Sean Gallagher Archive

Climate Change in Tuvalu

Children play in floodwaters near a dilapidated church in the Tuvaluan capital of Funafuti. Parts of the island flood at this time of the year due to the 'king tides'. The king tides are seasonal and are characterised by very high water levels in the surrounding ocean. At this time of year the waves inundate the coastline but also water seeps up through the ground which is made of porous coral. This natural phenomenon is particularly serious for Tuvalu, a low-lying atoll island nation, whose highest point is only a few metres above sea level. As sea levels rise, the king tides regularly flood parts of the island and will likely increase in severity in the future, potentially making large parts of the nation uninhabitable. March, 2019.

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Filename: Tuvalu-19-05-081.JPG
Copyright: Sean Gallagher
Image Size: 5572x3715 / 12.0MB; http://gallagher-photo.com; https://gallagher-photo.com/about-contact/; tuvalu pacific pacific ocean funafuti environment climate change sea level rise
Contained in galleries: Tuvalu: Beneath The Rising Tide [2019]

Children play in floodwaters near a dilapidated church in the Tuvaluan capital of Funafuti. Parts of the island flood at this time of the year due to the 'king tides'. The king tides are seasonal and are characterised by very high water levels in the surrounding ocean. At this time of year the waves inundate the coastline but also water seeps up through the ground which is made of porous coral. This natural phenomenon is particularly serious for Tuvalu, a low-lying atoll island nation, whose highest point is only a few metres above sea level. As sea levels rise, the king tides regularly flood parts of the island and will likely increase in severity in the future, potentially making large parts of the nation uninhabitable. March, 2019.