Where are all the Islands going?: The Science Behind Rising Oceans and Warming Waters in Oceania

By: Sundial

Recently, the United Nations climate conference took place in Dubai and brought hundreds of policymakers and scientists together to discuss the impact of climate change on our planet and oceans. Nobuo Mimura, a researcher with a doctorate from the University of Tokyo and the director of the Institute for Global Change Adaptation Science States that, "Sea level rise is a major effect of climate change." (Mimura, 2013, p. 281) Not only can this cause loss of shoreline on island countries as the ocean begins to rise, but it fuels the rising ocean temperatures? (Colin, 2018, p.131) As found by Dr. Patrick L. Colin, a co-founder and CEO of the Coral Reef Research Foundation, and has been in the field for over 50 years studying the impacts of ocean warming in Oceania. Without island countries, thousands of people would lose access to food and jobs, become homeless, and it would impact the global economy and immigration from countries in Oceania. Through the separate effects of a rising sea level and rising ocean temperatures as well as their combined effects, ocean warming has an extreme negative impact on island countries in Oceania. 

Over time, the increasing heat of the ocean has decreased the amount of corals surrounding islands in Oceania which is vital to their economies. An article published by the Natural History Museum explains that coral bleaching happens when corals expel the symbiotic algae called zooxanthellae that lives inside the corals and gives them their color. While coral bleaching does not kill the coral it makes the coral stressed. (Chetan-Welsh & Hendry, n.d.) The Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS), an Institute run and funded by the Australian government, with a focus on the better understanding of marine environments around Australia found that more than 90% of the food corals consume comes from the symbiotic relationship between coral and algae (AIMS, 2016). Because the oceans store 90% of heat produced in the last 40 years (Mimura, 2013, p. 285), oceans around the world are warm and corals are more likely to expel zooxanthellae and starve without that vital food source. Dr. Tiffany Straza who works for the intergovernmental organization Pacific Regional Environmental Programme finds “Healthy reefs are valuable and save money that would otherwise be lost to storm and flood damages.” (Straza, 2020, p. 47). Dr. Tiffany Straza provides a complementary perspective to science and information gathered by AIMS because for the government to effectively protect their citizens they need this new scientific information on climate change and the value of coastal environments to the island. As the coral populations around islands in Oceania drop as a direct result of global warming, there will be consequences to the islands who rely on that coral for protection from storms and as a source of food, this puts pressure on island governments and citizens which are starting to face a new threat, rising sea levels. 

Sea level rise caused by global warming poses a great threat to islands in Oceania. In an article published by NOAA, a government organization focused on research of the ocean and the atmosphere, they find that sea level has risen 8-9 inches since 1980 due mainly to the meltwater from glaciers and ice sheets and the expansion of water as the ocean warms. (Lindsey, 2022) Nobuo Mimura, the director of the Institute for Global Change Adaptation Science, finds that the greenland ice sheet still can raise sea level by seven meters through its melting (Mimura, 2013, p. 291) and small island countries will be most vulnerable due to loss of shoreline. (Mimura, 2013, p.281) This science shows that increased global sea level rise is imminent though the expansion of water as it warms and the melting of glaciers and ice sheets yet, despite Mimura’s dire warming of loss of shoreline on island countries some contest the idea that sea level rise is a crisis. In an article published by Philip Scott, a professor at the university of London, he states that, “Sea levels have been rising since the end of the last ice age, most rapidly about 12,000 years ago. In recent centuries, the average rate has been relatively uniform.” (Scott, 2007). While that is true Mimura finds that “climate change-related sea level change has its own unique characteristics” (Mimura, 2013, p. 282) This science supports the claim that island citizens are facing a threat to their livelihoods as they fight to keep wetlands and coral reefs which support island native and especially island women as a source of food and work. (Straza, 2020, p. 42) Sea level rise will cause a loss of shoreline, livelihood, and food sources for all island natives and with the combined effects of sea level rise and ocean warming working together, island nations face a great risk from warming oceans. 

Finally, this does not just impact islands separately through occasional waves of heat and rising sea levels but compounds in catastrophic events. “In early March 2016, both seawater temperatures and sea level dramatically and rapidly shifted in Palau,” causing temperature to rise at all depth levels and the sea level rose dramatically leading to massive coral bleaching. (Colin, 2018, p.131) This is because as water molecules heat they spread out so when a big heating event occurs these molecules spread out and raise the sea level. (Colin, 2018, p.131) The information gathered by researchers is relied on by the governments of island countries to plan for the future. Governments must,“Plan to protect coral reefs for inclusive food security, shoreline protection, and social and cultural functions.” (Straza, 2020, p. 48) Not only is this a problem faced by the government but also the citizens of the island as stated, “Pacific people are engaging with innovative solutions to combat the ecosystem effects of climate change” including on the ocean. (Straza, 2020, p. 100) As plans for solutions are put in place, all people and industries on islands in Oceania must be consulted for the good of the people, the island, and the world.

Climate change impacts different places in different ways depending on the resources and location of the place, the Island nations in Oceania are some of the hardest hit due to the rising of both ocean temperatures and sea level which can have devastating impacts. As researchers search for more information on the effects of ocean warming on island nations and Oceania the world must start focusing on solutions to this problem. While Extended shoreline protection does not address the main cause of warming oceans this will help reduce the negative impacts of ocean warming and counteract its effects. It will help support coral reefs and fish that are living around the island so they are not facing additional pressure along with ocean warming, and it will allow for support of island fisheries as fish populations will increase and for the tourist industry as environments flourish. This is not a one person job, but island nations, their citizens and businesses must work alongside international governments and organizations to help put this solution into place effectively and create a lasting solution that works for everyone. This can be a daunting task but through spreading information on the impacts of ocean warming on island countries in the ocean and how the consequences can be worldwide there is hope for finding long lasting solutions. 

References

Bell, J., Taylor, M., Amos, M., & Andrew, N. (n.d.). Climate change and pacific island food systems: The future of food, farming and fishing in the pacific islands under a changing climate. CCAFS and CTA. JSTOR. https://cgspace.cgiar.org/bitstream/handle/10568/75610/Pacific%20Booklet%20Final%20web.pdf?sequence=6&isAllowed=y

Chaudhary, C., Richardson, A. J., Schoeman, D. S., & Costello, M. J. (2021). Global warming is causing a more pronounced dip in marine species richness around the equator. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 118(15). https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2015094118

Chetan-Welsh, H., & Hendry, L. (n.d.). How are climate change and biodiversity loss linked? National History Museum. https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/how-are-climate-change-and-biodiversity-loss-linked.html

Colin, P. L. (2018). Ocean warming and the reefs of Palau. Oceanography, 31(2), 126-135. JSTOR. https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/26542659.pdf

Lindsey, R. (2022, April 19). Climate change: Global sea level [Fact sheet]. Climate.gov. Retrieved December 7, 2023, from https://www.climate.gov/news-features/understanding-climate/climate-change-global-sea-level#:~:text=What%27s%20causing%20sea%20level%20to,expanding%20as%20the%20water%20warms.

Mimura, N. (2013). Sea-level rise caused by climate change and its implications for society. Proceedings of the Japan Academy, Series B, 89(7), 281-301. https://doi.org/10.2183/pjab.89.281

Ocean Pavilion. (2023, November 30). A rights-based approach to ocean resilience: Community-Led governance as a pillar of climate action [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/huxvZ_Q_RMY?t=598

Stott, P. (2010). Global warming is not a crisis. In D. A. Miller (Ed.), Conserving the Environment. Greenhaven Press. (Reprinted from ABC news, 2007)

Straza, T. (2020). State of the environment and conservation in the pacific islands: 2020 regional report (A. Wheatley, P. Anderson, J. Callebaut, & L. Reupena, Eds.). Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP). https://library.sprep.org/sites/default/files/2021-03/SOE-conservation-pacific-regional-report.pdf

What is coral bleaching? [Fact sheet]. (2016). Australian Institute of Marine Science. Retrieved December 7, 2023, from https://www.aims.gov.au/research-topics/environmental-issues/coral-bleaching/what-coral-bleaching

What is coral bleaching? (2023, October 4). National Ocean Services NOAA. Retrieved December 7, 2023, from https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/coral_bleach.html#:~:text=When%20corals%20are%20stressed%20by,them%20to%20turn%20completely%20white.&text=Warmer%20water%20temperatures%20can%20result%20in%20coral%20bleaching.