Climate Changes over Bangladesh Delta: II. Extreme Weather Events and Their Consequences
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M. A. Awal, Laboratory of Plant Ecology, Department of Crop Botany, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh.
Bangladesh is one of the worst victims of climate change as its geo-morphological settings invite some devastating weather shocks. Regular river floods affect 20 percent of the country, increasing up to 68 percent in extreme years. The Sylhet Division is more sensitive to flood followed by the Rangpur or Rajshahi division whereas Barisal and Khulna regions showed as less sensitive to flood. The tropical cyclones stroke Bangladesh coast over the centuries have been increased and a recent analysis of cyclone struck from the past 50 years shown that the event was so frequent that on an average only 1.2-year was enough for a cyclonic hit. The Barisal Division is most sensitive to cyclonic storm followed by Chittagong and Khulna divisions. Severe local storms of meso-scale phenomena such as tornado or Nor’wester locally called ‘Kalboishakhi’ have also occurred with hails, lightning and thunders in Bangladesh that cause great damages in local scale. All of those extreme weathers seriously destroy properties and agricultural activities thus life and livelihood are seriously affected. Evading policy can be adopted for saving life, agricultural enterprises and other properties from extreme weathers.
Climate Shocks, Depression, Extreme Weather, Flood, Kalboishakhi, Nor’wester, Tornado, Tropical Cyclone
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