Environment - ތިމާވެށި
Browse
23 results
Search Results
Item Bleaching damage and recovery potential of Maldivian coral reefs(Wildlife Conservation Society, 2000-07) Mcclanahan, Tim R.; ޓިމް ރ. މެކްކްލަނާހަންItem Atoll-scale comparisons of the sedimentary structure of coral reef rim islands, Huvadhu Atoll, Maldives(BioOne Complete, 2016) East, Holly K.; Perry, Chris; T., Kench; Paul, S.; Liang, YiqingCoral reef islands are low-lying (typically <5 m above mean sea level, MSL) accumulations of wave deposited bioclastic sediments. These sediments are produced within the surrounding coral reef habitats and reef islands are therefore intrinsically linked to reef ecology (Perry et al. 2011). As a result of their dependence upon locally generated sediment, low elevations and largely unconsolidated structure, reef islands are regarded as extremely vulnerable to environmental change, particularly to sea-level rise. This is of concern given their high ecological and socioeconomic value, not least because they offer the only habitable land in regions including the Maldives, Kiribati and the Marshall Islands. However, assertions of vulnerability are largely made without a full understanding of how and when islands formed, the processes controlling island formation and inter- and intra-regional variations in island-building processes. Understanding reef island accretionary histories and the controls on island development is thus crucial for assessing their morphological stability and future resilience. To date, research has focused largely upon a few discrete localities in the Pacific and within the Great Barrier Reef Shelf/Torres Strait region (e.g. Kench et al., 2014; Woodroffe et al., 2007; Yamano et al., 2014). In other major reef island regions such as the Maldives (a nation comprised of >1,200 reef islands inhabited by a population of ~345,000), our knowledge of island building processes is far more limited. Maldivian reef islands may be divided into two key types: (i) rim islands, which form around the atoll perimeters; and (ii) interior islands, which are located on the reef platforms within atoll lagoons. However, research of reef island sedimentology and the modes of island-building in the Maldives is restricted to two main datasets developed for interior islands within just one atoll (South Maalhosmadulu Atoll in the northern-central part of the archipelago – Kench et al., 2005; Perry et al., 2013). Knowledge of rim island stratigraphy is even more limited and based on qualitative descriptions of one pit in the centre of Feydhoo island, Addu Atoll (Woodroffe, 1992). However, it is the rim islands that dominate spatially (82.4% of land area), host the majority of the population (88.93%), and therefore support the nation’s key infrastructure (all regional administrative capitals, hospitals, and designated ‘safe islands’). Here, we present the first detailed sedimentary study of Maldivian rim islands. Textural, compositional and topographical datasets are used to infer the major sources of reef island sediment, the key controls upon island building, and the degree of intra-regional (at the atollscale) variability in island building. Study Site Two sites were selected on the rim of Huvadhu atoll – a leeward site, with respect to wave energy, in the north-east (Galamadhoo and Baavanadhoo islands), and a windward site in the south-west (Mainadhoo, Boduhini and Kudahini islands; Figure 1).Item Maldives overcoming the challenges of a small island state country diagnostic study(Asian Development Bank, 2015) Asian Development BankItem ރާއްޖެއިން ތެޔޮ ހޯދުން(ދިވެހިބަހުގެ އެކެޑެމީ, 2012-11) ނަސީރު, ޢަލީ; Naseer, AliItem ޕެމްފިސް : ބައިއޮޑައިވަރސިޓީ އެޑިޝަން(މިނިސްޓްރީ އޮފް އެންވައިރަމެންޓް އެންޑް އެނަރޖީ, 2014-11) މިނިސްޓްރީ އޮފް އެންވައިރަމެންޓް އެންޑް އެނަރޖީ; Ministry of Environment and EnergyItem Bracing for climate change is a matter of survival for the Maldives(World Bank Group, 2019-01-20) Schafer, HartwigItem Amid COVID-19, ramping up efforts against plastic waste in Sri Lanka and Maldives(World Bank Group, 2020-06-30) Pswarayi-Riddihough, Idah. ZItem Climate Investment Opportunities in South Asia(World Bank Group, 2021-05-12) World Bank Group; ވޯރލްޑް ބޭންކް ގްރޫޕްThe Maldives graduated from least developed country status in 2011 and is now categorized as an upper-middleincome country. Its economy is expected to grow by 4.9 percent in 2018, driven primarily by the construction and tourism sectors. The low elevation of the Maldivian islands makes the nation highly vulnerable to rising sea levels. Its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement acknowledges the challenges it faces given its high population density, dispersed geography, and limited resources. Actions that the Maldivian government is taking to address these issues include relocating and consolidating its population from the outer islands to the greater Malé region to effectively use its resources. Given the country’s vulnerability, its NDC focuses on crucial actions to strengthen the country’s resilience to climate impacts and prioritizes mitigation in energy, transport, and waste. Invest Maldives, the government investment promotion agency, has invited private investment in agribusiness, energy, financial services, and infrastructure.Item Estimating transient freshwater lens dynamics for atoll islands of the Maldives(Elsevier, 2014-07) Bailey, Ryan T.; Khalil, Abedalrazq; Chatikavanij, VansaThe water resources of the atolls of the Republic of the Maldives are under continual threat from climatic and anthropogenic stresses, such as changing rainfall patterns, sea-level rise, and contamination from human activities and climatic events. Groundwater, a historically important resource of the island communities of the Maldives, is particularly affected due to the fragile nature of the freshwater lens on small atoll islands. In this study the dynamics of the freshwater lens are simulated during an extended (1998–2011) time period to determine the fluctuation of lens thickness of islands of the Maldives in response to annual and long-term changes in rainfall. Particularly, maximum and minimum lens thickness during the simulation period are assessed, as well as the occurrence of general trends, either decreasing or increasing, in lens thickness. Simulations are performed for a variety of island sizes, corresponding to the range of sizes of the islands of the Maldives, and for the various climatic regions of the Maldives. Results indicate that many of the atoll islands are expected to have a measurable freshwater lens during the majority of a long-term climatic period, although significant decreases in thickness can occur during the months of the dry season, with complete depletion occurring for small islands. Of particular note is the observation of a general decrease in lens thickness, approximately 2–4 cm/yr, over the 14-year period for the northern regions of the Maldives. If continued at current rates, these trends can have a significant impact on groundwater resources for the Maldives. Results imply that fresh groundwater, if properly protected from land surface-derived contamination and over-pumping and associated salinization, can be a valuable source of water for the Maldives, particularly for the larger islands. Overall, results provide water resource managers and government officials with valuable data for consideration in water security measures.Item Estimating current and future groundwater resources of the Maldives(Wiley, 2015-02) Bailey, Ryan T.; Khalil, Abedalrazq; Chatikavanij, VansaThe water resources of the atolls of the Republic of Maldives are under continual threat from climatic and anthropogenic stresses, including land surface pollution, increasing population, drought, and sea-level rise (SLR). These threats are particularly acute for groundwater resources due to the small land surface area and low elevation of each island. In this study, the groundwater resources, in terms of freshwater lens thickness, total volume of fresh groundwater, and safe yield are estimated for the 52 most populous islands of the Maldives for current conditions and for the year 2030, with the latter accounting for projected SLR and associated shoreline recession. An algebraic model, designed in previous studies to estimate the lens thickness of atoll islands, is expanded in this study to also estimate volume of groundwater. Results indicate that average current lens thickness, groundwater volume, and per capita safe yield are approximately 4.6 m, 1,300 million liters, and 300 l/day, and that these values will decrease by approximately 10, 11, and 34%, respectively, by the year 2030. Based on results, it is demonstrated that groundwater, in terms of quantity, is a viable source of water for the islands of the Maldives both now and in coming decades, particularly for islands with large surface area and low population. Study results can provide water resource managers and government officials with valuable data for consideration in water security measures. © 2014 American Water Resources Association.
- «
- 1 (current)
- 2
- 3
- »