How has coral bleaching affected the Maldives?


How has coral bleaching affected the Maldives? Major coral bleaching in the Maldives has been recorded in 1998, 2016, 2017 and 2020. Live coral cover declined to as low as 2 per cent average cover. So, they need solutions to help with coral recovery. Our researchers recently travelled to the Maldives to help implement solutions.


Why is the water in the Maldives so blue?

Why Is The Maldives Water So Blue And Clear? Maldives water is known for its abundance of coral reefs. The waters of Maldives are known to consist of coral reefs and “phytoplankton” which absorbs blue and green colours from the sunlight due to which it causes clean water and you can see crystal clear reflection.


What is causing the Maldives to sink?

Climate change severely threatens the existence of the Maldives, as an archipelago of low-lying islands and atolls in the Indian Ocean. According to the World Bank, with future sea levels projected to increase in the range of 10 to 100 centimeters by the year 2100, the entire country could be submerged.


What is the Maldives suffering from?

Maldives is one of the lowest countries in the world, and hence, is greatly threatened by sea level rise, coastal storm surges, and associated flooding.


What is the biggest problem in Maldives?

Global warming and rising sea levels are causing warming of the seas and more severe frequent tidal waves and flooding in Maldives. Tidal waves and flooding often contaminate groundwater and sewerage systems leading to disease outbreaks in the country.


How much of the Maldives coral is bleached?

Maldives coral reefs under stress from climate change: research survey reveals over 60% of corals bleached.


Can Maldives be saved?

Researchers show that using simple engineering principals to raise islands or build new ones can help small island nations like the Maldives withstand long-term sea level rise due to climate change.


What is the biggest threat to the Maldives?

Historical Hazards. Maldives is one of the lowest countries in the world, and hence, is greatly threatened by sea level rise, coastal storm surges, and associated flooding.