Maldives Is Sinking

Millions of tourists visit the Maldives every year to experience its clear emerald water, beautiful beaches and breathtaking underwater scenery. However, this tourist paradise is about to disappear. Researchers from NASA and the U.S Geological Survey predicted that 80% of the Maldives will be underwater by 2050. Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, president of the Maldives, said during the U.N Climate Change Conference,”If we do not reverse this trend, the Maldives will cease to exist by the end of this century.” 

Over 80% of the total land area is less than 1 meter above sea level, making the Maldives very vulnerable to rising sea level. According to data obtained from NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, sea level has risen by 100.8 millimeters since 1993 with the rate of global mean sea level(GMSL) change of 3.4 mm/year. Changes in GMSL are caused by 3 processes: ice melting, thermal expansion, and land water storage. Two of those processes are related to global warming, as the temperature of the Earth increases, ice sheets and glaciers melts, resulting in the addition of water into the ocean. Aside from melting ice, heat gets absorbed by ocean water, causing them to expand.

The Maldives is not the only holiday destination that’s predicted to disappear due to climate change. Venice in Italy, the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, Glacier National Park in Montana are only a few examples, which is why it is very important for us to start fighting climate change. Switch to more sustainable modes of transportation such as bicycle, electric vehicle, and public transport, conserve electricity or use solar panels, recycle your wastes, replant trees, and use sustainable products. Those are simple steps that you can do to play a role in this battle.

By: Alvin Christian

Sources :

Penyebab Dan Dampak Perubahan Iklim. (2022). Retrieved 20 July 2022, from https://indonesia.un.org/id/175273-penyebab-dan-dampak-perubahan-iklim#Tindakan_individu

11 Amazing Destinations that Will Disappear Soon Due to Climate Change. (2022). Retrieved 20 July 2022,from https://www.trip.com/blog/11-amazing-destinations-that-will-disappear-soon-due-to-climate-change/

News, A. (2022). Facing dire sea level rise threat, Maldives turns to climate change solutions to survive. Retrieved 20 July 2022, from https://abcnews.go.com/International/facing-dire-sea-level-rise-threat-maldives-turns/story?id=80929487

Alarming! 80% Of Maldives Might Be Underwater By 2050 Due To Climate Change. (2022). Retrieved 20 July 2022, from https://curlytales.com/alarming-80-of-maldives-might-be-underwater-by-2050-due-to-climate-change/

Preparing for Rising Seas in the Maldives. (2022). Retrieved 20 July 2022, from https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/148158/preparing-for-rising-seas-in-the-maldives