holiday parks, and 150 people had to be rescued. Roads were forced to close and a bridge in Talybont was damaged. Flooding in fields damaged crops which had economic repercussions. Last year, shops in. Cardiff were forced to close due to flash flooding. Villages in Ceredigion were flooded by 5 ft of water and there were high river levels in Aberystwyth and residual danger from bio hazards from sewerage and other contaminants that could have entered the water.
Photo by The Ancient Brit.
What physical and human management strategies are used in the country?
My last subquestion was What physical and human strategies are used in the country?
Photo by geographyalltheway.com
MANAGEMENT IN BANGLADESH
- Distribution of free seed to farmers and cereal to feed people
- Construction of flood protection shelters
- Emergency medical stores set up
- Creation of embankments along Ganges and Brahmaputra
Photo by Water and Food
FLOOD ACTION PLAN INTRODUCED
- Boats to rescue people
- Repair and rebuild houses
- Reduce deforestation in Nepal and Himalayas
- Build 7 large dams in Bangladesh
Photo by NASA Goddard Photo and Video
MANAGEMENT IN WALES
- Six year strategy for tackling flood risk
- Control of development in areas of high flood risk
- Sandbags provided to individual properties at risk
- Early warning system
Photo by USACE HQ
CONCLUSION
- I used primary and secondary sources
- I divided my investigation into subquestions
Photo by REM (rembcc)
Compared to Wales, the floods Bangladesh experiences are much more severe and much more devastating economically, socially and environmentally. It could be said that Welsh floods are safer and have a much quicker recovery and repair system.
Photo by rjrgmc28
Flooding is a bigger problem in Bangladesh than in Wales.
Although the causes of flooding vary between the two countries, we can see flooding is not such a major problem in Wales but it is one of Bangladesh's largest problems and the Bangladeshi government needs to work with nongovernmental and aid organisations to tackle the problem.
Photo by hangdog
EVALUATION
- Stick to my plan
- Use a number of different sources
- Space out workload
I think that I worked well and was organised in how I tackled the investigation. I tried to stick to my plan as much as possible and amended it during the project if I needed to.
If I was going to do this investigation again I would gain research from different sources available to me at both the school library and Rhydypenau library. I would also space out my work load so I don't leave it all to the last minute and make sure I kept my targets I set each week.
If I was going to do this investigation again I would gain research from different sources available to me at both the school library and Rhydypenau library. I would also space out my work load so I don't leave it all to the last minute and make sure I kept my targets I set each week.
Photo by Literary Gal
Untitled Slide
- There was much more information on Bangladesh than Wales
- I could have compared the impacts and management better if the country was more similar to Wales
I found that there was huge amount if information on flooding in Bangladesh but not very much information about Wales' flooding. Perhaps my investigation could have been improved by comparing Wales to a country that differs from Wales less I could draw better comparisons. I could have compared Wales to another rich, developed country such as another MEDC.
Photo by [eric]
