Fiji is expected to see a rise in sea levels by at least six inches (15 centimeters) over the next three decades, as indicated by an analysis conducted by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) sea level change science team. Other Pacific nations such as Tuvalu and Kiribati will also be affected, with scientists asserting that this predicted rise will occur regardless of future changes in greenhouse gas emissions.
Nadya Vinogradova Shiffer, who oversees ocean physics programs for NASA’s Earth Science Division, stated, “NASA’s new flood tool projects the potential increase in flooding frequency and severity for the coastal communities of the Pacific Island nations over the coming decades.”
NASA has developed flood maps for a number of nations in the region, including Kiribati, Tuvalu, Fiji, Nauru, and Niue. The projections suggest that areas in Tuvalu currently experiencing fewer than five high-tide flood days each year could see that number rise to an average of 25 flood days annually by the 2050s.
Ben Hamlington, a sea level researcher at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, remarked, “While we often examine the differences in sea level rise between regions, the figures for the Pacific are notably consistent.”
According to NASA, the consequences of a six-inch (15-centimeter) increase in sea levels will differ across countries.