This is an 18 minute video designed to introduce the idea of building core resilience for heavily urbanised atoll islands in general, and for Funafuti in particular. [vimeo id=”128706396″]
The Drought in California Caused By Warm Ocean Anomalies
Historical Patterns, The 1930s Dust Bowl Drought A scientific paper published last month in the journal Climate Dynamics by a scientist from NOAA’s National Climatic Data Center and three universities found that the 1930s drought was exacerbated by an anomalous warm spots in the ocean: Unusually hot summer conditions occurred during the 1930s over the…
Volcanoes Erupting Right Now: Greater Than 20th Century’s Yearly Average
Is the number of volcanic eruptions worldwide increasing? Yes. During the 20th century, there were a total of 3,542 volcanic eruptions globally. That works out to approximately 35 eruptions per year. That may sound like a lot, but according to Volcano Discovery there are 36 volcanoes erupting around the world right now. In other words,…
Cyclone Pam a category 6 cyclone?
The monster Category 5 storm, which brought wind gusts of 270-300 km/h and devastated Vanuatu might prompt the creation of a new Cyclone Category 6. Atmospheric researchers tend to agree that tropical cyclones of unusual ferocity are coming this century, but the strange fact is that there is no consensus to date on the five-point…
Volcanoes and climate: After Tambora
Two hundred years ago the most powerful eruption in modern history made itself felt around the world. It could happen again at almost any time Apr 11th 2015 | From the print edition If aliens had been watching the Earth during 1815 the chances are they would not have noticed the cannon fire of Waterloo,…
Funafuti Atoll leaked sand during Cyclone Pam
A coral atoll, is a ring-shaped coral reef including a coral rim that encircles a lagoon partially or completely. There may be coral islands/cays on the rim. The coral of the atoll often sits on top of the rim of an extinct seamount or volcano which has eroded or subsided partially beneath the water. The…
Maysak Intensifies to Super Typhoon Over Pacific
Super Typhoon Maysak, one of the strongest cyclones in history during the months of January, February and March, has already slammed several Micronesian islands on its way to the Philippines. Maysak will continue to strengthen during the next 12-24 hours as it moves westward across the Pacific Ocean. Though passing to the north of Yap,…
Earthquake in PNG 30 March
Tsunami threat passes after magnitude-7.5 earthquake strikes near Papua New Guinea, officials say The threat of a tsunami has largely passed after a magnitude-7.5 earthquake struck off Papua New Guinea, official monitors say. The quake — initially estimated at magnitude-7.7 — hit at a depth of 33 kilometres. The epicentre was 54 kilometres from the…
Will Pacific Islands Disappear as Seas Rise? Maybe Not
“If you were faced with the threat of the disappearance of your nation, what would you do?” That’s the question Enele Sopoaga, the prime minister of the tiny Pacific Island nation of Tuvalu, asked fellow world leaders at the United Nations climate summit in Lima, Peru, in December. It’s a question that leaders of Pacific…
Japan to Build Giant 250-Mile-Long Seawall
The enormous four-storey high structure has been designed to protect the coast against tsunamis. Having seen more than its fair share of devastating tsunamis in recent years, Japan is now set to become home to one of the most ambitious tidal defence projects the world has ever seen. With an estimated cost of $6.8 billion,…