Floods in the Ganga–Brahmaputra–Meghna Delta (eBook)

This volume covers the floods of the major rivers of the Ganga-Brahmaputra-Meghna (GBM) Delta, and storm surge related coastal floods in these regions. The book is dedicated to addressing floods from an integrated physical-social perspective to provide students and researchers with a holistic understanding of floods in terms of both human and geomorphological aspects. The systematic coverage of all the major rivers and coastal areas in the GBM delta and surrounding regions will foster a clear comprehension of this dense reservoir of population, where thousands of people are impacted every year due to flood hazards and agricultural destabilization. This comprehensive treatment of flood issues in the region covers flash floods, fluvial floods, fluvio-tidal floods, and coastal floods, and outlines flood management strategies to maintain ecological integrity and environmental stability, and prevent harmful impacts of future floods. The book is intended for students and researchers in earth and environmental sciences, especially geomorphology, hydrology, geography, geology, natural resources management, and regional planning.

Dr Aznarul Islam is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Geography at Aliah University, Kolkata, India. His principal area of research includes hydro-geomorphological issues of the Bengal Delta, including channel shifting, riverbank erosion, flood, ecological stress of the riverine tract and environmental flow.

Dr Pravat Kumar Shit is an Assistant Professor at the Post-Graduate Department of Geography, Raja N. L. Khan Women's College (Autonomous), West Bengal, India. His research interests include applied geomorphology, soil erosion, groundwater, forest resources, wetland ecosystem, environmental contaminants & pollution and natural resources mapping & modelling.

Dr Dilip Kumar Datta is a Professor in Environmental Science Discipline, Khulna University, Bangladesh. His research interest encompasses a wide range of Environmental Science of the Bengal Drainage Basin with particular emphasis on the Lower Bengal Delta. His research areas include hydrogeochemistry and water resource management in deltaic environment. He also looks into woman security under stressed environmental conditions as well as the requirements for ICT in managing water resources under the realm of rapid climate change.

Dr M. Shahidul Islam is a Professor in the Department of Geography and Environment at Dhaka University, Bangladesh. He is interested in various issues of the natural environment, including geomorphology, coastal environment and dynamics, sea-level changes, physical oceanography, paleo-environment, hydro-metrological hazards, and disaster management.

Dr Suvendu Roy is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Geography, Kalipada Ghosh Tarai Mahavidyalaya, Darjeeling, West Bengal, India. He focuses his research interest on the interface between anthropogenic activities and changing channel geomorphology, especially on the effect of transportation infrastructure on tropical rivers. This includes field-based studies to identify micro-level alteration of geomorphological processes and landforms. He is also interested in the application of GIS and remote sensing to insight into the impact of human activities on landscapes.

Dr Sandipan Ghosh is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Geography, Chandrapur College, Barddhaman, West Bengal, India. His principal research fields are various dimensions of fluvial geomorphology, flood geomorphology, quaternary geology, soil erosion and laterite study.

Dr Balai Chandra Das is an Associate Professor at the Post-Graduate Department of Geography, Krishnagar Government College, Nadia, West Bengal, India. His current research interest is in the fundamental geomorphology of rivers and lakes.