Could a tsunami wipe out the Maldives?

Maldives atolls form a natural protection against tsunamis. Their slopes constitute very long submarine walls, which upon the arrival of a tsunami, dramatically reduces the force of the ocean wave. In 2004, without this natural and vital protection, the Maldives would have probably been completely devastated.



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According to the World Bank, with future sea levels projected to increase in the range of 10 to 100 centimeters by the year 2100, the entire country could be submerged. By 2050, 80% of the country could become uninhabitable due to global warming.

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Researchers show that using simple engineering principals to raise islands or build new ones can help small island nations like the Maldives withstand long-term sea level rise due to climate change.

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Climate change is already posing increasing challenges in Maldives, with more frequent soil erosion, loss of beaches and saltwater intrusion into land and freshwater sources. Rising ocean temperatures are leading to reduced tuna catches.

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Beach erosion is commonly reported as the main environmental threat that the country faces. Beach erosion categorised by the government as “severe”, where land is being rapidly lost to the sea, is present today on most inhabited islands.

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The low-lying island nation, one of the world's most vulnerable to climate change, has commissioned a major shore protection and land reclamation scheme using sand dredged from a lagoon, despite concerns about the impact on this Unesco biosphere reserve.

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The shallow waters of Maldives abound with Black tip and white tip reef sharks. They are found almost everywhere from the deeper parts of the lagoons to the reefs and till the point in the lagoon where the beach starts. They swim really fast in shallow waters and are not dangerous.

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Why Is The Maldives Water So Blue And Clear? Maldives water is known for its abundance of coral reefs. The waters of Maldives are known to consist of coral reefs and “phytoplankton” which absorbs blue and green colours from the sunlight due to which it causes clean water and you can see crystal clear reflection.

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How much is the Maldives sinking per year? Since the 1950s, sea level in and around the Maldives has been rising at a rate of 0.03–0.06 inches (0.8–1.6 millimeters) per year. Because of the Maldivian topography, small changes in sea level translate into extensive land inundation.

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