SEA LEVEL OBSERVED AND PROJECTED AND IMPACT ON THE INDIAN AND PACIFIC TROPICAL ISLANDS

Gérard Beltrando, Univeristy Paris Diderot, France

Abstract

Relatively stable during the last three millennia, the sea level of the global ocean shows a positive trend since the middle of XIX century with acceleration since the 1990s on the main effect of expansion by warming water and decrease ice continental volume. This trend increases the risk of flooding which is mainly due to episodes of disturbed weather (tropical cyclone ...) and already fragile coastlines, sandy atolls and wetlands. But these coastal environments are particularly vulnerable because they are affected by the effects of other economic activities. Local authorities concerned have not the same possibility of response with viable solution. In the extreme case, some small islands with lacking arable land, displacement of populations may be the only option, but that should only affect a small fraction of the population. The problems caused by all the environmental changes, mainly attributable to human actions should have more important consequences than just the effects of a rise in mean sea level

Keywords: climate change, coastal erosion, sea level, environmental refugees, territorial vulnerability