Nature's Overflow: Floods

The idiom "too much of a good thing," meaning even something usually known to be good, when presented in excess, can be viewed as harmful and undesirable, is well suited for the natural disaster known as flooding (Aldardasawi, 2021). Vital resources for the survival of biological life are present in the ecosystem, such as water. However, a minor disruption can result in excess of them, resulting in catastrophic calamities. Calamities become activated when the atmosphere changes over time or suddenly. One of these catastrophic calamities is floods. Floods are becoming increasingly frequent across the globe, claiming human lives but also resulting in long-term destruction to the economy and environment (Aldardasawi, 2021).

CAUSES OF FLOODS

Floods are natural disasters or calamities that have occurred since ancient times, caused by water overflowing into a dry region (Aldardasawi, 2021). A change in a geographical area's climate and precipitation cycles results in heavy rainfall, leading to floods. Human activities such as over-urbanization, deforestation, and poor drainage systems can accelerate these calamities. Although many floods are present, urban floods remain more destructive as they impact densely populated areas and thus result in soaring mortality rates (Aldardasawi, 2021).

EFFECTS ON AGRICULTURE

Many countries depend on agriculture as a primary source of income and employment. The majority of the population relies on the food produced through agriculture. Two aspects of agriculture mainly threatened by flooding are soil fertility and crop growth (Aldardasawi, 2021). Soil erosion is the aftermath of flooding. Soil erosion strips away the top fertile layer of the soil, compromising soil productivity by only 60%. Moreover, the force of floods can weaken the roots of crops. Weakened soil fertility combined with weakened plant stature stunts crop growth (Aldardasawi, 2021).

Figure 1. An image of a submerged agricultural land (Aldardasawi, 2021).

EFFECTS ON GROUNDWATER

Groundwater is a primary source of drinking water. However, floods are a substantial cause of groundwater contamination. Contaminated water is prone to waterborne diseases like cholera. Thus, contaminated water poses severe health risks to humans and biodiversity (Aldardasawi, 2021).

BANGLADESH 2024 FLOODS

Floods have been affecting various countries around the world. The citizens of Bangladesh are currently navigating through the chest-high floodwaters (Wright et al., 2024). Approximately five million people are said to be affected in total. Feni City, with a population of 1.5 million, is gravely submerged due to flooding (Wright et al., 2024). Bangladesh is a country that heavily depends on waterways. Waterways are crucial for fishing and agriculture (Paul, 2024). Extreme weather changes driven by human causes have worsened the intensity and frequency of floods. The September 2024 floods in Bangladesh are claimed to be unexpected. The population requires dry clothing, shelter, and water. Authorities are primarily concerned with the rise of waterborne diseases and ensuring the availability of clean drinking water (Paul, 2024).

Figure 2. Rescuers helping people reach higher grounds during Bangladesh 2024 floods (Wright et al., 2024).

References

Aldardasawi, A. M., & Eren, B. (2021). Floods and their impact on the environment. Academic Perspective Procedia, 4(2), 42-49.

Paul, Ruma. “Bangladesh Floods Leave 71 Dead, Fears of Waterborne Disease Rise | Reuters.” Reuters, 3 Sept. 2024, https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/bangladesh-floods-leave-71-dead-fears-waterborne-disease-rise-2024-09-03/

Wright, Rebecca, et al. “Millions in This Country Are Stranded by Flooding. Many Blame Their Neighbor.” CNN, Cable News Network, 27 Aug. 2024, www.cnn.com/2024/08/26/asia/bangladesh-flood-disaster-india-intl-hnk-dst/index.html.