Posted on 01/22/2008 7:02:07 PM PST by blam
Tuvalu struggles to hold back tide
The King Tide hits the islands of Tuvalu
By David Shukman
Environment correspondent, BBC News, Tuvalu
The fragile strips of green that make up the small islands of Tuvalu are incredibly beautiful but also incredibly vulnerable.
The group of nine tiny islands in the South Pacific only just break the surface of the ocean - but for how much longer?
During a King Tide, which is what the islanders call the highest tides of the year, waves rolling off the ocean can have a devastating effect.
The islands' main road is submerged and nearby homes are threatened by the rising waters.
"We have never seen this in the past," a concerned resident tells me. "We have never seen water coming in this far."
No respect
It is not just the shoreline that is at the mercy of the King Tide's sovereignty, the water also surges up from underground through the coral on which the islands are built.
The rising tide does not stop to pay its respects at a funeral
In the space of just an hour, the lowest areas are all flooded.
Everyone feels the impact; a priest has to step carefully through the waters on his way to conduct a funeral.
The higher the King Tides get, the harder it is to keep things going here. A woman tells me that she is unable to grow any food crops because the land has become too salty.
The sea water is poisoning the soil and people are nervous. "It makes me feel scared," another woman confesses. "What will happen to us in 10 years' time?"
Factors behind sea level rise
The rising waters are slowly creeping into the heart of these islands and slowly but effectively killing them off.
Water bubbles up in tiny streams; and everywhere you look, it just lies on the surface.
And the problem is getting worse. A local meteorologist tells me that the King Tides are getting higher, and it is a trend set to continue.
"The King Tides are getting worse and most of the coastal areas will be washed out," he forecasts for the coming decade.
Runway 'essential'
It is a gloomy prognosis for life on these shores. A typical high tide reaches about two-and-a-half metres, while a King Tide like this can be more than three metres.
The UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) forecasts a rise of up to another half metre.
It is cold comfort for Tuvaluans, when the highest point of the islands reaches just about four-and-a-half metres above the encroaching waves.
Each scenario will cost Tuvalu precious land. Only a small rise will see parts of the islands disappear.
This includes the runway, which is a vital lifeline to the outside world.
People here say there must be a technological fix if a rich country like Dubai can build entirely new islands.
But the problem is that these islands are founded on coral which is porous; saving these islands will cost a fortune.
For the children, the floods are fun. However, for them to lead their lives on these islands will require massive international support.
But with a population of just 11,000 people, will the outside world think it is worthwhile?
"SYDNEY - The tiny Pacific nation of Tuvalu is stepping up its threat to sue Australia and the United States over their greenhouse gas emissions, saying these are bound to drown the island as warmer global temperatures send sea levels rising. "
At least their island hasn’t been partially evaporated and radiated by nuclear bombs.
King Canute, pick up a white courtesy phone, please.
As for the USA and Australia... perhaps we should just run out the clock, once the island is submerged, they can't sue anyone.
That bit of information does complicate things some...I expect.
If Tuvalu ceases to exist, will the .TV Internet domain go away?
I thought they sank years ago.
Tuvalu is “sinking” because they are pumping the fresh water out from under the island. and doing excavation for building. any number of studies have been done which confirm that there has been about ZERO sea level rise. Because these nutters are yammering about it all the time, it is the first stop for a photo opportunity in any global warming TV piece. It is a crock - very large one.
Everyone in the world wants a hand-out. Maybe with our own economic woes at home we’ll quit being Santa to countries who hate us.
I’m in the middle of listening to Crichton’s ‘State of Fear’...
Why? No legal standing?
But with a population of just 11,000 people, will the outside world think it is worthwhile?
No. Just move somewhere else.
Legal standing? Apparently just no place to stand at all.
At a guess, you can breathe water, learn aquaculture, or MOVE.
(yeah, it was a joke...)
I rather liked it.
Thank you. I’ll be here all week. Try the veal...
Personal responsibility seems to have become a lost art. I mean crikey, when saltwater bubbles up out of the ground and forms ponds, its time to think about some practical alternatives aside from suing the US.
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