Maldives & Lakshadweep Sea-Level Rise
Kartavya Desk Staff
Syllabus: Climate change
Source: TH’
Context: A study on coral microatolls in Maldives shows sea levels in the central Indian Ocean have been rising since the late 1950s.
About Maldives & Lakshadweep Sea-Level Rise:
Data Highlights:
• Sea level rose by ~0.3 m from 1930–2019, proving long-term acceleration.
• Rise rates: 1–1.8 mm/yr (1930–59), 2.7–4.1 mm/yr (1960–92), 3.9–4.8 mm/yr (1990–2019).
• Since 1959, average rise has been 3.2 mm/yr, climbing to ~4 mm/yr in the last 20–30 years.
• Over 50 years, Maldives–Lakshadweep region has faced a 30–40 cm increase in sea level.
Key Findings:
• Sea-level acceleration began in the 1950s, not the 1990s as widely believed.
• Coral growth bands and uranium dating gave precise long-term records of sea levels.
• Coral interruptions linked to El Niño, IOD events, and lunar cycles affecting tides.
• Central Indian Ocean showed earlier and faster rise than coastal areas due to unique regional factors.
Causes of Sea-Level Rise:
• Thermal expansion: As oceans absorb heat, seawater expands, adding volume and steadily raising global sea levels.
• Glacial and ice-sheet melting: Melting from the Himalayas, Arctic, and Antarctica releases vast freshwater directly into oceans.
• Indian Ocean warming: Above-average heating here intensifies currents and circulation, causing higher local sea-level rise.
• Climate variability: Events like El Niño, Indian Ocean Dipole, and wind shifts amplify regional sea-level fluctuations.
Implications:
• Ecological: Rising seas reduce sunlight for corals, cause bleaching, erode coasts, and disrupt fragile reef ecosystems.
• Social: Communities on low-lying islands like Maldives and Lakshadweep risk forced migration and loss of homes.
• Economic: Fisheries, tourism, and infrastructure — the lifeline of island economies — face massive long-term losses.
• Geopolitical: Displacement may lead to climate refugees, straining governance and regional security frameworks.
Way Forward:
• Monitoring: Use coral microatolls with tide gauges and satellites to create long-term, precise sea-level datasets.
• Coastal resilience: Restore mangroves, build seawalls, and adopt climate-resilient infrastructure for shoreline protection.
• Regional cooperation: Indian Ocean Rim nations must share data and coordinate adaptation strategies collectively.
• Global climate action: Meet Paris Agreement targets to cut emissions and slow ocean warming.
• For India: Prioritise Lakshadweep by conserving ecosystems, preparing for disasters, and investing in adaptation.
Conclusion:
Sea-level rise in the Indian Ocean is earlier and sharper than assumed, endangering islands and coastal lives. Coral microatolls provide vital historical evidence for improving future projections. Urgent steps in adaptation, cooperation, and emission reduction are critical to safeguard the region.