© 2022 Rahman, SMM

LESSON 07: FLOOD

7.1. FLOODPLAIN EVOLUATION

Figure 7.1: River.

Streams do not ordinarily flow in straight lines for very long. Irregularities in the
channel cause local fluctuations in velocity, which result in erosion where the water
flows strongly against the side of the channel and some deposition of sediment where
it slows down a bit. Bends, or meanders, thus begin to Form in the stream. Once a
meander forms, it tends to enlarge and also to shift downstream.

Figure 7.2: Development of river meanders / bends.

So, the bank is broken to sediments producing a low lying plain in between. It happens
in the bending points or meanders due to the flow velocity of the stream.

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Figure 7.3: Formation of meanders and sediment deposition during floods contribute
to development of floodplain.

7.2. FLOOD
The size of an unmodified stream channel is directly related to the quantity of water
that it usually carries. That is, the volume of the channel is approximately sufficient to
accommodate the average maximum discharge reached each year. Much of the year,
the surface of the water is well below the level of the stream banks. In times of higher
discharge, the stream may overflow its banks, or flood. This may happen, to a limited
extent, as frequently as every two to three years with streams in humid regions. More
severe floods occur correspondingly less often.

So, flood is the high-water flow or an overflow of rivers or streams from their natural
or artificial banks, inundating adjacent low-lying areas.

7.3. FLOOD RELATED TERMINOLOGIES

• Floodplain: a low area of land, adjacent to streams or rivers, in which flood
water moves into during a flood.
• Flood Crest: the highest peak elevation of the water level during a flood in a
stream or river.
• Stream Channel: An open conveyance of surface having a bottom and sides in
a linear configuration. Channels can be natural or man-made. Channels have
levees or dikes along their sides to build up their depth.

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• Stream Discharge: The amount of water that passes a specific point on a

watercourse over a given period of time. Rates of discharge are usually
measured in cubic feet per second.
• Dyke / Levee: A man-made structure, usually an earthen embankment often
reinforced with soil cement, that is designed to contain or divert the water flow.
• Peak Flow: The maximum rate of flow through a watercourse for a given storm.

7.4. TYPES OF FLOODS

1. Monsoon flood: seasonal, increases slowly and decreases slowly, inundate vast
areas and causes huge loss to the life and property;
2. Flash flood: from sudden torrential flows, following a brief intense rainstorm or
the bursting of a natural or manmade dam or levee;
3. Tidal flood: short duration, height generally 3-6 m, prevents inland flood drainage.
4. Areal: Floods can happen on flat or low-lying areas when water is supplied by
rainfall or snowmelt more rapidly than it can either infiltrate or run off.
5. Riverine (Channel): Floods occur in all types of river and stream channels
6. Estuarine and coastal: Flooding in estuaries is commonly caused by a
combination of storm surges caused by winds and low barometric pressure and
large waves meeting high upstream river flows.
7. Urban flooding: Urban flooding is the inundation of land or property in a built
environment, particularly in more densely populated areas, caused by rainfall
overwhelming the capacity of drainage systems, such as storm sewers.
8. Catastrophic: Catastrophic riverine flooding is usually associated with major
infrastructure failures such as the collapse of a dam

7.5. FLOODS IN BANGLADESH

Bangladesh faces the cumulative effects of floods due to water flashing from nearby
hills, the accumulation of the inflow of water from upstream catchments, and locally
heavy rainfall enhanced by drainage congestion.

Examples of historic floods:

• The catastrophic floods of 1987 occurred throughout July and August (40% of
total land), 30-70 years recurrence.
• The flood of 1988, which was also of catastrophic consequence, occurred
throughout August and September (60%) 50-100 years stayed 15-20 days.

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• In 1998, over 75% of the total area of the country was flooded, including half
of Dhaka.

7.4.1. Causes
Floods in Bangladesh occur for number of reasons. The main causes are _
• Excessive precipitation / monsoon rain: Flood can cause from an increased
amount of precipitation. The primary causes of flood in Bangladesh is thought
to be from the above normal monsoon downpour in the Ganges-Brahmaputra-
Meghna drainage system.
• The confluence of three major rivers, the Ganges, the Brahmaputra and
the Meghna: For the major three rivers (GBM) the synchronization of flood
peaks took place within a two-week time periods causing a sudden increase in
water level causing flood.
• Accumulation of inadequate sediments: It can be a long-term cause of flood.
The average sediment accumulation rate for the last few hundred years in the
coastal areas of Bangladesh is 5-6 mm/year, which is not enough to keep pace
with the rising sea level.
• Long term environmental changes, such as sea level rise: The Ocean is the
final destination of all the rivers. With respect to sea level in an area the land
elevation is measured. Therefore, any change in sea level causes land elevation
to change. An increase in sea level raises the base level of rivers, which in turn
reduces the gradient of river flow and it might cause severe flood in future.
• River’s damming: River damming reduces the velocity of water flow
downstream from the dam. As a result of reduced velocity, the sediments carried
by the river start to settle down faster on the riverbed, causing riverbed
aggradations and in turn reducing the water carrying capacity of the river.
• Soil erosion: The land surface becomes more susceptible to soil erosion
because of Ploughing. The surface run-off can easily wash away the topsoil
from cultivated land. This surface erosion reduces land elevation, which in turn
increases flood intensity in an area.
• Seismic (Earthquake) and Neo-tectonic activities: Earthquake can change the
structure of the region and river courses. The northern regions of Bangladesh
are earthquake-prone. Neo-tectonic activities (recent movements in the Earth's
crust) are affecting river courses in the area. Floods of 1988 and 91 are the

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examples. Floods can be either a cause of or an effect of an earthquake. Flood

water places an extra hydrostatic pressure on unstable and mobile crustal blocks.
If this extra pressure reaches the threshold strain limit along a fault zone or plate
boundary within the Earth's crust, it can cause an earthquake to occur due to a
sudden release of the strain energy accumulated over time. Similarly, an
earthquake can change the surface drainage pattern and consequently the course
of a river, causing sudden flooding in an area.

Other includes _
• Man-made environment
• The influence of tides and cyclones
• low topography and flat slope of the country
• The geographic location and climatic pattern

7.4.2. Consequences
7.4.2.1. Primary hazards
The primary hazards are the effects of floods due to direct contact with the flood waters.
• With higher velocities, streams are able to transport larger particles as suspended
load. These large particles can include not only rocks and sediment, but, during a
flood, could include such large objects as automobiles, houses and bridges.
• Flood waters can produce massive amounts of erosion. Such erosion can weaken
and undermine bridges, levees/dykes, and buildings causing their collapse.
• Water entering human-built structures cause water damage. Even with minor
flooding of homes, furniture is ruined, floors and walls are damaged, and anything
that comes in contact with the water is likely to be damaged or lost. Flooding of
automobiles usually results in damage that cannot easily be repaired.
• Flooding of farmland can result in crop loss. Livestock, pets, and other animals are
often carried away and drown.
• Humans can get caught in the high velocity flood waters and can drown in the water.
• Floodwaters can concentrate garbage, debris, and toxic pollutants that can cause the
secondary effects of health hazards.

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7.4.2.2. Secondary hazards

Secondary hazards are those that occur because of primary hazards.
• Drinking water supplies may be polluted, especially if sewage treatment plants are
within the flooded area. This contamination can result in disease and other health
complications.
• Gas and electrical services can be interrupted.
• Transportation systems can be disrupted as a result food supplies and aid can be
delayed. This has resulted in starvation in lesser developed countries.

7.4.2.3. Long-term hazards

Long term changes
• Location of river channel my change.
• Sediment deposited during flooding may leave farm land in poor condition (all
though silt deposits can increase productivity).
• Destruction of wildlife habitat.

Table: Year-wise flood affected area in Bangladesh.

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7.6. FLOOD FORECASTING DESSIMINATION SYSTEM IN BANGLADESH

Figure 7.4: Flood forecasting dessimination system in Bangladesh.

In LDCs, Flood forecasting and warning in the LDCs is hampered by

• limited access to science and technology,
• poor communication systems, and
• high rates of illiteracy.

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