Maldives Coastal Flooding

Question 1

Maldives Coastal Flooding

Describe the Maldives…

Answer 1

Small archipelago in the Indian Ocean

Question 2

Maldives Coastal Flooding

What is the average island height above sea level?

Answer 2

1.5m

Question 3

Maldives Coastal Flooding

What percentage of land is below 1m above sea level?

Answer 3

80%

Question 4

Maldives Coastal Flooding

What is 80% of land?

Answer 4

Less than 1m above sea level

Question 5

Maldives Coastal Flooding

How long before scientists think the island will be submerged?

Answer 5

50-100 years

Question 6

Maldives Coastal Flooding

What do scientists think will happen in 50-100 years?

Answer 6

Island will be completely submerged due to rising sea levels

Question 7

Maldives Coastal Flooding

What 2 economic impacts will coastal flooding have on the Maldives?

Answer 7

Loss of tourism and disrupted fishing industries

Question 8

Maldives Coastal Flooding

What 2 environmental impacts will coastal flooding have on the Maldives?

Answer 8

Loss of beaches and loss of soil

Question 9

Maldives Coastal Flooding

What 2 social impacts will coastal flooding have on the Maldives?

Answer 9

Houses damaged or destroyed and less fresh water available

Question 10

Maldives Coastal Flooding

What 3 political impacts will coastal flooding have on the Maldives?

Answer 10

Changes to environmental policies, changes to long term plans and religious on other countries to support them like Japan.

Question 11

Maldives Coastal Flooding

How will loss of tourism impact the Maldives?

Answer 11

Tourism is large industry for Maldives making up 30% of GDP. If main airport can’t operate, country will be cut off from international tourists, reducing countries income.

Question 12

Maldives Coastal Flooding

How will a disrupted fishing industry impact the Maldives?

Answer 12

Fish are Maldives largest export. Flooding may damage fish reprocessing plants, reducing number of exports and income made.

Question 13

Maldives Coastal Flooding

How will damaged or destroyed houses impact the Maldives?

Answer 13

Severe flood could make entire communities homeless

Question 14

Maldives Coastal Flooding

How will less fresh water available impact the Maldives?

Answer 14

Supplies are already low on island. If supplies are polluted with salty seawater during flood, island has to rely on rainwater or build expensive desalination plants to meet demand.

Question 15

Maldives Coastal Flooding

How will a loss of beaches impact the Maldives?

Answer 15

Flooding wears away beaches at rapid rate which destroys habitats and exposes land behind beach to effects of flooding.

Question 16

Maldives Coastal Flooding

How will a loss of soil impact the Maldives?

Answer 16

Soil on most of island is shallow so flooding easily washes away layer meaning most plants wouldn’t grow.

Question 17

Maldives Coastal Flooding

How shallow is soil?

Answer 17

20cm or less

Question 18

Maldives Coastal Flooding

How will changes to environmental policies impact the Maldives?

Answer 18

Increased coastal flooding is due to rising sea level caused by global warming. Maldives pledges to be carbon neutral and is encouraging other governments to do same.

Question 19

Maldives Coastal Flooding

How will changes to long term plans impact the Maldives?

Answer 19

Government is thinking about buying land in countries like India and Australia and moving Maldivians there before island becomes uninhabitable.

Question 20

Maldives Coastal Flooding

What did the Maldivian government have to ask Japan for?

Answer 20

$60 million to build a 3m high sea wall to protect capital, Male.

Question 21

Maldives Coastal Flooding

What may people of the Maldives become if they have to leave their island?

Answer 21

Environmental refugees

Question 22

Maldives Coastal Flooding

What is an environmental refugee?

Answer 22

When people are forced to move from their homes due to changes in environmental or climatic conditions.

Question 23

Maldives Coastal Flooding

What were the Maldives first to sign up to?

Answer 23

Kyoto Protocol

Question 24

Maldives Coastal Flooding

How many islands make up the Maldives?

Answer 24

1190