Cyclone storm surge levels along the Bangladeshi coastline in 1876 and 1960-2000

The Bangladeshi coastline was hit by 17 severe cyclonic storms from 1960 to 2000. The cyclone storm surges caused heavy damages to the coastal structure and vast loss of lives. In this work, the cyclone storm surges created by the 17 severe cyclones that took place from 1960 to 2000 are simulated and analyzed. The simulated cyclone storm surges are compared to observations and the comparison is found to be satisfactory. As far as it is known, the worldwide maximum for surge levels claimed to have been recorded is between 12 and 14 m. A statistical evaluation was done to estimate the return period based surge height on the basis of simulated surge heights by taking into account the frequency distribution of the events over the considered period of study. The analysis shows that, in the Northern Meghna Estuary, a cyclone storm surge of 10.6 m (PWD) has a return period of 100 years, while a surge level of 14 m (PWD) has a return period of 652 years. The maximum surge height for a devastating historical cyclone, which attacked Bangladesh in 1876, is simulated to be 12.5 m (PWD), giving a close agreement with the observations.