2018-Session 22

Flood
Flood Plains
Plains
Flood
Flood and
and
Flooding
Flooding

Professor Abdul Baqee

BANGLADESH STUDIES Department of Geography and Environment
Human 1103 : Bangladesh Studies 1
University of Dhaka
A floodplain or flood plain is an area, that stretches from
the banks of a river and to the valley walls and
experiences high discharge during the periods of heavy
down pour.

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Floodplains include the
In other words, a floodplain
floodway, which is an area of a river which
consists of the stream inundates during rains and
channel and adjacent make flood stage.
areas that actively carry
flood flows to the
downstream.

The flood fringe, is

the areas inundated by
the flood, but which do
not experience a strong
current.

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When a river breaks its
banks and floods, it leaves
behind layers of alluvium
(silt).
Flood plains are usually made by a
meander with eroding sideways as
they travel downstream.
Floodplains generally contain sand,
gravel, loam, silt, and/or clay, and make
water filtered as they go down inside
the earth cover.
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Defining
Flood
….. an
overflowing of a
large amount of
water beyond its
normal confines
(natural levee),
especially over
what remains Therefore,
dry. 75% of Bangladesh is
Bangladesh is a
less than 10m above nation very much at
the sea level and 80% is risk of widespread
flood plain. damage.
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Floods
Inundation
…… the rising of a body of water and its
overflowing onto normally dry land;
“floodplains flooded by annual
inundations”
Deluge
….. extreme flood event that disrupts lives
and properties especially agriculture,
infrastructure etc.
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 Flooding

Flooding
happens during
heavy rains,
when rivers
overflow, when
snow melts too
Flooding may be only a few inches of fast or when
water or it may cover a house to the dams or levees
rooftop (Federal Emergency break.
Management Agency: FEMA). 9/18
Flood Plains of Bangladesh
1 Old Himalayan Floodplain
2. Teesta Floodplain
3. Brahmaputra Jamuna Floodplain
4. Ganges Floodplain
5. Meghna Floodplain
6. Surma-Kushiara Floodplain
7. Ganges Tidal Floodplain
8. Meghna Estuarine Floodplain
9. Ctg Coastal Floodplain

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Major Causes of Floods (in Bangladesh)
Heavy rainfall and melting of snow in the upstream and
consequent high water levels in the rivers.

Synchronization of peak flows in the major rivers causing

drainage congestion in the mouth.

Reduction of rivers’ carrying capacity due to heavy silt

loads or gradual rise of riverbed.

High tide in the Bay of Bengal accompanied by heavy

winds that obstruct drainage of the upland
discharge.

Storm surges due to tropical disturbances/cyclones in the

Bay of Bengal.
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Types of Floods
Monsoon/river Floods
Rainwater Floods
Flash Floods
Tidal Floods

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Monsoon/River Flood
Monsoon Floods
can be described as Snowmelt in the High
the slow rise of Himalayas, and heavy
water levels and rainfall in the Himalayan
gradual inundation mountains;
over large areas.
Assam-Tripura Hills and the
Upper Brahmaputra

Ganges floods outside BD

mainly cause monsoon
floods.
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Rainwater Flood
Heavy rainfall
occurring in the
floodplains within
BD can cause
rainwater flood.

The extent, depth and duration of

rainwater flood depend on the
amount and intensity of local
rainfall.

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Flash-Flood
Floods that happen very quickly are
called flashfloods.

It refers to intense rainfall in a

relatively short period of time.

Due to excessive rainfall in the hills or upstream and

massive damage to agricultural crops, human lives and
properties are very common.

Dam or levee failure is common.

Northeastern and southwestern part of

Bangladesh are vulnerable to flash-flood.
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Factors Contributing
Flash Floods
-- Rainfall (intensity and duration)
-- Topography
-- Soil condition
-- Ground cover
-- Drainage basin network

-- Local climatic conditions

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Tidal
Flood
The occurrence of
tropical cyclones in
the coastal areas of
BD, accompanied The extent of storm surge floods depends on
by storm surge can several factors;
cause sudden, -- height of surge,
temporary -- relief of the land,
flooding. -- presence or absence of a coastal
embankment etc.
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Floods caused due to Public cuts in
Human Interventions flood protection
embankment
Construction of
embankment/polder
Cuts in coastal
(for instance, Aila
embankment project
inundated huge area
polders (for example; shrimp
within the polder) farming purposes)

Release of water from dams.

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