Your Daily Dish

Feeding Outrageous to you Daily

Hide Advertisement
  • Animals
    • Farm
    • Pets
    • Zoo
    • Wildlife
  • Family
    • Grandparents
    • Kids
    • Parents
  • Health
    • Exercise
    • Food
    • Medical
  • Humor
  • Lifestyle
    • News
    • Science & Tech
    • Travel
  • Videos
Site logo
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

It’s Happening: Climate Change Has Submerged 5 Pacific Islands in Recent Decades

By Jason Owen 2 min read
Advertisement - Continue reading below
Source: IOP Publishing/Simon Albert
Source: IOP Publishing/Simon Albert

For many, the effects of man-made climate change will take several decades to manifest, but for some, those life-changing events are already occurring.

A new study, published in Environmental Research Letters, shows that five of the Solomon Islands, an archipelago Northeast of Australia, have completely been swallowed up by the Pacific Ocean. The islands have slowly submerged beneath the ocean over the past seven decades, which may sound like a long time, but it’s the recent unnatural changes that have scientists alarmed.

Advertisement

The study was conducted by a group of Australian researchers who compared aerial and satellite imagery of 33 islands from 1947 to 2014. Scientists found that over the past 20 years, sea levels in the archipelago have risen at a rate of seven to 10 mm (.28 to .39 inches) annually, three times the global average, CNN reported. The rising sea levels are also a result of the intensification of trade winds, which scientists believe are also caused by global warming.

As CNN wrote, “The study is the first scientific confirmation of what residents in the Pacific have been saying for years — their islands are disappearing.”

Source: IOP Publishing/Simon Albert
Source: IOP Publishing/Simon Albert

Simon Albert, the study’s lead author from the University of Queensland, told CNN:

“The human element of this is alarming. Working alongside people on the frontline who have lost their family home – that they’ve had for four to five generations – it’s quite alarming.”

Along with the five islands that are now submerged under the ocean, an additional six islands have lost at least 20 percent of their surface area and have forced communities in the low-lying shoreline regions to relocate their homes.

And while the loss of these five islands over seven decades may seem relatively slow to some, the rate at which sea levels will rise is only going to increase as global temperatures continue their upward climb – unless serious consideration is paid to stop global warming on a worldwide scale. To envision what might happen then, the researchers say what’s happening in the Pacific now is a good indicator.

“So the Solomon Islands are like a natural laboratory that gives us a good indication of what we can expect globally. What we are seeing there will become the norm,” Albert told CNN.

And as the research study says, “Climate change induced sea-level rise is anticipated to be one of the greatest challenges for humanity over the coming century.”

Advertisement - Continue reading below

sdfdsf

Heidi Klum eying private island off coast of Connecticut
Entertainment
Sara Wilkins 1 min read

Heidi Klum eying private island off coast of Connecticut

Reporter Takes Terrifying Ride on Glass Slide 1,000 Feet Above the Ground in LA
Lifestyle
Brian Delpozo 2 min read

Reporter Takes Terrifying Ride on Glass Slide 1,000 Feet Above the Ground in LA

Take a Stroll Through Beautiful Nature Every Time You Take the Stairs
Lifestyle
Jason Owen 2 min read

Take a Stroll Through Beautiful Nature Every Time You Take the Stairs

The Body Count Rises In New Trailer For Quentin Tarantino’s ‘Hateful Eight’
Entertainment
Jason Owen 1 min read

The Body Count Rises In New Trailer For Quentin Tarantino’s ‘Hateful Eight’

Helen Mirren Warns U.S. Voters Over Donald Trump, Ted Cruz
Entertainment
Sara Wilkins 2 min read

Helen Mirren Warns U.S. Voters Over Donald Trump, Ted Cruz

Tragic Death of 2-Year-Old Boy Saves the Life of 18-Month-Old Girl
News
Brian Delpozo 2 min read

Tragic Death of 2-Year-Old Boy Saves the Life of 18-Month-Old Girl

K9 Comfort Dogs Help Ease Pain Following Orlando Tragedy
Apple
Jason Owen 2 min read

K9 Comfort Dogs Help Ease Pain Following Orlando Tragedy

Disney Bosses Shoot Down Princess Diaries 3 Reports
Entertainment
Sara Wilkins 1 min read

Disney Bosses Shoot Down Princess Diaries 3 Reports

Tyler Perry Sickened By Church Massacre
Entertainment
Sara Wilkins 1 min read

Tyler Perry Sickened By Church Massacre

Governor Andrew Cuomo Reveals Renovation Plans for New York’s Penn Station
News
Margo Gothelf 2 min read

Governor Andrew Cuomo Reveals Renovation Plans for New York’s Penn Station

This Homeless Man Returned a Woman’s Purse Intact, and She Changed His Life
Trending
Brian Delpozo 2 min read

This Homeless Man Returned a Woman’s Purse Intact, and She Changed His Life

Marvel’s Kevin Feige: ‘Spider-Man Will Be the New Harry Potter’
Apple
Sara Wilkins 2 min read

Marvel’s Kevin Feige: ‘Spider-Man Will Be the New Harry Potter’

sidebar

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

sidebar-alt

  • About
  • Contact Us
  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • For Advertisers