bekisman
04-Jun-10, 21:54
Phew!
I thought that this global warming think would see the end of these islands in a couple of years, do you remember:
March 25, 2005: "There’s also Tuvalu, in the Pacific ocean between Hawaii and Australia, with a maximum elevation of 4.6 meters (15 feet). Although the nation has fewer than 11,000 citizens, they are sufficiently convinced of its imminent disappearance that they have already begun to evacuate. New Zealand has agreed to grant “environmental refugee” status to 75 Tuvaluans per year, but according to some estimates, the nation may be entirely covered with water in as little as 50 years. Some of the other island nations most seriously at risk are Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, and Tonga.."
A new geological study has shown that many low-lying Pacific islands are growing, not sinking.
The islands of Tuvalu, Kiribati and the Federated States of Micronesia are among those which have grown, because of coral debris and sediment.
The study, featured in the magazine the New Scientist, predicts that the islands will still be there in 100 years' time.
However it is still unsure whether many of them will be inhabitable.
In recent times, the inhabitants of many low-lying Pacific islands have come to fear their homelands being wiped off the map because of rising sea levels.
But this study of 27 islands over the last 60 years suggests that most have remained stable, while some have actually grown.
Using historical photographs and satellite imaging, the geologists found that 80% of the islands had either remained the same or got larger - in some cases, dramatically so.
They say it is due to the build-up of coral debris and sediment, and to land reclamation.
"That rather gloomy prognosis for these nations is incorrect," he said.
"We have now got the evidence to suggest that the physical foundation of these countries will still be there in 100 years, so they perhaps do not need to flee their country."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia_pacific/10222679.stm (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia_pacific/10222679.stm)
I thought that this global warming think would see the end of these islands in a couple of years, do you remember:
March 25, 2005: "There’s also Tuvalu, in the Pacific ocean between Hawaii and Australia, with a maximum elevation of 4.6 meters (15 feet). Although the nation has fewer than 11,000 citizens, they are sufficiently convinced of its imminent disappearance that they have already begun to evacuate. New Zealand has agreed to grant “environmental refugee” status to 75 Tuvaluans per year, but according to some estimates, the nation may be entirely covered with water in as little as 50 years. Some of the other island nations most seriously at risk are Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, and Tonga.."
A new geological study has shown that many low-lying Pacific islands are growing, not sinking.
The islands of Tuvalu, Kiribati and the Federated States of Micronesia are among those which have grown, because of coral debris and sediment.
The study, featured in the magazine the New Scientist, predicts that the islands will still be there in 100 years' time.
However it is still unsure whether many of them will be inhabitable.
In recent times, the inhabitants of many low-lying Pacific islands have come to fear their homelands being wiped off the map because of rising sea levels.
But this study of 27 islands over the last 60 years suggests that most have remained stable, while some have actually grown.
Using historical photographs and satellite imaging, the geologists found that 80% of the islands had either remained the same or got larger - in some cases, dramatically so.
They say it is due to the build-up of coral debris and sediment, and to land reclamation.
"That rather gloomy prognosis for these nations is incorrect," he said.
"We have now got the evidence to suggest that the physical foundation of these countries will still be there in 100 years, so they perhaps do not need to flee their country."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia_pacific/10222679.stm (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia_pacific/10222679.stm)