The Maldives Coastal Flooding

Question 1

How long do scientists predict it will take for the Maldives to be submerged ?

Answer 1

50-100 years

Question 2

What economic impacts does coastal flooding have on the Maldives?

Answer 2

1) Loss of tourism

Tourism is the largest industry in the Maldives, if the airport (Ibrahim Nasir International airport) can’t work due to coastal flooding, the countries income will fall dramatically as around 1 million tourists visit the Maldives each year.

2) Disrupted fishing industry

Fish is the Maldives biggest export. Flooding could damage the fish processing plants, reduce fish exports and therefore the countries income

Question 3

What social impacts would coastal floods have on the Maldives?

Answer 3

1) houses damaged or destroyed-

the communities of the Maldives could become homeless

2) less fresh water available

Supplies are already low on many islands. If supplies are polluted with seawater in floods, then many islands will have to rely on rainwater or build expensive desalination plants to meet demand

Question 4

What environmental impacts would coastal flooding cause?

Answer 4

1) loss of beaches

Coastal flooding wears away beaches at a rapid rate. This destroys habitats and leaves the land behind the beach exposed to the effects of flooding

2) loss of soil

There is little soil on the Maldives ( about 20cm) floods would wash away much of this soil making it impossible for plants to grow

Question 5

What Political impacts has coastal flooding had?

Answer 5

1) the Maldivian government has asked Japan to give them 60 million dollars to build a 3m high sea wall around the capital cute Malé
2) changing environmental policy

The Maldives have pledged to become carbon neutral so that they don’t contribute to global warming. The Maldivian government are encouraging others to follow suit.

3) long term planning

The government is thinking of buying land in Australia or India then moving the population there before the islands become inhabitable

Question 6

How many islands are in the Maldives? What is the population? What is the average height of these islands above sea level?

Answer 6

There are 1190 islands, the population is 300,000.

The average height above sea level for these islands is 1.5m