A Spatiotemporal Analysis of The Impacts of The Natural and Human-Induced Factors on Flood Exposure in Coastal Region of Bangladesh

Date of Award

4-2024

Degree Name

Master of Science

Department

Geography

First Advisor

Laiyin Zhu, Ph.D.

Second Advisor

Kathleen M. Baker, Ph.D.

Third Advisor

Lei Meng, Ph.D.

Keywords

Flood exposure, land cover changes, precipitation variability, trend analysis

Access Setting

Masters Thesis-Abstract Only

Restricted to Campus until

4-1-2034

Abstract

Flooding is one of the most frequent and devastating hazards globally among climate change impacts. It is important to identify the driving factors to the increasing trend of flood hazards and their casualties. This research aims to develop a spatiotemporal analysis of the impact of different natural and human-induced factors on flood exposure in the coastal region of Bangladesh over 20 years (2000-2019). Those factors include precipitation variability, land cover changes, and tropical storm surge events. We collected the data from different sources including satellite imagery, land cover maps, climate reanalysis, etc. Additionally, a field survey was conducted in a potential flood-affected zone to explore the socio-economic perspective that may influence their flood exposure. Spatial and temporal changes in flooded areas and precipitation variability had been studied using the Mann-Kendall test and Sen’s Slope Estimator. Subsequently, we analyzed land cover changes and tropical cyclone activities across the study area. A significant decreasing trend in precipitation was found during the last 72 years, along with shifts in land cover from cropland and vegetated areas to built-up areas and barren lands and a recurring trend in cyclone activities. Furthermore, findings from our survey underscored the significance of poor socio-economic status and infrastructure as influential variables for their flood exposure. The culmination of the study's findings greatly contributes to flood disaster mitigation and adaptation strategies in Bangladesh's vulnerable coastal regions.

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