How is global warming affecting Tuvalu?
How is global warming affecting Tuvalu?
According to local climate data, Iona says the biggest impacts of climate change on Tuvalu have been rising air temperatures, more intense and frequent storm surges and decreasing rainfall, as well as the total inundation of low-lying coastal parts of Funafuti – including, sometimes, the country’s lifeline, its runway.
How has Tuvalu been affected by climate change?
Over four decades, there was a net increase in land area in Tuvalu of 73.5 ha (2.9%), although the changes were not uniform, with 74% of land increasing in size and 27% of land decreasing in size. The sea level at the Funafuti tide gauge has risen at 3.9 mm per year, which is approximately twice the global average.
Why is climate change a problem for Tuvalu?
Coastal erosion is a major problem in Tuvalu, particularly on the western side of the islands. As most Tuvaluans live within coastal areas, additional stress is being placed on the already vulnerable marine ecosystem. Rising sea temperatures are also contributing to coral bleaching and decreasing marine productivity.
What are the issues facing Tuvalu?
The planet’s fourth-smallest nation, they say, faces extinction because of climate change. Rising seas and deadly storms have reportedly started to swamp the islands, and fears are growing that Tuvalu will be uninhabitable or may vanish entirely within a few decades.
What is Tuvalu climate?
Tuvalu has a tropical climate and it is characterized by two distinct seasons, a wet season from November to April and a dry season from May to October. This seasonal cycle is strongly influenced by the South Pacific Convergence.
What is causes the rise of sea level in Tuvalu?
Global sea-level rise is caused by the melting of ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica and the expansion of seawater as it heats up (Humphreys, 2019a).
Which city is sinking into the sea?
Jakarta, Indonesia The capital of Indonesia is the fastest sinking city in the world—it’s sinking at the rate of 6.7 inches per year. By 2050, 95% of North Jakarta will be submerged, according to researchers. The region has already sunk 2.5 meters in 10 years and almost half the city is below sea level.
How often does it rain in Tuvalu?
Precipitation. A wet day is one with at least 0.04 inches of liquid or liquid-equivalent precipitation. The chance of wet days in Tuvalu varies throughout the year. The wetter season lasts 5.9 months, from October 10 to April 6, with a greater than 53% chance of a given day being a wet day.
How hot does Tuvalu get?
80°F to 88°F
The climate in Tuvalu is hot, oppressive, windy, and overcast. Over the course of the year, the temperature typically varies from 80°F to 88°F and is rarely below 77°F or above 90°F.
Will the UK sink?
11 areas of the UK that could be underwater by 2050 if sea levels keep rising. As global sea levels continue to swell, a new study has found that 200,000 homes and businesses in England could be completely submerged in water by 2050.
How much of NYC is underwater?
At 6 feet of sea level rise, 20,000 acres of the city and about 280,000 residents will be underwater.
What places will be flooded by 2050?
There are numerous heavily populated sinking cities like Mumbai, Shanghai, NYC, and Miami at risk. With a population of 10 million, Jakarta is considered by some to be “the fastest-sinking city in the world” and is projected to be “entirely underwater by 2050”.