MODELING OF THE EFFECT OF SEA LEVEL RISE IN THE COASTAL REGION OF BANGLADESH

The shoreline is rapidly changing due to both natural and anthropogenic forces. Climate change and associated sea level rise will continue to reshape coasts in the future. Bangladesh is located in the low-lying Ganges Delta. This delta is formed by the confluence of the Ganges (local name Padma), Brahmaputra (local name Jamuna), and Meghna rivers and their respective tributaries. The coastal area of Bangladesh occupies over 36,000km² of land. As a delta country, most of Bangladesh is well within the Low Elevation Coastal Zone (LECZ) of 10 meters or less. Ali (1996) and Kintisch (2009) has estimated that, roughly half the nation would be flooded if sea level rises were to reach a meter. The delta of the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna river system affects roughly one third of the nation’s land area and 70% of the population. Fine spatial resolution remotely sensed imagery has considerable potential for mapping a shoreline. Raster analysis on the Global Digital Elevation Model (GDEM) derived from Shuttle Rudder Topographic Mission (SRTM) data provided substantial results on the entire coastal area of Bangladesh. This study models the impact of sea level rise on farmland, settlements, and infrastructure in Bangladesh, applying a few sea level rise scenarios. Results drawn from this research will help the decision makers and planners to rethink about the safety and rehabilitation of this large population.