Fiji is projected to face a sea level rise of at least six inches (15 centimeters) over the next 30 years, according to an analysis conducted by NASA’s sea level change science team. Other Pacific nations such as Tuvalu and Kiribati will also be impacted, with experts indicating that this level of rise will occur irrespective of future changes in greenhouse gas emissions.
Nadya Vinogradova Shiffer, director of ocean physics programs at NASA’s Earth Science Division, explained, “NASA’s new flood tool illustrates the potential increase in flooding frequency and severity in coastal communities of the Pacific Island nations over the coming decades.”
NASA researchers have developed flood maps for several Pacific Island nations, including Kiribati, Tuvalu, Fiji, Nauru, and Niue. They predict that areas in Tuvalu currently experiencing fewer than five days of high-tide flooding each year could see that number rise to an average of 25 flood days by the 2050s.
Ben Hamlington, a sea level researcher at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, noted, “While we often look at the variations in sea level rise between regions, in the Pacific, the predictions are remarkably consistent.”
NASA has stated that the consequences of a six-inch (15-centimeter) rise in sea level will differ among the affected countries.