The country of Bangladesh possesses one of the greatest threats produced by global warming.The major impact of global warming on Bangladesh can be divided into a few categories. They are:
1. Climate change
2. Sea Level change
3. Changes in the pattern of distribution and density of population.
Climatic change:
In the next 50 years, that is, by 2050 AD the temperature in Bangladesh is expected to rise by 1.5°-2.0°C. As temperature increases on a global scale, the hydrologic cycle will intensify and the rate of evaporation is expected to increase by 12%. This, in turn, will increase the level of precipitation globally. Climate models developed by IPCC indicate that Bangladesh may experience 10-15% more rainfall by 2030 AD. Bangladesh is visited by devastating floods quite frequently. In the past two decades, extensive flooding had occurred in 1987, 1988 and 1998 leading to colossal damages to infrastructures and the destruction of standing crops. An increase in rainfall will only worsen the situation.
In the next 50 years, that is, by 2050 AD the temperature in Bangladesh is expected to rise by 1.5°-2.0°C. As temperature increases on a global scale, the hydrologic cycle will intensify and the rate of evaporation is expected to increase by 12%. This, in turn, will increase the level of precipitation globally. Climate models developed by IPCC indicate that Bangladesh may experience 10-15% more rainfall by 2030 AD. Bangladesh is visited by devastating floods quite frequently. In the past two decades, extensive flooding had occurred in 1987, 1988 and 1998 leading to colossal damages to infrastructures and the destruction of standing crops. An increase in rainfall will only worsen the situation.
Scientists also predict that global warming will increase the frequency and intensity of tropical storms. A high surface temperature of over 27°C of the sea helps in the formation of cyclones. Global warming will raise the sea surface temperature more than what it is now, thus increasing the possibility of cyclone occurrences. Bangladesh has already been experiencing catastrophic cyclones. The one that hit Bangladesh in 1991 claimed 150,000 lives and caused staggering losses to livestock and property. A warmer climate, by increasing the frequency of natural hazards such as floods and cyclones, will further aggravate such situations and negate the development efforts of the country.
Long-term sea level changes will occur due to changes in the global climate. Global warming will cause a thermal expansion of the seawater. A rise in temperature will also melt the polar and alpine glaciers. Since Bangladesh is deltaic, vast areas of the country will be submerged with the rise of the sea level. A Taskforce report predicts that one metre rise in the sea level will lead to loss of about 22,889 sq km of land, which is about 15.8% of the total area of Bangladesh. Furthermore, coastal areas will experience erosion and inundation due to intensification of tidal action. Again, a rise in sea water will enable saline water to intrude inland destroying agricultural land and sweet water sources.
Now let's take a quick look at the effect of sea level rising over Bangladesh:
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Changes in the pattern of distribution and density of population:
Rising sea levels will drown a huge amount of land from the southern coast; as a result about 20 million people will be forced to migrate from there over the year 2050. This will cause serious humanitarian problems in the country:
To sum up, for Bangladesh, the climate changes caused by global warming may lead to more rainfall, massive floods, great cyclones and droughts. However, conservation of the environment and sustainable development strategies will definitely protect the earth and its environment and will particularly save countries like Bangladesh from the catastrophe which can be induced by global warming.
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