Bangladesh has a subtropical monsoon climate characterized by wide seasonal variations in rainfall, moderately warm temperatures, and high

humidity. Regional climatic differences in this flat country are minor. Three seasons are generally recognized: a hot, humid summer from March to June; a cool, rainy monsoon season from June to October; and a cool, dry winter from October to March. In general, maximum summer temperatures range between 32C and 38C. April is the warmest month in most parts of the country. January is the coldest month, when the average temperature for most of the country is 10C. Winds are mostly from the north and northwest in the winter, blowing gently at one to three kilometers per hour in northern and central areas and three to six kilometers per hour near the coast. From March to May, violent thunderstorms, called northwesters by local English speakers, produce winds of up to sixty kilometers per hour. During the intense storms of the early summer and late monsoon season, southerly winds of more than 160 kilometers per hour cause waves to crest as high as 6 meters in the Bay of Bengal, which brings disastrous flooding to coastal areas. Heavy rainfall is characteristic of Bangladesh. With the exception of the relatively dry western region of Rajshahi, where the annual rainfall is about 160 centimeters, most parts of the country receive at least 200 centimeters of rainfall per year (see fig. 1). Because of its location just south of the foothills of the Himalayas, where monsoon winds turn west and northwest, the region of Sylhet in northeastern Bangladesh receives the greatest average precipitation. From 1977 to 1986, annual rainfall in that region ranged between 328 and 478 centimeters per year. Average daily humidity ranged from March lows of between 45 and 71 percent to July highs of between 84 and 92 percent, based on readings taken at selected stations nationwide in 1986. About 80 percent of Bangladesh's rain falls during the monsoon season. The monsoons result from the contrasts between low and high air pressure areas that result from differential heating of land and water. During the hot months of April and May hot air rises over the Indian subcontinent, creating low-pressure areas into which rush cooler, moisture-bearing winds from the Indian Ocean. This is the southwest monsoon, commencing in June and usually lasting through September. Dividing against the Indian landmass, the monsoon flows in two branches, one of which strikes western India. The other travels up the Bay of Bengal and over eastern India and Bangladesh, crossing the plain to the north and northeast before being turned to the west and northwest by the foothills of the Himalayas. Natural calamities, such as floods, tropical cyclones, tornadoes, and tidal bores--destructive waves or floods caused by flood tides rushing up estuaries--ravage the country, particularly the coastal belt, almost every year. Between 1947 and 1988, thirteen severe cyclones hit Bangladesh, causing enormous loss of life and property. In May 1985, for example, a severe cyclonic storm packing 154 kilometer-per-hour winds and waves 4 meters high swept into southeastern and southern Bangladesh, killing more than 11,000 persons, damaging more than 94,000 houses, killing some 135,000 head of livestock, and damaging nearly 400 kilometers of critically needed embankments. Annual monsoon flooding results in the loss of

human life, damage to property and communication systems, and a shortage of drinking water, which leads to the spread of disease....

Climate
See also: Climate Change in Bangladesh Bangladesh has a tropical monsoon climate characterized by wide seasonal variations in rainfall, high temperatures, and high humidity. Regional climatic differences in this flat country are minor. Three seasons are generally recognized: a hot, muggy summer from March to June; a hot, humid and rainy monsoon season from June to November; and a warm-hot, dry winter from December to February. In general, maximum summer temperatures range between 38 and 41 C (100.4 and 105.8 F). April is the hottest month in most parts of the country. January is the coolest month, when the average temperature for most of the country is 1620 C (6168 F) during the day and around 10 C (50 F) at night. . Winds are mostly from the north and northwest in the winter, blowing gently at 1 to 3 kilometers per hour (0.6 to 1.9 mph) in northern and central areas and 3 to 6 kilometers per hour (1.9 to 3.7 mph) near the coast. From March to May, violent thunderstorms, called northwesters by local English speakers, produce winds of up to 60 kilometers per hour (37.3 mph). During the intense storms of the early summer and late monsoon season, southerly winds of more than 160 kilometers per hour (99.4 mph) cause waves to crest as high as 6 meters (19.7 ft) in the Bay of Bengal, which brings disastrous flooding to coastal areas. Heavy rainfall is characteristic of Bangladesh causing it to flood every year. With the exception of the relatively dry western region of Rajshahi, where the annual rainfall is about 1,600 mm (63.0 in), most parts of the country receive at least 2,300 mm (90.6 in) of rainfall per year. Because of its location just south of the foothills of the Himalayas, where monsoon winds turn west and northwest, the region of Sylhet in northeastern Bangladesh receives the greatest average precipitation. From 1977 to 1986, annual rainfall in that region ranged between 3,280 and 4,780 mm (129.1 and 188.2 in) per year. Average daily humidity ranged from March lows of between 55 and 81 % to July highs of between 94 and 100 %, based on readings taken at selected stations nationwide in 1986. About 80 % of Bangladesh's rain falls during the monsoon season. The monsoons result from the contrasts between low and high air pressure areas that result from differential heating of land and water. During the hot months of April and May hot air rises over the Indian subcontinent, creating low-pressure areas into which rush cooler, moisture-bearing winds from the Indian Ocean. This is the southwest monsoon, commencing in June and usually lasting through September. Dividing against the Indian landmass, the monsoon flows in two branches, one of which strikes western India. The other travels up the Bay of Bengal and over eastern India and Bangladesh, crossing the plain to the north and northeast before being turned to the west and northwest by the foothills of the Himalayas. Natural calamities, such as floods, tropical cyclones, tornadoes, and tidal boresdestructive waves or floods caused by flood tides rushing up estuariesravage the country, particularly the coastal belt, almost every year. Between 1947 and 1988, 13 severe cyclones hit Bangladesh, causing enormous loss of life and property. In May 1985, for example, a severe cyclonic storm

packing 154-kilometre-per-hour (95.7 mph) winds and waves 4 meters (13.1 ft) high swept into southeastern and southern Bangladesh, killing more than 11,000 persons, damaging more than 94,000 houses, killing some 135,000 head of livestock, and damaging nearly 400 kilometers (248.5 mi) of critically needed embankments. Annual monsoon flooding results in the loss of human life, damage to property and communication systems, and a shortage of drinking water, which leads to the spread of disease. For example, in 1988 two-thirds of Bangladesh's 64 districts experienced extensive flood damage in the wake of unusually heavy rains that flooded the river systems. Millions were left homeless and without potable water. Half of Dhaka, including the runway at the Shahjalal International Airportan important transit point for disaster relief supplieswas flooded. About 2,000,000 tonnes (2,204,623 short tons; 1,968,413 long tons) of crops were reported destroyed, and relief work was rendered even more challenging than usual because the flood made transportation of any kind exceedingly difficult. A tornado in April 1989 killed more than 600 people, possibly many more. There are no precautions against cyclones and tidal bores except giving advance warning and providing safe public buildings where people may take shelter. Adequate infrastructure and air transport facilities that would ease the sufferings of the affected people had not been established by the late 1980s. Efforts by the government under the Third Five-Year Plan (198590) were directed toward accurate and timely forecast capability through agrometeorology, marine meteorology, oceanography, hydrometeorology, and seismology. Necessary expert services, equipment, and training facilities were expected to be developed under the United Nations Development Programme. [edit]River

systems

Ganges River Delta, Bangladesh and India

The rivers of Bangladesh mark both the physiography of the nation and the life of the people. About 700 in number, these rivers generally flow south. The larger rivers serve as the main

source of water for cultivation and as the principal arteries of commercial transportation. Rivers also provide fish, an important source of protein. Flooding of the rivers during the monsoon season causes enormous hardship and hinders development, but fresh deposits of rich silt replenish the fertile but overworked soil. The rivers also drain excess monsoon rainfall into the Bay of Bengal. Thus, the great river system is at the same time the country's principal resource and its greatest hazard. The profusion of rivers can be divided into five major networks. The Jamuna-Brahmaputra is 292 kilometers long and extends from northern Bangladesh to its confluence with the Padma. Originating as the Yarlung Tsangpo River in China's Xizang Autonomous Region (Tibet) and flowing through India's state of Arunachal Pradesh, where it becomes known as the Brahmaputra ("Son of Brahma"), it receives waters from five major tributaries that total some 740 kilometers in length. At the point where the Brahmaputra meets the Tista River in Bangladesh, it becomes known as the Jamuna. The Jamuna is notorious for its shifting subchannels and for the formation of fertile silt islands (chars). No permanent settlements can exist along its banks. The second system is the Padma-Ganges, which is divided into two sections: a 258-kilometer segment, the Ganges, which extends from the western border with India to its confluence with the Jamuna some 72 kilometers west of Dhaka, and a 126-kilometer segment, the Padma, which runs from the Ganges-Jamuna confluence to where it joins the Meghna River at Chandpur. The Padma-Ganges is the central part of a deltaic river system with hundreds of rivers and streams some 2,100 kilometers in lengthflowing generally east or west into the Padma. The third network is the Surma-Meghna River System, which courses from the northeastern border with India to Chandpur, where it joins the Padma. The Surma-Meghna, at 669 kilometers by itself the longest river in Bangladesh, is formed by the union of six lesser rivers. Below the city of Kalipur it is known as the Meghna. When the Padma and Meghna join together, they form the fourth river systemthe Padma-Meghnawhich flows 145 kilometers to the Bay of Bengal. This mighty network of four river systems flowing through the Bangladesh Plain drains an area of some 1.5 million square kilometers. The numerous channels of the Padma-Meghna, its distributaries, and smaller parallel rivers that flow into the Bay of Bengal are referred to as the Mouths of the Ganges. Like the Jamuna, the Padma-Meghna and other estuaries on the Bay of Bengal are also known for their many chars. A fifth river system, unconnected to the other four, is the Karnaphuli. Flowing through the region of Chittagong and the Chittagong Hills, it cuts across the hills and runs rapidly downhill to the west and southwest and then to the sea. The Feni, Karnaphuli, Sangu, and Matamuharian aggregate of some 420 kilometersare the main rivers in the region. The port of Chittagong is situated on the banks of the Karnaphuli. The Karnaphuli Reservoir and Karnaphuli Dam are located in this area. The dam impounds the Karnaphuli River's waters in the reservoir for the generation of hydroelectric power. During the annual monsoon period, the rivers of Bangladesh flow at about 140,000 cubic meters per second, but during the dry period they diminish to 7,000 cubic meters per second. Because water is so vital to agriculture, more than 60 % of the net arable land, some 91,000 km, is cultivated in the rainy season despite the possibility of severe flooding, and nearly 40 % of the land is cultivated during the dry winter months. Water resources development has responded to

this "dual water regime" by providing flood protection, drainage to prevent overflooding and waterlogging, and irrigation facilities for the expansion of winter cultivation. Major water control projects have been developed by the national government to provide irrigation, flood control, drainage facilities, aids to river navigation and road construction, and hydroelectric power. In addition, thousands of tube wells and electric pumps are used for local irrigation. Despite severe resource constraints, the government of Bangladesh has made it a policy to try to bring additional areas under irrigation without salinity intrusion. Water resources management, including gravity flow irrigation, flood control, and drainage, were largely the responsibility of the Bangladesh Water Development Board. Other public sector institutions, such as the Bangladesh Krishi Bank, the Bangladesh Rural Development Board, the Bangladesh Bank, and the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation were also responsible for promotion and development of minor irrigation works in the private sector through government credit mechanisms.

Climate change in Bangladesh

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Climate Change in Bangladesh)

Climate change in Bangladesh is an extremely crucial issue and according to National Geographic, Bangladesh ranks first as the most vulnerable nation to the impacts of climate change in the coming decades.[1]
Contents
[hide]

1 Background 2 Effects

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2.1 Food security 2.1.1 National and International Policies 3 Mitigation policies 3.1 Foreign aid and funding 4 See also 5 Notes 6 References 7 External links

[edit]Background

Various other models predict the nations vulnerability. Bangladesh is the most vulnerable nation due to global climate change in the world according to German Watchs Global Climate Risk Index (CRI) of 2011. This is based on the analysis of impacts of major climate events that occurred around the world in the twenty year period since 1990. The reasons are complex and extremely intertwined. Located at the bottom of the mighty GBM river system (Ganges, Brahmaputra and the Meghna) there are a total of 57 trans-boundaryrivers coming down to it; 54 from neighbouring India and 3 from Myanmar. The country which has no control of the water flow and volume drains to the Bay of Bengal over 90% of the total run-off generated annually. Coupled with the high level of widespread poverty and increasing population density, limited adaptive capacity and poorly funded, ineffective local governance has made the region one of the most adversely affected in the planet. There are an estimated one thousand people in each square kilometre with the national population increasing by 2 million people each year. Almost half the population is in poverty (Purchasing Power Parity of $1.25 per person a day). Hence these people do not have the ability to respond to a natural disaster and the government cannot help them.[2]

[edit]Effects
By 2020, anywhere from 500- 750 million people are projected to be affected by water availability due to climate change around the world. Low-lying coastal regions, such as Bangladesh are vulnerable to the Sea level rise and increased occurrence of intense, extreme weather conditions such as the cyclones from 20072009. In most countries such as Bangladesh, yields from rain fed agriculture could be reduced to 50% by 2020. And for a country with increasing population and hunger, this will have an extremely adverse effect on food security. Although effects of climate change are highly variable, by 2030, South Asia could lose 10% of rice and maize yields, while neighbouring states like Pakistan could experience a 50% reduction in crop yield. As a result of all this, Bangladesh would need to prepare for long term adaptation, which could be as drastic as changed sowing dates due to seasonal variations, introducing different varieties and species, to practising novel water supply and irrigation systems. In essence, we have to identify all present vulnerabilities and future opportunities, adjusting priorities, at times even changing commodity and trade policies in the agricultural sector while promoting training and education throughout the masses in all possible spheres.[3]

[edit]Food

security

Further information: Food security With a large population facing losses in arable lands, climate change poses an acute risk on the already malnourished population of Bangladesh. Although the country has managed to increase the

production of rice since the nations birth, from 10 metric tons (MT) to over 30 MT, around 30% of the population is still malnourished. Now more than 5 million hectares of land are irrigated, almost fourfold than that in 1990. Even though modern rice varieties have been introduced in three-fourths of the total rice irrigation area, the sudden shift in population increase is putting strains on the production. Climate change threatens the agricultural economy which although counts for just 20% of GDP, contributes to over half the populations labor force. As pointed out before in the book, in 2007 after a series of floods and cyclone Sidr, food security was severely threatened. Given the countrys infrastructure and disaster response mechanisms, the food yield situation got worse. The loss of rice production was estimated at around 2 million metric tons (MT) which could potentially feed 10 million people. This was the single most important catalyst in the 2008 price increase which led to around 15 million people going without much food. This was further worsened by cyclone Allia.

[edit]National and International Policies

Given the frequent climate change based catastrophes, Bangladesh needs to enhance food security by drafting and implementing new policies such as the 2006 National Food Policy. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) supported this policy through the 'National Food Policy Capacity Strengthening Program' (NFPCSP). There is also an initiative for the start of a 'Food Security Country Investment Plan' enabling the country to secure around USD 52 million under the 'Global Agriculture and Food Security Program' (GAFSP), making it Asias first recipient. More work and better implementation from the governments side is necessary for the activities to reach fruitful outcomes. Already, there are a cumulative of 11 Ministries and Government divisions involved in this integrated endeavor. In the aftermath of the 'East Pakistan Coastal Embankment plan' (CEP) in the mid-twentieth century, Bangladesh has recently started work on the Master Plan for the South. The southern coastal area is vulnerable to the ill-effects of global climate and a huge threat to crops, livestock and fisheries of the southern delta. There are plans of a USD 3 billion multi-purpose bridge named Padma in order to transform the agriculture sector in the region. The government even estimates a GDP increase of around 2% implying that the investment will ultimately lead to economic growth for the country. In an effort to be a Middle Income Country by 2021, the country is focusing on increasing agriculture production, productivity, water management techniques surface water infrastructure irrigation, effective fisheries and promoting poultry and dairy development. Biofuels fit into this scenario by acting as machinery fuel as in 2006 the Ministry of Agriculture provided 30% subsidy for diesel to run irrigation for farming, further proposing 7,750 million BDT fiscal disbursement to help almost a million farmers with machinery fuel. This attempt needs social science researchers identifying constraints, agricultural understanding of the complex processes, resilience and indigenous skills of the farmers and technical understanding of efficiency and the role of infrastructure in a combined effort to feed the hungry and

provide only additional income by utilizing the available resources at hand, for both food and energy, sustainably with responsible government support and cooperation. [4]

[edit]Mitigation

policies

As a Least developed country (LDC), Bangladesh is exempt from any responsibility to reduce GHG emissions, which primarily causes global warming. Bur lately this has been the rallying factor for policy makers to give off higher amounts of emissions in nearly all sectors with disregard for the environment. Large developed industrial nations are emitting increasing quantities of GHGs. The country cannot go far in their struggle with reducing emissions and fighting global warming with the considerable scantily supported funding and help it receives from the international community. There exist plans such as the 'National Action Plan on Adaptation' (NAPA) of 2005, and the 'Bangladesh Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan' (BCCSAP) of 2009. BCCSAP states that an integrated approach is necessary and the only way to gain sustainability is where economic and social development is perused to the exclusion of disaster management, a one major calamity will destroy any so called socio-economic gains. Around 40% 45% of GHG emissions are required to be reduced by 2020 and 9095% by 2050. This is using the 1990 GHG concentration levels as a benchmark. With higher population and rapid industrialization, Bangladesh should be on its way to developing a low-carbon path given it initially receives significant financial and technical support from the international community and national goals of economic growth and social development is not hampered. But a more holistic short-term plan is also necessary. Bangladesh has established the Bangladesh Climate Change Trust Fund (BCCTF) and the Bangladesh Climate Change Resilience Fund(BCCRF) allocating $200 million and cumulating around further $114 million respectively. Although 3000 cyclone shelters were constructed with over 40,000 trained volunteers and 10,000 km of embankments erected, Bangladesh should not only place emphasis on capacity building and disaster management but also institutional and infrastructure strengthening, development of research and low carbon technologies in order to create an inclusive and truly comprehensive mitigation scheme. Even though it is agreed that the willingness and cooperation of the current UNFCCC parties (194 member states as of 2011) is necessary to help the nation, funds like the Special Climate and LDC, Adaptation Fund should be easily made available. [5]

[edit]Foreign

aid and funding

Various countries have pledged to provide funding for adaptation and mitigation in developing nations, such as Bangladesh. The accord committed up to $30 billion of immediate short term funding over the 2010-2012 period from developed to developing countries to support their action in climate change mitigation. This funding is available or developing nations to build their capacity to reduce emissions and responds to impacts of climate change. Furthermore, this funding will be

balanced between mitigation and infrastructure adaptation in various sectors including forestry, science, technology and capacity building. Moreover, the Copenhagen Accord (COP 15) also pledges $100 million of public and private finance by 2020, mostly to developing nations. The advisory group comprises high level officials, researchers, professionals and academics, and they constantly study ways to fund this global initiative. Another misconception is that this accords commitments will divert funding from poverty reduction. The private sector alone contributes more than 85% of current investments for a low carbon economy. In order to maximize any future contributions from this sector, the public sector needs to overcome the political and bureaucratic barriers the private sector has to face towards a low carbon future. [6]

Climate
Bangladesh has a tropical monsoon-type climate, with a hot and rainy summer and a pronounced dry season in the cooler months. January is the coolest month of the year, with temperatures averaging near 26 deg C (78 d F), and April the warmest month, with temperatures ranging between 33 deg and 36 deg C (91 deg F and 96 deg F). The climate is one of the wettest in the world; most places receive more than 1,525 mm (60 in) of rain a year, and areas near the hills receive 5,080 mm (200 in). Most rain falls during the monsoon (June-September) and little during the dry season (November-February). Average Temperature and Rainfall

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun

Jul

Aug Sep

Oct

Nov Dec

Max. Temp 25.4 28.1 32.3 34.2 33.4 31.7 31.1 31.3 31.6 31.0 28.9 26.1 (C) Min. Temp 12.3 14.0 19.0 23.1 24.5 25.5 25.7 25.8 25.5 23.5 18.5 13.7 (C) Rainfall (mm) 07.0 19.8 40.7 110.7 257.5 460.9 517.6 431.9 289.9 184.2 35.0 09.4

Cyclones The coastal districts of Bangladesh, particularly those flanking the Meghna estuary, are susceptible to serious damage from cyclones, which cause major losses of life and property. In the early summer (April and May) and late in the monsoon season (September to November) storms of very high intensity often occure. They may create winds with speed of 100-150 miles per hour piling up the waters of Bay of Bengal to crests as high as 20 feet that crash with tremendous force onto the coastal areas and offshore islands. Since the early 18th century, when records were first kept, more than one million people have been killed in such storms --815,000 of them in three storm occuring in 1737, 1876 and 1970. Severe storms also occured in May 1985 and April 1991. Lesser hazards in the region are hailstorms, particularly in March and April, and tornadoes.

Satellite Image of the April 1991 Cyclone

Floods Bangladesh is one of the most flood-prone countries in the world. Essentially, it's the flood plain where two huge rivers--the Ganges and the Brahmaputra--carry spring snowmelt from the towering Himalayan Mountains to the sea. When the rivers flood, so does Bangladesh. Bangladesh Floods 1998

Impact of Sea-level rise Bangladesh being mostly formed of the Gangetic delta, will be impacted severely if sea-levels rise as a result of the greenhouse effect. Read about the potential impact on bangladesh. Weather You can also find out the current weather conditions in Bangladesh.

Bangladesh
Bangladesh has a subtropical monsoon climate characterized by wide seasonal variations in rainfall, high temperatures and humidity. There are three distinct seasons in Bangladesh: a hot, humid summer from March to June; a cool, rainy monsoon season from June to October; and a cool, dry winter from October to March. In general, maximum summer temperatures range between 30C and 40C. April is the warmest month in most parts of the country. January is the coldest month, when the average temperature for most of the country is about 10C. Heavy rainfall is characteristic of Bangladesh. With the exception of the relatively dry western region of Rajshahi, where the annual rainfall is about 1600 mm, most parts of the country receive at least 2000 mm of rainfall per year. Because of its location just south of the foothills of the Himalayas, where monsoon winds turn west and northwest, the regions in northeastern Bangladesh receives the greatest average precipitation, sometimes over 4000 mm per year. About 80 percent of Bangladesh's rain falls during the monsoon season. Note: The Typhoon season begins in August and lasts to end November. Warnings are not always very effective in Bangladesh, due to the bad Infrastructure of this country. Be careful when you travel around in the coastal areas of Bangladesh in this period, and try to follow the weather forecasts carefully. Typhoons have often catastrofal effects, and can cause floodings that can sometimes last for serveral weeks. Required clothing: Lightweight cotton clothing is advised throughout the year, with an umbrella or raincoat for the monsoon season. Be prepared for high temperatures and humidity, no matter where you go. A sweater and warmer clothing is advised for cooler evenings. Warmer clothing is advised for the northern mountainous areas of Bangladesh, which can have quite cold winters. Koeppen-Geiger classification: The Climate of Bangladesh can be divided in different climate zones. The central and southern part can be classified as Aw climate, a hot, tropical climate with all

months above 18C and a dry period in the winter. The northern mountainous areas can be classified as Cwa climate; a Temperated, humid climate with the warmest month above 22C and a dry period in the winter.

'We have seen the enemy': Bangladesh's war against climate change

Devastating cyclones, floods and ruined crops have made Bangladesh 'the world's most aware society on climate change'
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John Vidal in Gazipara guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 9 May 2012 13.17 BST Comments ()

Grappling with solutions ... villagers repair a vital flood-protecting embankment after Cyclone Aila struck in 2009. Photograph: Munir Uz Zaman/AFP/Getty

Rebecca Sultan's life has been shattered twice in a few years. First, the 140mph winds of Cyclone Sidr ripped through her village, Gazipara, flattening houses, killing 6,000 people and devastating the lives of millions as it slammed into southern Bangladesh in 2007. Then, 18 months later, as Sultan was recovering, Cyclone Aila tore in from the Bay of Bengal with torrential rains, breaching the coastal embankments and flooding her fields with salt water.

Storms of this intensity historically happen in Bangladesh once every 20 to 30 years. But two "super-cyclones" in two years, followed by a narrow escape when super-cyclone Nargis killed 100,000 people in nearby Burma a year later, convinced Sultan and her village, as well as many sceptics in government, that climate change was happening and Bangladesh's very survival was at stake. Gazipara, like thousands of other villages in coastal Bangladesh, is now racing to adapt to the increased flooding, erosion and salt-water intrusion. Sultan and 30 other women have raised their small houses and toilets several feet up on to earth plinths. Others are growing more salttolerant crops and fruit trees, and most families are trying different ways to grow vegetables. "We know we must live with climate change and are trying to adapt," said Sultan. Elsewhere in Bangladesh, hundreds of communities are strengthening embankments, planting protective shelter belts, digging new ponds and wells and collecting fresh water. Some want to build bunkers to store their valuables, others want cyclone shelters. "I am quite amazed at how people are grappling with climate change and are adapting," said Saleemul Huq, a Bangladeshi scientist who is head of the climate change group at the International Institute for Environment and Development in London and an adviser to the Bangladesh government on how to adapt to climate change. "It's by far the most aware society on climate change in the world," Huq said. "It has seen the enemy and is arming itself to deal with it. The country is now on a war footing against climate change. They are grappling with solutions. They don't have them all yet but they will. I see Bangladesh as a pioneer. It has adapted more than any other country to the extremes of weather that climate change is expected to bring." With the latest research showing more droughts in the country's north and rising sea levels, more than 30 million Bangladeshis are liable to lose everything from climate change in the next 30 to 50 years, said Atiq Rahman, director of the Bangladesh Centre for Advanced Studies and a lead author of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's fourth assessment report.

"It's extreme events, like super-cyclones and the droughts, that will dominate in future, not the mean [average]," Rahman said. "It's the extra days of heat or cold or the intensity of the cyclones that will affect life most. Poor people cannot wait for global leadership on climate change they are acting now. They are paying with their own lives, their own resources, their own efforts. They cannot wait. It is not a question of choice." The trouble, Rahman told a conference on community adaptation last week in Dhaka, is that traditional knowledge about when to plant which crops, or to harvest, may not be sufficient. "Government recognises it is a very real threat. But what happens in the future will not be indicated by what has happened in the past. There is a new knowledge challenge," he says. "Many know to plant more tolerant crops in hard years, but lack thedrought-tolerant or salt-resistant seeds now needed to deal with worsening conditions. We need new technologies, funds and knowledge." But, said the foreign minister, Dipu Moni, rich countries had not given the money they had pledged to help Bangladesh and other vulnerable countries adapt. "Climate change is real and happening," Moni said. "A 1C rise in temperatures for Bangladesh equates to a 10% loss of GDP. One event like Sidr can take 10 to 20 years to recover from and cost us billions of dollars. But we don't see the money coming. "The people being affected are not the big banks but the poor. Our plight goes quite unnoticed. It does not make the rich countries produce trillions of dollars overnight. It's a shame, but we keep trying." According to her ministry, Bangladesh has received $125m (78m) so far, including $75mfrom the Department for International Development (DfID). "But [countries] have refused to [say] if the climate change money is taken out of [the existing] aid basket," said a senior civil servant. "We want clear guarantees that this money will be on top of official development assistance money. DfID has not clarified this is additional to ODA." On the coast, Sultan pondered the changes. "The difference we've all seen in the weather in just a few years is great. Now we are getting sudden rains, we don't know when to expect them; the water levels

rise faster, the erosion is greater and we are getting more salinity. We used to know when the seasons would change; now they are temperamental. We are resilient and determined to adapt to whatever happens, but it is hard."
WEATHER AND CLIMATE IN BANGLADESH
Bangladesh has a typical monsoon climate with the same threefold division of the year that occurs in India, but the cool season (November to February) is generally warmer than India. During the hot season there are rainstorms, some thundery, and during the main rainy season (June to September) the rain is frequent and heavy. Generally, annual average rainfall varies from 1500 to 2500 mm (60 - 100 "), but near the eastern border this rises to 3750 mm (150 "). Rainfall from September to November is less reliable, but is occasionally very heavy and is usually associated with violent tropical cyclones that develop over the Bay of Bengal. Storm waves and sea surges raise the water level along the coast and in the numerous branching water courses of the delta so that widespread flooding of the low-lying areas takes place adding to the devastation caused by the strong wind. Such storms have led to great loss of life and destruction of crops on several occasions. Although temperatures during the hot season are rather lower than in some parts of India, the heat is made uncomfortable by the high humidity. This damp, muggy season continues throughout the main rainy season, but the heat is rarely dangerous. It is, however, very unpleasant for the unacclimatized visitor. There is no great difference in temperature conditions around the year from one region to another. During the hot season, temperatures are a little higher inland (Dacca - April - average maximum temperature 35 C / 95 F) than on the coast (Chittagong - April - average maximum temperature 32 C / 89 F). Owing to the greater cloudiness of the rainy season, average daily sunshine hours are least between June and September (about four hours per day), but six - eight hours per day for the rest of the year.

To check the current weather condition of Bangladesh please click here