Community-based disaster risk and vulnerability models of a coastal municipality in Bangladesh

Bangladesh is one of the most natural hazard-prone countries in the world with the greatest negative consequences being associated with cyclones, devastating floods, riverbank erosion, drought, earthquake, and arsenic contamination, etc. One way or other, these natural hazards engulfed every corner of Bangladesh. The main aim of this research paper is to carry out a multi-hazards risk and vulnerability assessment for the coastal Matlab municipality in Bangladesh and to recommend possible mitigation measures. To this aim, hazards are prioritized by integrating SMUG and FEMA models, and a participation process is implemented so as to involve community both in the risk assessment and in the identification of adaptation strategies. The Matlab municipality is highly vulnerable to several natural hazards such as cyclones, floods, and riverbank erosion. The SMUG is a qualitative assessment, while FEMA is a quantitative assessment of hazards. The FEMA model suggests a threshold of highest 100 points. All hazards that total more than 100 points may receive higher priority in emergency preparedness and mitigation measures. The FEMA model, because it judges each hazard individually in a numerical manner, may provide more satisfying results than the SMUG system. The spatial distributions of hazard, risk, social institutions, land use, and other resources indicate that the flood disaster is the top environmental problem of Matlab municipality. Hazard-specific probable mitigation measures are recommended with the discussion of local community. Finally, this study tries to provide insights into the way field research combining scientific assessments tools such as SMUG and FEMA could feed evidence-based decision-making processes for mitigation in vulnerable communities.     

Sequence stratigraphy of Aqra Formation (Late Upper Campanian–Maastrichtian) in Geli Zanta corge,Northern Iraq

The Aqra Formation represents a succession that was deposited over most of Northern Iraq and adjacent regions. In north Iraq, in the core of NW–SE trending Aqra anticline, a 438-m-thick section of the Aqra Formation crops out at Geli Zanta corge. The base of the Aqra Formation is not exposed here. The upper contact is unconformably overlain by Paleocene–Lower Eocene formations (Kolosh and Khurmala formations). A hundred and one samples were collected from the section and used for biostratigraphic and microfacies analysis. According to the occurrence of larger Foraminifera (Orbitoides media and Orbitoides apiculata) and planktonic Foraminifera (Abathomphalus mayaroensis), Late Upper Campanian–Maastrichtian age was determined for Aqra Formation. Fifteen facies were distinguishable throughout the formation, representing tidal flat (supratidal), restricted marine shelf (lagoon) and shelf margin rudist reef, and its related debris. These environments were used to interpret three depositional sequences which correlate with those of Aruma Formation (KSA), Simsima Formation (UAE) in Arabian Plate, and with Iraqi formation sequences. Three maximum flooding surfaces were recognized as MFS 175, MFS 180, and MFS 190.     

A geospatial assessment of flood hazard in north-eastern depressed basin,Bangladesh

Floods are a frequently occurring calamity in deltaic Bangladesh. This paper aims to assess the temporal expansion of waterbodies during flooding using geospatial techniques. Several water indices were applied to classify the satellite images at various temporal scales. Among them, the Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI) showed the highest correlation (r = 0.831; where p = 0.01) with rainfall data. Specifically, the NDWI results showed that perennial waterbodies measured 37 km² and 60 km² in Sunamganj District in 2017 and 2019, respectively. The area of waterbodies notably increased 52-fold from March to April (37 km² to 1958 km²) during the pre-monsoon flash flood of 2017. During the July 2019 monsoon flood, waterbodies started to extend after May and flooded 2784 km² in area. NDVI analysis showed that in 2019, floodwater submerged 361.7 km² of vegetation cover. At the same time, the Surma River's flooding resulted in a 73.9 per cent inundation of the total area of the Sunamganj District. We hope that this study will provide better understanding of the varying nature of floods that occur in the low lying bowl shaped Haor region which will in turn assist the government with flood mitigation.