Narrator: The Maldives aren’t alone in facing the dangers of rising sea level. Small island nations such as Kiribati, Tuvalu, the Marshall Islands and the Maldives could be literally wiped off the map. Rising sea levels as a result of global warming could seriously impact the picturesque Maldive Islands, according to University of Notre Dame Australia academic, Dr Michael O’Leary. The tiny island nation of the Maldives is under serious threat from rising sea levels caused by climate change. In the late 1990s a new 1.9km 2 1.8 m high artificial island, Hulhumalé was created for urban expansion, including an allowance for sea‐level rise. The coral reefs surrounding the Maldives are at risk due to gradual warming of sea water (in addition to pollution from man-made sources). Something similar happened in the Maldives, where islanders face similar threats from sea level rise. The Maldives, one of the most stunning yet fragile nations on earth, faces the growing threat from rising sea levels and coastal storms. Besides the mean sea level rise in this region, that is expected to be around 1 m by the end of the century according to the last IPCC report, these islands are exposed to one of the largest swells in terms of significant wave height and peak period. An estimated 248,000 tons of solid waste was generated in the Maldives in 2007 and this figure is predicted to rise by 30% to 324,000 tons over the next five years. Rising sea levels could make thousands of islands from the Maldives to Hawaii 'uninhabitable within decades' Damage to infrastructure and … A look at different solutions, and their timelines, that cities have turned to in response to sea level rise. Poor solid waste management remains the most visible threat to the reefs. Kiribati is negotiating to buy 5,000 acres of land in neighbouring Fiji onto which to move its 113,000 citizens if necessary. PUBLISHED November 12, 2009 But arguably the most dramatic responses to rising sea levels are occurring in those parts of the world that are most acutely at risk. Low-lying coastal cities are already experiencing devastating floods and working to come up with creative solutions to combat rising tides. Sea level rise. The ... On front line of climate change as Maldives fights rising … Discussion of the possible legal effects of sea-level rise on the status of islands, including rocks, and on the maritime entitlements of a coastal State with fringing islands (as well as the legal status of artificial islands, reclamation or island fortification activities as a response/adaptive measures to sea-level rise). But down below is the front line in the fight against sea level rise. “A gradual rise in average sea level is threatening to completely cover this Indian Ocean nation of 1196 small islands within the next 30 years, according to authorities,” AFP reported. None of the coral islands stand more than 1.8 metres (six feet) above sea level, making the country vulnerable to any rise in sea levels associated with global warming. One of the dominant manifestations of climate change is sea level rise. The Maldives (land elevation approximately 1 m above mean sea level) is often associated with the threat of rising sea levels. Dr O’Leary is one of six delegates from around the world invited on a three-week expedition to the Maldives. Looking down from a sea plane flying above the Maldives, the coral islands are spread across the water like giant jellyfish emerging from the depths. "If sea-level rise does ramp up to the levels they're talking about," Kench says, "I would expect islands to start showing increased rates of change. Flooding due to sea level rise is a big challenge, but there are solutions to keep coastal communities safe. A POPULAR holiday destination for Britons could be gone by the end of the century as it continues to sink due to rising sea levels, as world leaders are called to act at the COP23 conference. Land scarcity due to population pressure is also a major issue. ... said the Maldives, a 298 sq km island nation in the Indian Ocean, was the “poster child for rising sea levels”. The challenge of sea level rise has spurred designs for floating much larger forms of development than single-family homes, such as an offshore airport in the Netherlands' North Sea, and floating hotels and restaurants off of Dubai. Not so for some of the world’s most threatened islands, which have grown despite experiencing dramatic sea level rise. Global sea levels have risen by 20cm since records began in 1880, buoyed by melting ice and water expansion caused by rising temperatures. According to Reuters, the Maldives is desperate for funding for infrastructure to combat rising sea levels. Koen Olthuis Maldives Island. With a global resolve to implement such solutions… "You know that with a sea-level rise of over 1.5 metres, hundreds of millions of people would be dead. And not only is the tide of sea level lapping at the shallow islands, but sea temperatures are rising as is the acidity of the ocean: both kill the corals. The fresh water resources of the Maldives are also threatened by rising sea levels. The Maldives, one of the world’s most sought-after destinations and a place frequently featured on the home pages of Marriott, Hyatt and others, may soon be underwater. Individuals, mayors, governors, and Congress can work together to build protections before flooding, build back stronger after flooding, and create plans that future-proof communities. More than 100 islands have lost land to erosion and things are only getting worse. The oceans are rising by 9mm per year, meaning the islanders may have to abandon their homes before the end of the century. Salt water intrusion is gradually encroaching in to the islands’ small pockets or ‘lenses’ of fresh water underground. What are the solutions? Rising sea levels pose a huge risk for many communities all over the world. NOAA estimates that "since 1992, new methods of satellite altimetry (the measurement of elevation or altitude) indicate a rate of rise of 0.12 inches per year". If sea level continues to rise rapidly, these benefits could be lost. Rising sea level can also harm important coastal ecosystems like mangrove forests and coral reefs. Global sea levels could rise as much as 10ft (3 metres) if the Thwaites Glacier in West Antarctica collapses. Most of the pocket-size nation … Sea Level Rise Photos From the Maldives to Bangladesh to Smith Island, here are some places directly affected by rising sea levels and flooding. Rising sea levels also threaten the scarce fresh water resources of Maldives. Sea Level Rise Around the World. Most of the observed sea level rise (about 3 mm per year) is coming from the meltwater of land-based ice sheets and mountain glaciers, which adds to the ocean’s volume (about 2 mm per year combined), and from thermal expansion, or the ocean water’s expansion as it warms (roughly 1 mm per year). The Maldives, located in the Indian Ocean, are the paradigm of low-lying coral-reef islands where adaptation to climate change is essential. Electricity, water and wastewater infrastructure must be supplied to floating development through flexible pipes. Dunya Maumoon: Island states, such as the Maldives, are already making ambitious changes to adapt to rising sea levels. They will investigate how the low-lying archipelago can survive a rise in sea level. As one of the lowest-lying countries in the world, with all its people living a few meters above sea level and over two-thirds of its critical infrastructure lying within 100 meters of the shoreline, a sea level rise of just a few meters will put the nation further at risk, endangering its relative prosperity. A news report from 2006 on the effects of sea level rise on the Maldives. These ecosystems provide benefits, such as protecting the shores from storms. Rising ocean levels threaten Maldives The Maldives, the lowest-lying nation on Earth, is at risk of disappearing from the world map, scientists say. There are a number of other issues relating to sea level rise that threaten the long-term survival of the country [5]: Tourism represents about a third of the country’s GDP, and 45% of tourism resorts experienced severe beach erosion in 2006. Some are fighting a losing battle. Sea level rise solutions can save communities and habitats, but they take time to execute. / … The coral reefs of Maldives stand as the first line of defense against storms and sea-level rise. ... A 2012 study from the University of Plymouth found that a sea level rise of three to nine feet would "have a catastrophic effect on the human activities in these regions." The Maldives, consisting of over 1,100 islands to the west of India, is the world's lowest-lying nation. People have lived on this archipelago for 3,000 years, and from the air it looks absolutely wonderful. The faster sea level … Part7. 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