HUM 105/BCH 101

Fall 2018
East Delta University
Lecturer: Tasmeem Chowdhury Bonhi
Class 2: National Topography, Climate
and Natural Resources
 Topic 1: Climate
• Climate: It is the average state of the atmosphere
near the earth’s surface over a long span of time. It
refers to many elements including temperature,
precipitation, humidity, air pressure, wind
movement and direction.
• Geographical location influence the climate of any
country.
• Tropical (monsoon) climate prevails in Bangladesh.
• Influence of monsoon wind is very strong.
 Climate: Tropical Monsoon
Characteristics of a tropical monsoon climate:
• Two dry seasons with a low rainfall.
• Winter (cool and dry)
• Summer (hot and dry)
• Rainy season with very high rainfall
• High annual temperature
• Seasonal distribution of rainfall
• High annual rainfall
• High humidity
 Climate: Seasonal Variation
• Season is the climatic type, at any place,
associated with a particular time of the year.
• The change of season is mainly due to the
change of the earth’s axis in relation to the
position of the sun at a particular place.
• Bangla calendar year is traditionally divided
into six seasons: Grisma, Barsa, Sarat,
Hemanta, Shhit and Basanta.
 Climate: Seasonal Variation
• March to May: the hot and dry pre-monsoon
season
• June to October: the rainy monsoon season
• November to February: the cool and dry
winter season
• Seasons of Bangladesh regulate its economy,
communications, trade and commerce, art
and culture.
 Climate: Temperature Variation
• January-Coldest month in Bangladesh
• Average temperature in January vary from 17 degree in
the north western part to 21 degree in the coastal areas.
• Minimum temperature (Dec-Jan) in the north-eastern-
western regions could be as low as 4-7 degrees (such as
in Sylhet and Rangpur)
• April-Hottest month in Bangladesh
• Average temperature vary from 27 to 40 degrees
• After April: temperature decreases (coinciding with
monsoon)
• Average temperature in July vary from 27 to 29 degree.
 Climate: Rainfall Variation
• Rain: Water that is condensed from the vapor in
the atmosphere and falls in drops from the sky to
the earth.
• Rainfall: Total amount of rain that falls in a
particular area within a certain time.
• Rainfall varies in Bangladesh, depending upon
season and location.
• Winter accounts for only less than 4% of the
annual rainfall.
 Climate: Rainfall Variation
• Pre monsoon hot season: accounts for only 10-25% of the
total annual rainfall (mainly caused by conventional storms-
locally called Kal Boishakhi)
• Rainy season: accounts for 70 to 85% of the annual rainfall.
• The rainfall is caused by weak tropical depressions brought
by the Bay of Bengal into Bangladesh by the monsoon
winds.
• Average rainfall varies from 1500 mm (west central part) to
over 3000 mm (northeast and southeast).
• Lalakhal (6400 mm) the highest in Bangladesh.
 Factors which contribute to rainfall and
cyclones
Depression rainfall:
• Depression is a region of low atmospheric pressure.
• It forms as warm air mixes with cold dry air
producing warm and cold fronts.
• Warm air rises- warm air cools- condensation
results- formation of cloud-rainfall.
• Usually formed in the Bay of Bengal
• During depressions, continuous heavy rainfall
occurs for 7 to 10 days.
 Factors which contribute to rainfall and
cyclones
Thunderstorms:
• Tropical storms with thunder, lightning accompanied by
heavy rain.
• On hot humid days, air near the ground heats up-
expands and rises rapidly- rising air cools, forming
cumulonimbus clouds.
• These clouds are usually 5 km wide and 8 km high.
• Individual storm clouds: just one cell in a group of
storms, 30 km wide lasting for more than 5 hrs.
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuAcrjxVVbM
 Topic 2: Forests and Biomass
• Forestry is one of the main non renewable
resources in Bangladesh.
• Forests are responsible for: maintaining
ecological balance, stabilization of global
climate, management of land and water, and
shelter of innumerable species of organisms.
• Also provides consumption for humans and
animals (supports livelihood of many )
Use of Forest Resources

• Biomass: All the organic matter (plant and animal material) that
exists on the earth’s surface.
• 99% of the earth’s biomass is plant material.
• 3 types of biomass:
• (a) Solid biomass: the use of trees. Crop residues, animal and
human waste for direct combustion to provide heat
• (b) Biogas: Obtained in an air free environment digesting
organic material to produce gases.
• (c ) Liquid biofuels: By subjecting organic materials to chemical
process to produce a liquid fuel (vegetable oil).
Use of Forest Resources

Other uses include:

• House construction/building materials
• Furniture and fixtures
• Transport equipment
• Pulp, paper newsprint
• Fuel and firewood (80% obtained from forests)
• Rubber products
Topic 3: Minerals
• Natural gas and oil:
• 22 gas fields discovered in the country
• Natural gas accounts for more than 70% of total
commercial consumption of energy (power,
fertilizer, industrial, domestic and other sectors)
• Oil: Only known oil field found in Haripur
• Petrobangla is the only national oil extraction in
the country.
 Minerals

• Coal: Black or very dark brown mineral substance

formed from the compaction of ancient plant
matter in tropical swamp conditions
• Used as fuel and in the chemical industry
• Major coal fields: Jamalgonj, Barapukuria,
Khalaspir, Dighibari and Phul bari.
• Sometimes imported from India, China and
Indonesia.
 Minerals

• Limestone: is a sedimentary rock, consisting chiefly of

calcium carbonate.
• Main raw material for cement industry.
• Also used in preparation of paper, steel, sugar, glass.
• Surface limestone is found in St. Martin’s island and
Sunamganj.
• Sub surface districts are found in Joypurhat district
• Lime is used for agriculture purposes, to neutralize soil
acidity
 Minerals
White or China Clay
• This mineral is found in Netrokona, Sherpur
and Chittagong
• However not very good quality.
• It is used in ceramic industry, by mixing with
high quality imported clay.
 Minerals
Glass Sand:
• Special kind of sand suitable for making glass
because of its high silica content
• It is found at/or near the surface as well as under
the ground.
• Surface reserves are found in Sherpur, Habiganj,
Comilla and Chittagong
• Sub-surface reserves are found in Dinajpur and
Rangpur.
Thank You!