Interactions between sea-level rise and wave exposure on reef island dynamics in the Solomon Islands

Dados Bibliográficos

ID15544262
AutoresSimon Albert (0000-0002-5947-7909, The University of Queensland, autor correspondente), Javier X Leon (0000-0002-4201-5804, The University of Queensland), Alistair Grinham (0000-0001-8313-2276, The University of Queensland), Alistair R Grinham, John Church (0000-0002-7037-8194, CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere), John A Church, Badin Gibbes (0000-0002-6336-7446, The University of Queensland), Badin R Gibbes, Colin D Woodroffe (0000-0003-4476-6158, University of Wollongong)
Ano2016
Volume11
Fascículo5
Páginas054011-054011
Data de publicação2016-05-01
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoEnvironmental Research Letters (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 1748-9326 • E-ISSN: 1748-9326
EditoraIOP Publishing (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1088/1748-9326/11/5/054011
OpenAlexW2346671684
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas44
Referências citadas29

Low-lying reef islands in the Solomon Islands provide a valuable window into the future impacts of global sea-level rise. Sea-level rise has been predicted to cause widespread erosion and inundation of low-lying atolls in the central Pacific. However, the limited research on reef islands in the western Pacific indicates the majority of shoreline changes and inundation to date result from extreme events, seawalls and inappropriate development rather than sea-level rise alone. Here, we present the first analysis of coastal dynamics from a sea-level rise hotspot in the Solomon Islands. Using time series aerial and satellite imagery from 1947 to 2014 of 33 islands, along with historical insight from local knowledge, we have identified five vegetated reef islands that have vanished over this time period and a further six islands experiencing severe shoreline recession. Shoreline recession at two sites has destroyed villages that have existed since at least 1935, leading to community relocations. Rates of shoreline recession are substantially higher in areas exposed to high wave energy, indicating a synergistic interaction between sea-level rise and waves. Understanding these local factors that increase the susceptibility of islands to coastal erosion is critical to guide adaptation responses for these remote Pacific communities

Atoll · Climate change · Coastal erosion · Coral reef · Geography · Hotspot (geology · Physical geography · Reef · Sea level · Sea level rise · Shore · Climate Change, Adaptation, Migration · Coastal and Marine Dynamics · Geological and Geophysical Studies · Geology · Oceanography