The Maldives archipelago consists of around 1200 islands covering an area of approximately 800 kilometers in the Indian Ocean, and they are generally thought to be some of the most beautiful tropical islands on our planet. These islands, and indeed this country, are threatened by rising sea levels since they are all only a couple of meters above sea level.
Just a small increase in sea levels would cause most, if not all, of the islands be submerged by the Indian Ocean, and those that would still have land above sea level would be virtually uninhabitable. Maldives resorts like Baros island, Filitheyo island and Kuredu island which are very popular with thousands of tourists each years may be lost to the sea within a matter of decades.
As well as the threat from sea-level change the islands are also under a very real threat from an increase in ocean temperature. Increases in water temperature could destroy the coral reefs that play a large part in protecting these islands from waves.
Global warming has always been a point of conjecture among many environmental scientists, however, the unprecedented rapid melting of Arctic sea ice in 2007 has turned the view of many and now many agree that there is a definate warming and it is happening more rapidly than was originally thought.
James Hansen, a leading climatologist, published a research paper in 2008 which demonstrated that the safe atmospheric limit for carbon dioxide in the atmosphere was 350 parts per million, anything higher bringing about a negative envrionmental impacts. The level of CO2 is already at a concentration of 390 ppm and rising.
The Maldives are not the only country under immediate threat, countries like Bangladesh are already suffering flooding to the sea levels have risen in the last decade; forests across western North America and Europe are succumbing to non-native pests that are moving into these warmer areas.
The recent pledge of the G8 nations to take measures to try and counteract temperature increase to only 2 degrees and atmospheric concentration of Carbon Dioxide to 450 parts per million hasnt placated many environmentalists. The fact that we are already seeing the negative effects of warming is has alarmed many who claim the figures are now out of date.
Over 100 world leaders will meet later this month (October 2009) for the United Nations? Climate Change Summit. On 24th October 2009, the Maldives will hold the largest underwater political demonstration in history with and divers taking banners down to the coral reefs as a publicity stunt to remind everyone of what is at stake. At present we are not totally sure, but it seems inevitable that holidays to the Maldives may be over in the future.
Just a small increase in sea levels would cause most, if not all, of the islands be submerged by the Indian Ocean, and those that would still have land above sea level would be virtually uninhabitable. Maldives resorts like Baros island, Filitheyo island and Kuredu island which are very popular with thousands of tourists each years may be lost to the sea within a matter of decades.
As well as the threat from sea-level change the islands are also under a very real threat from an increase in ocean temperature. Increases in water temperature could destroy the coral reefs that play a large part in protecting these islands from waves.
Global warming has always been a point of conjecture among many environmental scientists, however, the unprecedented rapid melting of Arctic sea ice in 2007 has turned the view of many and now many agree that there is a definate warming and it is happening more rapidly than was originally thought.
James Hansen, a leading climatologist, published a research paper in 2008 which demonstrated that the safe atmospheric limit for carbon dioxide in the atmosphere was 350 parts per million, anything higher bringing about a negative envrionmental impacts. The level of CO2 is already at a concentration of 390 ppm and rising.
The Maldives are not the only country under immediate threat, countries like Bangladesh are already suffering flooding to the sea levels have risen in the last decade; forests across western North America and Europe are succumbing to non-native pests that are moving into these warmer areas.
The recent pledge of the G8 nations to take measures to try and counteract temperature increase to only 2 degrees and atmospheric concentration of Carbon Dioxide to 450 parts per million hasnt placated many environmentalists. The fact that we are already seeing the negative effects of warming is has alarmed many who claim the figures are now out of date.
Over 100 world leaders will meet later this month (October 2009) for the United Nations? Climate Change Summit. On 24th October 2009, the Maldives will hold the largest underwater political demonstration in history with and divers taking banners down to the coral reefs as a publicity stunt to remind everyone of what is at stake. At present we are not totally sure, but it seems inevitable that holidays to the Maldives may be over in the future.
About the Author:
You can read more about how warming is affecting the Maldives at the maldives islands tourist guide where Sarah writes and also about holidays to maldives.
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