[40] Of the three northern islands (Nanumanga, Niutao, Nanumea), Nanumanga suffered the most damage, with 60–100 houses flooded and damage to the health facility. The presentation is understated and effective. 0% On Funafuti and on the other islands, rainwater collected off the corrugated iron roofs of buildings is now the primary source of fresh water. The storm surge resulting from a tropical cyclone can dramatically shift coral debris. land: Tuvalu has adopted a national plan of action as the observable transformations over the last ten to fifteen years show Tuvaluans that there have been changes to the sea levels. [23][24] A cyclone struck Nukulaelae on 17–18 March 1886. [23] Captain Davis of HMS Royalist, who visited the Ellice Group in 1892, recorded in the ship's diary that in February 1891 the Ellice Group was devastated by a severe cyclone.

Tuvalu signed the Pacific Islands Cetaceans Memorandum of Understanding on 9 September 2010. The islets that form the atolls are very low-lying. Periods of low rainfall can also result in contraction of the freshwater lens as the coconut trees and other vegetation draw up the water at a greater than recharge than it can be recharged.

Given the approach - the human side of sea level rise - slideshow could be used as a conversation-starter with students. [82] Professor Edgeworth David of the University of Sydney was a member of the 1896 "Funafuti Coral Reef Boring Expedition of the Royal Society", under Professor William Sollas and lead the expedition in 1897. On 3 October 2011, drought conditions resulted in a state of emergency being declared as water reserves ran low. Scientists present data and projections that suggest that, by the end of the century, the oceans could be one meter or more above their current levels.

[93], In recent years the Tuvaluan community have raised concerns over increased salinity of the groundwater in pits that are used to cultivate pulaka. Temperatures in Tuvalu range between 26.0 – 32.0 degrees Celsius. [65] As a result of historical sea level rise, the king tide events lead to flooding of low-lying areas, which is compounded when sea levels are further raised by La Niña effects or local storms and waves. It is situated 4,000 kilometers (2,500 mi) northeast of Australia and is approximately halfway between Hawaii and Australia. Drilling occurred in 1896, 1897 and 1898. 0 km², Area – comparative: It comprises numerous islets around a central lagoon that is approximately 25.1 kilometres (15.6 mi) (N–S) by 18.4 kilometres (11.4 mi) (W-E), centred on 179°7’E and 8°30’S. [4] However, this process does not result in additional habitable land.[5]. It lies east-northeast of the Santa Cruz Islands (belonging to the Solomons), southeast of Nauru, south of Kiribati, west of Tokelau, northwest of Samoa and Wallis and Futuna and north of Fiji. From this point it rises vertically, like an enormous pillar, till reaches the surface in the form of a reef enclosing a lagoon of irregular size, but of which the extremities give a measurement of 13.5 by 10.0 miles". These alternations to the reef and shoreline have resulted in changes to wave patterns with less sand accumulating to form the beaches as compared to former times; and the shoreline is now exposed to wave action. The rains, occurring in the form of downpours of thunderstorms, can be intense, but usually do not last long, and do not greatly reduce the hours of sunshine. [33][34] An estimated 45 percent of the nation's nearly 10,000 people were displaced, according to Prime Minister Enele Sopoaga. [48], The eastern shoreline of Fongafale in the Funafuti lagoon (Te Namo) was modified during World War II; several piers were constructed, beach areas filled, and deep water access channels were excavated. In contrast, Tepuka Vili Vili has suffered a net loss in area of 22 percent since 1896. [85], The freshwater lens of each atoll is a fragile system.

[25] A cyclone caused severe damage to the islands in 1894.[26]. Funafuti is the largest atoll of the nine low reef islands and atolls that form the Tuvalu volcanic island chain. [66][67], Tuvalu experiences westerly gales and heavy rain from October to March – the period that is known as Tau-o-lalo; with tropical temperatures moderated by easterly winds from April to November. Nanumaga, Niutao, Niulakita are reef islands and the six true atolls are Funafuti, Nanumea, Nui, Nukufetau, Nukulaelae and Vaitupu. Cyclone Ofa had a major impact on Tuvalu in late January and early February 1990. Due to the spread out islands it has the 38th largest Exclusive Economic Zone of 749,790 km2 (289,500 sq mi). The shape and orientation of the reef has also changed over time. contiguous zone:

permanent crops: exclusive economic zone: [6] Westerly gales and heavy rain are the predominate weather conditions from October to March, the period that is known as Tau-o-lalo, with tropical temperatures moderated by easterly winds from April to November. The dry seasons are between December and begin February and from June to mid September; the rainy seasons last from February to end May, and from September to end November. [60] Paul Kench at the University of Auckland in New Zealand and Arthur Webb at the South Pacific Applied Geoscience Commission in Fiji released a study in 2010 on the dynamic response of reef islands to sea level rise in the central Pacific. [71] Researchers from Japan have investigated rebuilding the coral reefs through introduction of foraminifera.

As a result, many residents are moving off the island to New Zealand, where they face major cultural changes. 26 km² Over 4 decades, there had been a net increase in land area of the islets of 73.5 ha (2.9%), although the changes are not uniform, with 74% increasing and 27% decreasing in size.

Climate: Tuvalu (formerly Ellice Islands), an archipelago located in the Pacific Ocean to the south of the Equator, has an equatorial climate, ie hot, humid and rainy throughout the year. [77] The project was carried out in 2015 with 365,000 sqm of sand being dredged from the lagoon to fill the holes and improve living conditions on the island. No. territorial sea: However, the highest elevations are typically in narrow storm dunes on the ocean side of the islands which are prone to over topping in tropical cyclones, such as occurred on Funafuti with Cyclone Bebe.

[57], Because of the low elevation, the islands that make up this nation are threatened by current and future sea level rise. [35][36] The three northern islands, Nanumea, Nanumanga and Niutao were badly affected by flooding as the result of storm surges.

Tuvalu experienced an average of three cyclones per decade between the 1940s and 1970s, however eight occurred in the 1980s. This investigation followed the work on The Structure and Distribution of Coral Reefs conducted by Charles Darwin in the Pacific. unnamed location, 4.6 metres (15 ft) on Niulakita.

[40], Nui suffered the most damage of the three central islands (Nui, Nukufetau and Vaitupu);[41] with both Nui and Nukufetau suffering the loss of 90% of the crops. Typhoons are usually not a danger for the Tuvalu, because the usual routes of these Storms are too far north in the northern Hemisphere Typhoon Season, and too far south in the Southern Hemisphere Typhoon Season. On the atolls an annular reef rim surrounds the lagoon, with several natural reef channels. Coastal regions will be flooded and low-lying nations such as the tiny South Pacific country of Tuvalu could be submerged. Severe tropical cyclones are usually rare, however the low level of islands makes them very sensitive to sea-level rise. The wet season (October – March) brings tropical cyclones which inflict extensive damage … The coconut palms were washed away, leaving the islet as a sand bar. [68] Aid programs of Australia and the European Union have been directed to improving the storage capacity on Funafuti and in the outer islands. [69], The reefs at Funafuti have suffered damage, with 80 per cent of the coral having been bleached as a consequence of the increase of the ocean temperatures and acidification from increased levels of carbon dioxide. The Western Pacific nation of Tuvalu, formerly known as the Ellice Islands. [85] Water pollution is also a chronic problem, with domestic wastewater identified as the primary pollution source. Tropical cyclones and other storm events also result in wave wash over and extreme high water also occurs during spring tides. other: [5] but as of March 2018 Enele Sopoaga, the prime minister of Tuvalu, stated that Tuvalu is not expanding and has gained no additional habitable land. The native broadleaf forest is limited to 4.1% of the vegetation types on the islands of Tuvalu. [76] The New Zealand Government funded the BPR project. This resource can be used in a variety of types of lessons in geography, climate change, environmental science and anthropology. [47]The northern part of the Funafuti lagoon has a deep basin (maximum depth recorded of 54.7 m) basin, and the southern part of the lagoon has very narrow shallow basin.

This article incorporates public domain material from the CIA World Factbook website https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/index.html. This is a natural climate pattern that occurs across the tropical Pacific Ocean and affects weather around the world. About half of Fongafale islet is reclaimed swamp that contains porous, highly permeable coral blocks that allow the tidal forcing of salt water. In 2013 a feasibility study was carried out and in 2014 the Tuvalu Borrow Pits Remediation (BPR) project was approved, so that all ten borrow pits would be filled, leaving Tafua Pond, which is a natural pond. [5], Tuvalu experiences two distinct seasons, a wet season from November to April and a dry season from May to October. 0.1 times the size of Washington, DC, Maritime claims:

749,790 km2 (289,500 sq mi) and 200 nmi (370 km)

Nukulaelae and Niutao each had one pit area in which salinity concentrations thought to be too high for successful swamp taro growth. Over 4 decades, there had been a net increase in land area of the islets of 73.5 ha (2.9%), although the changes are not uniform, with 74% increasing and 27% decreasing in size. [37][38][39] The Situation Report published on 30 March reported that on Nukufetau all the displaced people have returned to their homes.

The average depth in the Funafuti lagoon is about 20 fathoms (36.5 metres or 120 feet). There is earthquake activity in the Solomon Islands, where earthquakes occurred along the boundary of the Pacific Plate with, respectively, the Indo-Australia, Woodlark, and Solomon Sea plates. In 1972 Funafuti was in the path of Cyclone Bebe. The Western Pacific nation of Tuvalu, formerly known as the Ellice Islands. 40% (2011).