Edexcel Geography AS/A Level 16 Mark Question - COASTS
78 views 1 purchase
Course
Unit 1 - Dynamic Landscapes
Institution
PEARSON (PEARSON)
This is a 16 marker I completed during my A Levels. 'Evaluate the influence of a country’s level of development in determining the impacts of coastal flooding' It shows how I have progressed to achieve an A*.
Evaluate the influence of a country’s level of development in determining the impacts of
coastal flooding (16 marks)
Bangladesh, to the east of India on the Bay of Bengal, is a South Asian country. It is
particularly vulnerable to flooding for several reasons. Its high population density, land
height and location all play a role in making this country so vulnerable to flooding.
Bangladesh is the world's most densely populated country. It is also a LIC with lots of
poverty and the quality of life is poor. Due to densely populated villages and towns, the
government has little control over housing regulations as people construct their own. Also,
46% of the country’s population live less than 10m above sea level, meaning that they are
even more vulnerable to floods in these areas and dont have much relief in their flood
season. As poverty is apparent all over the country, people don't have the education or the
money to build houses that are resistant to flooding when storm surges are at their highest.
The government doesn't have that much money in taxes as the citizens don't earn a large
salary. This means that the government doesn't have the money to spend on response to
floods and the destruction that comes with them. As coastal, rural areas are very vulnerable
to flooding, people are forced to move inland where there is work, and these areas tend to
be already densely populated cities. This creates more poverty in the cities as there isn’t
always work that pays well which contributes to the cycle of deprivation in the slums
decreasing the quality of life. This also lowers life expectancy and literacy rates, and birth
rates increase leading to an even more dense population - and the country can't develop
economically or socially without addressing the flooding, which is virtually impossible.
The government also doesn't have the money to invest in coastal defences. In HICs, sea
walls are very effective toward storm surges, but as the Bangladeshi government doesn’t
have enough money to build effective coastal defences, the coasts are left vulnerable to
storm surges brought by tropical storms and cyclones. Embankments were built around
islands that have sunk due to deforestation for farming to prevent the impact of flooding.
However, these embankments prevent the natural deposition of sediment on the coasts,
which increases the impacts of coastal erosion, lowering the height of the islands. Also, the
geography of Bangladesh is very hard to protect from storm surges. Bangladesh lies on flood
plains of 3 major rivers - Brahmaputra, Meghna and Ganges. The three converge in
Bangladesh and flow through to the Bay of Bengal. Bangladesh also lies below Nepal, which
is a highly mountainous area. As increased snowmelt, due to global warming, flows into
rivers such as the Ganges, more water is flowing through Bangladesh, making the country
more susceptible to floods regardless of them being in their flood season caused by storm
surges.
One coastal defence that Bangladesh has that is naturally occurring is mangroves. Mangrove
forests are found in tropical and sub-tropical places and provide natural protection against
waves and coastal erosion. Bangladesh has the largest remaining mangrove forest in the
world. These forests are one of the most productive and complex ecosystems on the planet.
They are essential to biodiversity as they stabilise coastlines against erosion, collect
sediments and provide habitat for coastal fish. Their most beneficial attribute to humans is
that they provide protection and shelter against extreme weather events as they absorb and
disperse surges and wave power. They also grow extremely fast so are quick to implement,
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller saharaghida06. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $3.91. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
