Modelling the increased frequency of extreme sea levels in the Ganges –Brahmaputra –Meghna delta

Due to sea level rise and other effects of climate change

Abstract

Coastal flooding due to storm surge and high tides is a serious risk for inhabitants of the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna (GBM) delta, as much of the land is close to sea level. Climate change could lead to large areas of land being subject to increased flooding, salinization and ultimate abandonment in West Bengal, India, and Bangladesh.

This study includes a shelf-sea model of the Bay of Bengal which has been used to investigate how the combined effect of sea level rise and changes in other environmental conditions under climate change may alter the frequency of extreme sea level events for the period 1971 to 2099

This research was supported by the Ecosystem Services for Poverty Alleviation (ESPA) programme

Citation

Kay S, Caesar J, Wolf J, Bricheno L, Nicholls RJ, Saiful Islam AK, Haque A, Pardaens A, Lowe JA. Environmental Science Processes and Impacts (2015) Modelling the increased frequency of extreme sea levels in the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna delta due to sea level rise and other effects of climate change Jul;17(7):1311-22. doi: 10.1039/c4em00683f.

Modelling the increased frequency of extreme sea levels in the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna delta due to sea level rise and other effects of climate change

Published 1 January 2015