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Sea level rise in the Maldives The Maldives are an archipelago of 1,100 small islands in the Indian Ocean. 500,000 tourists are attracted to the Maldives a year, ⅕ of them are British. Most of the land is no more than 1m above sea level. Three of 200 inhabited islands have already been evacuated. Oceanographers predict that most of the Maldives will be washed away in 30 years. Hulhumale is 2m above sea level and should buy the islanders 50 more years’ survival time. The Maldives are coral islands offering water-based sports, diving and fishing. Tourism accounts for 28% of GDP (Gross Domestic Product = income). Fishing and fish-processing is the second largest industry after tourism. The Maldives’ Ministry of Tourism are thinking of adopting the slogan ‘Come and see us while we’re still here’. Between 1997 and 2004, a new island called Hulhumale was reclaimed from the sea. Over 90% of the Government’s income comes from touristrelated taxes. As sea levels rise, the coral reef habitat, which forms the islands, is being destroyed. A floating golf course is being planned to enable tourism to continue in the future. The nearly 400,000 residents of the Maldives will eventually be forced to leave the islands if the present trend continues. The capital Malé is surrounded by a 3m high wall to help protect against flooding. Tidal surges flood homes regularly. New houses are being built on stilts on the highest land. An increase in sea levels of up to 59cm is predicted by the International Panel on Climate Change by 2100. The Maldives is ranked 119th out of 228 in the world according to GDP per capita (income per person). The tidal surges cause salinisation of farm land reducing food production. 21% of the population live below the poverty line. Fishing yields have halved because fishermen depend on the reef to fish. In the last century, sea levels rose by 20cm. The islands are at greater risk from the effects of hurricanes. Salinisation is when the level of salt in the soil increases preventing crops from growing. Plans are being considered to relocate the population to a new territory such as in Sri Lanka, India or Australia. The Maldives’ traditional way of life will be lost. Environmental impacts of rising sea level Responses to the impacts of rising sea level Social impacts of rising sea level Background information on the Maldives Economic impacts of rising sea level © www.teachitgeography.co.uk 2016 23609 Page 1 of 6 Sea level rise in the Maldives Student activity 1: a. On the map draw/label the Maldives, India, Sri Lanka and Australia. b. Label the Indian Ocean. c. Draw a small square on your sketch of the Maldives to represent the capital, Malé. Background information Background information ........................................................ ........................................................ ........................................................ ........................................................ ........................................................ ........................................................ ........................................................ ........................................................ ........................................................ ........................................................ Background information Background information ........................................................ ........................................................ ........................................................ ........................................................ ........................................................ ........................................................ ........................................................ ........................................................ ........................................................ ........................................................ © www.teachitgeography.co.uk 2016 23609 Page 2 of 6 Sea level rise in the Maldives Student activity 2: In the boxes under your map, add at least two pieces of background information about the Maldives. Then add two impacts in each of the impacts boxes (social, economic and environmental) and two responses into the last box. Social impacts Economic impacts 1. ................................................... ........................................................ 1. ................................................... ......................................................... ........................................................ ......................................................... 2. ................................................... ........................................................ 2. ................................................... ......................................................... ........................................................ ......................................................... © Fredrik Rubensson 2011 flic.kr/p/acZQC2 Environmental impacts Responses to rising sea levels 1. ................................................... 1. ........................................................ ........................................................ ......................................................... ......................................................... 2. ................................................... 2. ........................................................ ......................................................... ........................................................ ......................................................... © www.teachitgeography.co.uk 2016 23609 ................................................... ................................................... Page 3 of 6 Sea level rise in the Maldives Government report on the responses to rising sea levels in the Maldives The Maldives’ Government is making plans to respond to the threat of rising sea levels. One idea is ........................................................................................................ ...................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................... This idea will help address the problem of sea level rise because ....................................... ...................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................... Another plan to help respond to the threat of rising sea levels is to .................................... ...................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................... This idea will help address the problem of sea level rise because ....................................... ...................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................... © www.teachitgeography.co.uk 2016 23609 Page 4 of 6 Sea level rise in the Maldives Rising sea levels – past paper questions 1. Explain why sea level is expected to rise. (3) ............................................................................................................. ............................................................................................................. ............................................................................................................. ............................................................................................................. ............................................................................................................. ............................................................................................................. ............................................................................................................. ............................................................................................................. ............................................................................................................. 2. Use a case study to describe economic effects of coastal flooding. (4) ............................................................................................................. ............................................................................................................. ............................................................................................................. ............................................................................................................. ............................................................................................................. ............................................................................................................. ............................................................................................................. ............................................................................................................. ............................................................................................................. ............................................................................................................. ............................................................................................................. 3. Discuss how a named area/country you have studied is responding to rising sea levels. (3) ............................................................................................................. ............................................................................................................. ............................................................................................................. ............................................................................................................. ............................................................................................................. ............................................................................................................. ............................................................................................................. ............................................................................................................. ............................................................................................................. © www.teachitgeography.co.uk 2016 23609 Page 5 of 6 Sea level rise in the Maldives Teachers notes: Mark scheme for exam questions. Question 1: Explain why sea level is expected to rise. (3 marks) 3x1 mark for any of the following: Increase in sea level due to melting of ice sheets (1), +1 for detail on the locations of these. Recognition that this will remove water stored in a frozen state (1) on land and enable it to flow to the sea increasing amount of water in the sea (1) May relate to underlying cause – global warming (1) and causes of this, e.g. increase in carbon dioxide (1) and reasons for this (1). Question 2: Use a case study to describe economic effects of coastal flooding. (4 marks) Content will depend on example used – in this case the Maldives. Economic effects likely to relate to loss/damage to areas/businesses/food crops in subsistence economy; cash crops/exports; impact on tourism; need to try to protect and costs incurred in this. Level 1 (Basic) (1-2 marks) Simple, listed points. Will refer to some effects, may drift into non-economic ones. Level 2 (Clear) (3-4 marks) Points are developed and linked. Focus on economic effects. Refers to a case study. Question 3: Discuss how a named area/country you have studied is responding to rising sea levels. (3 marks) Could include examples such as: Floating golf course to keep tourists visiting country Hulhumale, an island on land reclaimed form the sea, has been built. Plans to relocate the population to a new territory such as Sri Lanka, India or Australia. © www.teachitgeography.co.uk 2016 23609 Page 6 of 6
