Natural Causes of Flooding: Comparison between Bangladesh & the Netherlands:
The flood prone countries of Bangladesh and the Netherlands share similarities in terms of their natural causes. For example, both countries have low terrain which are factors that affect, in that they increase their flood risks. 70% of Bangladesh lies 1 meter above sea level, while half of the Netherlands lies 1 meter above sea level. Also, flooding is caused by precipitation of different forms in the 2 countries, specifically that of snowmelt and rainfall. In Bangladesh, snow from the Himalayas and the melted snow swells the rivers. Similarly in the Netherlands, snow from the Alps mountain range is transferred to the rivers as surface runoff. In relation to their climates, Bangladesh's monsoon seasons forecast torrential rain, especially during the months from May till September. In the Netherlands, showers are also common, but take place evenly across the year.
The main difference that is evident between the 2 countries and their natural causes of flooding is their geographical location. In both countries, geographical positioning plays a fundamental role in determining their proneness to flooding. However, the whereabouts of the 2 countries varies greatly. Bangladesh is located in Southern Asia, whereas the Netherlands is a North-Western European country. In addition, two major rivers, the Ganges and Brahmaputra, flow through Bangladesh, while one main river, the Rhine, flows through the Netherlands. In accordance with location, the countries have different climates. The Netherlands has a maritime climate where the average summer temperature is 18 degrees Celsius. Contrasting with that some 10,000 km away, Bangladesh experiences a tropical climate in which average summer temperatures are 40 degrees Celsius. Finally, both countries are affected by their drainage basins, but ones of different sizes, lengths, and densities. The Netherlends is primarily affected by the Rhine basin, which has an area of nearly 200,000 square kilometers. The Ganges basin that goes through Bangladesh is among the largest in the world, with an area of more than 1.6 million square kilometers.
The main difference that is evident between the 2 countries and their natural causes of flooding is their geographical location. In both countries, geographical positioning plays a fundamental role in determining their proneness to flooding. However, the whereabouts of the 2 countries varies greatly. Bangladesh is located in Southern Asia, whereas the Netherlands is a North-Western European country. In addition, two major rivers, the Ganges and Brahmaputra, flow through Bangladesh, while one main river, the Rhine, flows through the Netherlands. In accordance with location, the countries have different climates. The Netherlands has a maritime climate where the average summer temperature is 18 degrees Celsius. Contrasting with that some 10,000 km away, Bangladesh experiences a tropical climate in which average summer temperatures are 40 degrees Celsius. Finally, both countries are affected by their drainage basins, but ones of different sizes, lengths, and densities. The Netherlends is primarily affected by the Rhine basin, which has an area of nearly 200,000 square kilometers. The Ganges basin that goes through Bangladesh is among the largest in the world, with an area of more than 1.6 million square kilometers.
Human Causes of Flooding: Comparison between Bangladesh & the Netherlands:
The flood prone countries of Bangladesh and the Netherlands share similarities in terms of their human causes. For example, both countries' populations are rapidly increasing, which results in more urbanization, deforestation and irrigation, which greatly interfere with the drainage basin systems of the countries, decreasing infiltration and interception and increasing the chance of soil erosion and flooding. Furthermore, climate change, a global phenomenon, is affecting the rate of snowmelt on mountains in Bangladesh and the Netherlands. The increased snowmelt also affects the rates of evapotranspiration and precipitation, resulting in higher chances of flooding.
Aside from similarities, there are also vast differences between these two flood-prone countries. Firstly, while Bangladesh is largely involved in deforestation, losing 0.30% (2600 ha) of its forest area per year, the Netherlands is involved in afforestation, adding a little to the forest area every year. 10.8% of land is forest area in the Netherlands, while 6.7% of land is forest area in Bangladesh. This indicates that Bangladesh is slightly more prone to floods due to the decreased rate of transpiration, returning water to the atmosphere, as well as the decreased rate of interception, transporting water into the ground through stemflow.
Furthermore, the amount of impermeable surfaces in the two countries vary as well. The road density of the Netherlands is 331 km of road per 100 square km of area, whilst the road density of Bangladesh is 15km of road per 100 square km of area. Because roads are made of impermeable concrete, Netherlands, which has a higher amount of roads than Bangladesh, faces a rise in the water table, leading into a decrease in infiltration, and an extreme increase in surface runoff. In this aspect, the Netherlands can be considered to be more prone to flooding. However, because of the extensive amount of efficient preventive and relief measures installed in the Netherlands, it is indeed less prone to flooding than Bangladesh.
Aside from similarities, there are also vast differences between these two flood-prone countries. Firstly, while Bangladesh is largely involved in deforestation, losing 0.30% (2600 ha) of its forest area per year, the Netherlands is involved in afforestation, adding a little to the forest area every year. 10.8% of land is forest area in the Netherlands, while 6.7% of land is forest area in Bangladesh. This indicates that Bangladesh is slightly more prone to floods due to the decreased rate of transpiration, returning water to the atmosphere, as well as the decreased rate of interception, transporting water into the ground through stemflow.
Furthermore, the amount of impermeable surfaces in the two countries vary as well. The road density of the Netherlands is 331 km of road per 100 square km of area, whilst the road density of Bangladesh is 15km of road per 100 square km of area. Because roads are made of impermeable concrete, Netherlands, which has a higher amount of roads than Bangladesh, faces a rise in the water table, leading into a decrease in infiltration, and an extreme increase in surface runoff. In this aspect, the Netherlands can be considered to be more prone to flooding. However, because of the extensive amount of efficient preventive and relief measures installed in the Netherlands, it is indeed less prone to flooding than Bangladesh.
LEDCs VS. MEDCs
Bangladesh, LEDC: Since Bangladesh is a less economically developed country, the impact on the size and scale of the devastation caused by flooding is particularly large. From two cyclones that occurred, 250,000 lives were lost. This is because Bangladesh is particularly poor and most of those who are affected by flooding are among the most impoverished. Floods erode land, and the land is washed away even as the population increases. Floods also wash away food supplies and the poor get poorer.
the Netherlands, MEDC: In contrast, The Netherlands is a richer country that has the luxury to plan for the future better because its economy is in relatively good shape. It had one flood in 1953 that killed over 1000 people. After that, they invested in the Delta Works, a 30 year initiative that is considered one of the seven wonders of the modern technological world. This project has minimized flooding problems. The Dutch continue to seek additional solutions to future threats with technology and proactive training. Thus, the economic impact of flooding to The Netherlands has been greatly diminished relative to that of Bangladesh.
the Netherlands, MEDC: In contrast, The Netherlands is a richer country that has the luxury to plan for the future better because its economy is in relatively good shape. It had one flood in 1953 that killed over 1000 people. After that, they invested in the Delta Works, a 30 year initiative that is considered one of the seven wonders of the modern technological world. This project has minimized flooding problems. The Dutch continue to seek additional solutions to future threats with technology and proactive training. Thus, the economic impact of flooding to The Netherlands has been greatly diminished relative to that of Bangladesh.
Bangladesh is an LEDC (Less Economically Developed Country), and accordingly the impact of the flooding on Bangladeshi society was colossal (an MEDC would have better relief and prevention measures to deal with natural disasters). The flood killed nearly 5,000 people due to drowning and disease - illnesses were responsible for the majority of deaths. Out of 46,740 patients treated during by the medical relief services, a study by International Centre for Diarrheal Disease Research (Bangladesh) showed that diarrhoea was present in 34.7% of the patients and respiratory tract infections was present in 17.4% of the patients. Due to the corruption that has made Bangladesh infamous, much of the money that the government has possession of is used for personal use as opposed to relief efforts in response to the floods. Due to this neglectful behaviour the Bangladeshi population suffer, as many are left without basic supplies such as food or sanitary water, culminating in widespread starvation in affected areas. Additionally, the population of Bangladesh are mostly poor and unable to purchase medicine and supplies themselves.
When putting the Netherlands and Bangladesh into contrast, the stark difference is the fact that the Netherlands is economically more developed (it is in fact an MEDC)and stable, giving it the resources as well as the scientific knowledge to build preventive measures. In addition to this the Netherlands well-structured civil services are well-equipped to respond to emergencies, as they have the funding to perform to a satisfactory level. Preventive measures include dykes and dams which control water flow or limit the spreading floods, and flood retention basins which streams the overflowing water into the aforementioned construction. Furthermore, a public warning system allows citizens to acknowledge the start of any floods, reducing the risk of deaths or injuries in the affected population. Additionally, infrastructure in an MEDC is likely to be of a higher quality than the buildings in an LEDC, as the MEDC will have standards in place to make sure that buildings are built to last - another minutiae of infrastructure in an MEDC country is that the sewage systems will be prevalent over most parts of the country, resulting in surface runoff being allowed to flow into established streams, preventing said runoff from remaining on impermeable ground.
Despite these safety measures, it is possible that in the event of an extreme flood that more than a few individuals are likely to get hurt. Even so, the well-developed technology in the Netherlands means that those that are injured are more likely than those in an LEDC to receive adequate medical treatment, increasing the possibility of survival for an injured individual.
When putting the Netherlands and Bangladesh into contrast, the stark difference is the fact that the Netherlands is economically more developed (it is in fact an MEDC)and stable, giving it the resources as well as the scientific knowledge to build preventive measures. In addition to this the Netherlands well-structured civil services are well-equipped to respond to emergencies, as they have the funding to perform to a satisfactory level. Preventive measures include dykes and dams which control water flow or limit the spreading floods, and flood retention basins which streams the overflowing water into the aforementioned construction. Furthermore, a public warning system allows citizens to acknowledge the start of any floods, reducing the risk of deaths or injuries in the affected population. Additionally, infrastructure in an MEDC is likely to be of a higher quality than the buildings in an LEDC, as the MEDC will have standards in place to make sure that buildings are built to last - another minutiae of infrastructure in an MEDC country is that the sewage systems will be prevalent over most parts of the country, resulting in surface runoff being allowed to flow into established streams, preventing said runoff from remaining on impermeable ground.
Despite these safety measures, it is possible that in the event of an extreme flood that more than a few individuals are likely to get hurt. Even so, the well-developed technology in the Netherlands means that those that are injured are more likely than those in an LEDC to receive adequate medical treatment, increasing the possibility of survival for an injured individual.
Conclusion
By analysing the information on the causes of flooding in both the MEDC country and the LEDC country, it can be seen that human causes are the main ‘culprits’ of flooding, as they are disruptions in the ecological/hydrological cycle. Both countries showed that, despite the region’s natural capabilities to cause flooding, human activity such as land reclamation, irrigation, deforestation, and otherwise adding man-made elements to a natural habitat enhances these ‘flood capabilities’ - resulting in the severe 1988 flooding of Bangladesh and the fairly major River Rhine flooding of 1995.