GCSE Geography AQA A The Coastal Zone: Coastal flooding in the Maldives

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  • Coastal flooding in The Maldives
    • About
      • The Maldives is a group of islands in the Indian Ocean
      • There are 1190 islands and 199 are inhabited
      • The population is about 300,000 people.
      • The average island height is about 1.5m above sea level.
      • 80% of land is below 1m. Because of rising sea levels scientists the islands will be completely submerged in 50 to 100 years.
    • Economic impacts
      • Loss of tourism - tourism is the largest industry in the Maldives. If the main airport can't work properly because of coastal flooding the country will be cut off from international tourists which will massively reduce the country's income.
      • Disrupted fishing industry - fish are the Maldives' largest export. coastal flooding may damage fish processing plants, reducing the fish exports and the country's income.
    • Political Impacts
      • The Maldivian Government had to ask the Japanese Government to give them $60m to build a 3m high sea wall to protect the capital city Male.
      • Changes to long-term plans and the government is thinking about buying land in countries like India and Australia and moving Maldivians there before the islands become uninhabitable.
      • Changes to environment policies. Increased flooding is caused by rising sea level which is caused by global warming.
        • The Maldives have pledged to be carbon neutral and has encouraged other governments to do so.
    • Environment impacts
      • Loss of beaches - coastal flooding wears away beached on the islands at a rapid rate.
        • This destroys habitats and exposes the land behind the beach to the effects of flooding.
      • Loss of soil - the soil on most of the island is shallow (about 20cm deep or less). Coastal floods could easily wash away the soil layer, which would mean most plants won't be able to grow.

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