As the global climate is warming, sea levels are rising. This leaves an uncertain future for many low-lying islands including the Pacific Islands β will they sink? See our website for more information:
2. www.worldweatheronline.com
As the global climate is warming, sea levels
are rising.
This leaves an uncertain future for many
low-lying islands including the Pacific
Islands β will they sink?
Whatβs this about?
3. www.worldweatheronline.com
How is it making sea levels rise?
β’ Thermal expansion: As the temperature of water increases, it
expands. Almost half of the past centuryβs rise in sea level is a
consequence of the oceans simply occupying more space.
β’ Melting of glaciers and ice caps: With more consistently
higher temperatures caused by global climate change, the
glaciers and ice caps are melting more over the summer. There is
a decreased amount of snowfall in the winter. Therefore there is
significant net gain in runoff versus evaporation for the ocean,
causing sea levels to rise.
β’ Ice loss from Greenland and West Antarctica: Increased
heat is causing the massive ice sheets that cover Greenland and
Antarctica to melt at an accelerated pace.
4. www.worldweatheronline.com
Will the Pacific Islands disappear?
Not necessarily. Undeveloped reef islands change shape and
move around in response to shifting sediments. Also many of
them are growing in size, not shrinking, as sea level inches
upward.
However islands that have been transformed by human
development such as Tuvalu (600 miles north of Fiji) which
have seawalls, roads, and water and electricity systems that
are locked in place, may not have such a bright future.