Oceans - Sea level rise Maldives CS Flashcards
Where is it located?
The Maldives is an independent island country in north central Indian Ocean
What’s the total pop.?
400,000
What is the total renewable water available per year?
0.03 km^3/yr
What is a Small Island Developing State?
- Low-lying coastal countries
- Isolated fragile environments
Where are SIDs located?
- Caribbean
- Pacific
- Atlantic
- South China Sea
- Indian Ocean
What’s the aggregate population of all SIDs?
65 million
What challenges do SIDs face?
- Remote geography -> face high import and export costs
- Narrow resource base
How many times bigger is the EEZ compared to the land mass?
2.8 times
What makes Maldives vulnerable to sea level rise?
> 80% of land is less than 1m above mean sea level
Why is sea level rise an issue for Maldives?
Lack of topography
How is beach erosion a threat?
- Land lost to sea -> more frequent coastal flooding
- Peoples homes being lost -> pop homeless
Why are waves a threat?
Wave driven flooding more common -> freshwater limited -> effect agriculture industry
How does sea level rise affect agriculture?
- Salt water toxic to plants -> can intrude aquifers -> damage livelihoods
How much of the land is permanent crops?
10%
How far from the coastline are Maldives two international airports?
50 meters
How does sea level rise have an impact on the economy?
- Five airports - threatened
- 128 harbours - threatened
What are the consequences of sea level rise?
- Increased unemployment
- Increased emigration
What % of the GDP is agriculture?
3%
What % of GDP is services?
80%
What % of services does tourism make up?
30%
What are the short term adaptions?
- Forced migration - environmental refugees
- Sea wall defences
- Storms transport offshore sediment -> Island build up
What is the Adaption Fund + UN Development Programme?
- Harvesting water
- Desalination of sea water
- The implantation of water recharge systems
Why is it difficult for Maldives to adapt?
Limited capacity to prepare monitor and respond
When is the wet season (monsoon)?
June - August
How much of the population is over 25?
56%
How much of employment make up services?
70%
What are the long term adaptions?
- Dutch firm - build 5000 floating homes -> on pontoons
- Artificially raising existing islands -> high elevation
How can economy be made sustainable?
Shift to circular waste management policy and to “circular economy”
What action do the EU plan to take?
- Development of tech
- Pushing green agenda in schools -> chance of green future
What does MEERY stand for?
Maldives Enhance Employability and Resilience of Youth
How could the soil be affected?
- The soil is shallow on most islands
- Floods could easily wash surface layer away
- Plants can’t grow
