Climate Change and Sea Level Rise in Bangladesh

This chapter reviews the complexities of estimating global sea level rise (SLR). Using global mean sea level (GMSL) data, based on tide gauge records for nearly 140 years and more recent satellite altimetry data, the authors then review complexities and uncertainties associated with estimating GMSL. This provides a context for interpreting even greater uncertainties with estimating SLR in coastal Bangladesh, since tide gauge data for Bangladesh are available only for a limited number of stations and for a relatively short period of time. In the next section the focus is on SLR as a climatic hazard for Bangladesh resulting from potential inundation of large areas of coastal Bangladesh. Further, using topographic contours and past storm surge records, the authors have made an attempt to delineate SLR risk areas of each of the coastal districts of Bangladesh. They conclude this chapter emphasizing the need for monitoring SLR closely in the context of river sedimentation, which seems to provide conflicting field evidence of land gains in coastal Bangladesh, minimizing the impact of SLR.