Impact of climate change and land use on groundwater salinization in southern Bangladesh-implications for other Asian deltas
File(s)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Islam, MA
Hoque, MA
Ahmed, KM
Butler, AP
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Pervasive salinity in soil and water is affecting agricultural yield and the health of millions of delta dwellers in Asia. This is also being exacerbated by climate change through increases in sea level and tropical storm surges. One consequence of this has been a widespread introduction of salt water shrimp farming. Here, we show, using field data and modeling, how changes in climate and land use are likely to result in increased salinization of shallow groundwater in SE Asian mega-deltas. We also explore possible adaptation options. We find that possible future increase of episodic inundation events, combined with salt water shrimp farming, will cause rapid salinization of groundwater in the region making it less suitable for drinking water and irrigation. However, modified land use and water management practices can mitigate the impacts on groundwater, as well as the overlying soil, from future salinization. The study therefore provides guidance for adaptation planning to reduce future salinization in Asian deltas.
Date Issued
2019-11-01
Date Acceptance
2019-10-19
Citation
Environmental Management (New York): an international journal for decision-makers, scientists and environmental auditors, 2019, 64 (5), pp.640-649
ISSN
0364-152X
Publisher
Springer (part of Springer Nature)
Start Page
640
End Page
649
Journal / Book Title
Environmental Management (New York): an international journal for decision-makers, scientists and environmental auditors
Volume
64
Issue
5
Copyright Statement
© Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2019. The final publication is available at Springer via https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-019-01220-4
Sponsor
The Leverhulme Trust
Wellcome Trust
Identifier
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31655864
PII: 10.1007/s00267-019-01220-4
Grant Number
RPG_314
097816/Z/11/B
Subjects
Climate change
Delta
Groundwater
Land use
Salinization
Shrimp farm
Publication Status
Published
Coverage Spatial
United States
Date Publish Online
2019-10-26