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Dynamics and Causes of Sea Level Rise in the Coastal Region of Southwest Bangladesh at Global, Regional, and Local Levels
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Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
Global greenhouse gas emissions have caused sea level rise (SLR) at a global and local
level since the industrial revolution, mainly through thermal expansion and ice melting. Projections
indicate that the acceleration of SLR will increase in the near future. This will affect coastal and
deltaic populations worldwide, such as in Bangladesh, where almost half of the population resides in
regions lower than 5 m above sea level. This study found three coastal tidal gauges and five deltaic
gauge stations, which showed increases in SLR at greater rates than the regional and global averages.
This research also used satellite altimetry data to analyze regional and global SLR averages in the
recent past and the 21st century. There is a trend towards increasing sea level based on results from
three tide gauge stations: Char Changa with 7.6 mm/yr, Hiron Point at 3.1 mm/yr from 1993 to
2019, and 14.5 mm/yr at Cox’s Bazar from 1993 to 2011. Based on the linear trend from these time
frames, it is projected that SLR in Char Changa will increase by 228 mm from 2020 to 2050, and by
608 mm by 2100, at Hiron Point by 93 mm in 2050 and 248 mm by 2100, and at Cox’s Bazar by almost
435.7 mm by 2050, and more than 1162 mm by 2100. Based on an average from satellite altimeters,
assuming a linear increase in SLR, the Bay of Bengal shows an increase of 0.4 mm compared to the
global trend. Other river delta stations in the study area also show increasing SLR, specifically, at
Kalaroa, Benarpota, Kaikhali, Tala Magura, and Elarchari. Kalaroa and Benarpota show the highest,
with SLR of >40 mm/yr. It is also observed that increasing SLR trends are far higher than coastal tide
gauges, indicating that physical processes in the delta region are affecting SLR, further contributing
to either an increase in water volume/SLR or activating land subsidence. This is partly due to the
subsidence of the delta as a result of natural and anthropomorphic effects, as well as an increase in
Himalayan glacier melting due to global warming. This indicates that Bangladesh coastal areas will
soon experience a far greater SLR than the rest of the Bay of Bengal or other global coastal areas.
Description
Keywords
South Western Coastal Region (SWCR) Bangladesh Tide gauge Satellite altimetry Land subsidence Sea level rise River delta
Pedagogical Context
Citation
Ashrafuzzaman, M., Santos, F.D., Dias, J.M., Cerdà, A. (2022). Dynamics and Causes of Sea Level Rise in the Coastal Region of Southwest Bangladesh at Global, Regional, and Local Levels. Journal of Marine Science and Engeniring, 10, 779