Maldives Sea level changes MaldivesIntroduction The Maldives is

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Maldives Sea level changes

Maldives Sea level changes

Maldives-Introduction The Maldives is a group of coral islands in the Indian ocean and

Maldives-Introduction The Maldives is a group of coral islands in the Indian ocean and they are just west of India and Sri Lanka. The capital is Male. Maldives is the smallest Asian country in both size and population, it is also the lowest country on the planet, as on average is 1. 5 m above sea level. In July 2013 it had a population of 393, 500 people Coral reefs are ridges of rock in the sea formed by the growth and deposit of coral

Rising sea levels • 80% of its 1, 200 islands are no more than

Rising sea levels • 80% of its 1, 200 islands are no more than 1 m above sea level, so within the next 100 years these islands will be inhabitable- leaving 360, 000 people to be evacuated • This has led them to sign the Kyoto protocol, so there is targets which are set to cut industrialised countries greenhouse gases • The capital Male has had to have 3 m high walls built around it, but not going to protect them for long as only really protecting them from tidal surges and not rising sea levels • People living in Kandholhudhoo have their houses flooded every two weeks

Impacts People: • • • 360, 000 citizens are going to be forced to

Impacts People: • • • 360, 000 citizens are going to be forced to evacuate Already 60% of residents in Kandholhudhoo have volunteered to evacuate over next 15 years Less tourism to the Maldives, so less jobs and a declining economy Economy: • More money has to be spent on defences- so can’t spend as much on Environmental: public services or on resources that are needed • Lose of coral reefs as they need light and that occurs within shallow water, but the sea level is rising. - Also corals cant survive with sea levels above 25 m - Dredging also ruins the coral reef Shows changes in their coral reefs

Solution’s • They have already erected sea walls around one of the islands, but

Solution’s • They have already erected sea walls around one of the islands, but that is not going to protect them from the ever increasing sea levels • Maduvari- dredged sand from the lagoon to build temporary defences • Could build higher artificial islands, but that would only provide room for a small proportion of their population • Migration • Become carbon neutral, which they are close to becoming • Another solution is for them to create floating islands • For their coral reefs they plan to educate, train and create legislations so they will be even more protected