Coastal Flooding
Geography: Edexcel A Level, topic 3.3.3
Coastal Flooding
Coastal flooding poses a risk to millions of people today because many continue to live near coastlines for recreation and employment purposes. Low-lying coasts are at risk of flooding from local factors and global rises in sea levels.
Example: the Maldives
- In the Maldives, the removal of Mangroves is leading to an increased risk of flooding with increased wave height and less stable cliffs.
- This is because there's a lack of roots in the soil.
- Several factors, such as waste disposal and logging, have caused the soil to lack roots.
- The disturbance and removal of the Mangroves is leading to increased wave energy and height. This is because the trees would normally act as a barrier, helping to dissipate the wave’s energy before it reaches land.
Example: Bangladesh
- In Bangladesh, storm surges threaten the lives of those living near the coast.
- The rate of coastal erosion is expected to increase in the future if storm surge events continue to rise.
- The risk associated with storm surges in the Bay of Bengal is because Bangladesh is so low-lying.
Impacts of climate change
- Climate change is changing the frequency and intensity of low-pressure depressions and tropical storms.
- Rising global temperatures are causing our oceans to warm, triggering these low-pressure systems.
- This increases the risk of coastal flooding and creates unusual weather conditions.
Test yourself on Coastal Flooding
What threatens the lives of people living near the coast in Bangladesh?