The Impact and Effects of Climate Change on

Already Existing Issues in Islands

O’Hanlon (2019), UNUniversity, Chandler D.L. (2020).

Formal Report ENGL 2116
Summer Pipkin

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Table of Contents

Executive Summary .......................................................................................................................33

Existing Issues Heightened Rising Sea Levels ..............................................................................33

Coral Mining, Bleaching, and Existing Issues ........................................................................................ 33

Climate Change ....................................................................................................................................... 44

Current and Future Solutions to Protect our Islands ......................................................................55

Natural Vegetation: A Solution

Conclusion .....................................................................................................................................76

References......................................................................................................................................87

Figures
Figure 1 ………………….……………………....……………………………………………..…4

Figure 2
............................................................................................................................................5

Figure 3……………………………………………………………………………………………6

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Executive Summary Abstract
An island can simply be defined as a naturally formed area of land that is surrounded by water,
and above water at high tide (Royle, 2014). Islands can be formed naturally, through sand
deposits and the movement of volcanic eruptions, along with the movement of tectonic plates
over time. With all of the factors to potentially create islands, there’s also factors to change them.
Islands are known to be influenced by currents, the stability of their reefs, and the yearly
tsunamis they face, however with the incoming effects of climate change, the problems they’re
facing are only amplified. Climate Change is the term we use to describe the build of greenhouse
gases in the atmosphere, primarily caused from human activities such as the burning of fossil
fuels. These greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide and methane, ultimately warm up the
global climate. From this warming, glaciers and other factors have contributed to the rising of sea
levels, thus altering the main factors that contribute to the change in islands. Ocean currents over
time can alter a coast themselves, so one can only imagine the lasting effects an increase in sea
levels could cause. Islands are now having to face their previous problems yet amplified. Rising
sea levels, and overall global heat index rising, causes the sensitive corals to deteriorate,
tsunamis to grow larger, and the currents to alter even farther, thus eroding the islands many call
home. To combat this, many cities have implemented dredging, seawalls, beach nourishment,
breakwaters, and planting vegetation in efforts to keep their beaches and protect their wildlife
from further erosion. While many of these are expensive alternatives, the use of sea walls and
natural vegetation is the best alternative for the environment.

Existing Issues Heightened Rising Sea Levels

Coral Mining, Bleaching, and Existing Issues

Islands are land masses surrounded by water, so everything beyond that has the potential to affect
them greatly. From the everyday currents and tide to coral mining and bleaching, to tsunamis,
they’re always at risk of change. Islands are very easily manipulated, in the following text one
example of currents altering islands is noted, “In the Wadden Sea of Denmark, Germany and the
Netherlands contains the Frisian Islands formed from glacial sands and deposits carried into the
region. This sea is very shallow, because of the amount of sand and silt in the system, and ferries
to the Frisian Islands have to run along sinuous, constantly monitored channels clearly marked
by buoys where there is water of a sufficient depth.” (Royle, 2014). The example refers to the
Frisian Islands and the constantly changing levels of sand deposits due to the currents in the area,
if currents there can be changed daily, one can only imagine how longlasting climate change
effects could change the area?

Many islands are also heavily influenced by their coral reefs, in the sense of stability. Coral are
marine invertebrates that often thrive together in the form of ridges called reefs. The presence of
reefs shows the habitat and ocean quality is pristine enough to harbor them. An issue islands with
reefs face is the mining and bleaching of these reefs. Coral mining is when coral is mined for a
variety of reasons, typically for profit, by removing coral with explosives or excavating tools.

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Corals can also be mined using explosives to break up the reef to make it easier to remove. This
is very destructive, not only to the reefs, but also to neighboring environments, as it causes sand
erosion, land retreat and sedimentation (Team R, 2021). Coral bleaching is a more natural
deterioration of coral that occurs when the water temperature or pH becomes unsuitable for them,
causing them to expel their algae and turn completely white and more susceptible to breakage. In
the Figure 1figure below, coral bleaching is depicted from an article written by the Department
of Natural Resources in Hawaii, 2022.

Figure 1: Effects of Climate Change: Coral Bleaching (Reef Response, 2014)

Both altering of coral, have negative impacts on the islands they inhabit. Climate change will
affect coral reef ecosystems, through sea level rise, changes to the frequency and intensity of
tropical storms, and altered ocean circulation patterns. When combined, all of these impacts
dramatically alter ecosystem function, as well as the goods and services coral reef ecosystems
provide to people around the globe (US D.O.C., 2015). Islands also face tsunamis, which are
large destructive, and potentially deadly sea waves that typically form from deep sea
earthquakes. Tsunamis can destroy reefs, sandbars, habitats, and homes and completely alter the
appearance of islands if large enough.

Climate Change

After looking over the existing issues islands face, when factoring in climate change the effects
are only heightened. Climate change as mentioned before, is the environmental changes that
occur due to the burning of greenhouse gases. One change in particular, global warming,
significantly affects the rising of sea levels. Sea levels rising isn’t necessarily a front-lining issue
to those on the mainland or non-coastal regions, however islands are fragile. The fragility is
noted in this quote from the Islands Reaktion edition, “any islands are vulnerable to damage from
physical processes, not least the impact of climate change and its myriad implications. The low
height of atolls subjects them to particular risk from sea level rise and increased storminess”
(Royle, 2014). The excerpt references the significance of physical altercations to islands, and
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how climate change only amplifies them. In Figure 2the figure below, the cumulative sea level
change from 1880 to 2020 is measured.

Figure 2: Sea Level Trends from 1880 to 2020. (Environmental Protection Agency)

Coral mining isa very harmful trade, that erodes the outskirts of islands all on its own, however
when combined with rising sea levels, the level and frequency of erosion is drastically increased.
As more waves and more currents are moving the exposed sand. When combining this with the
fragility of bleached reefs, the rate of erosion and land retreat is hard to measure. Rising sea
levels also alter the affects of tsunamis. Robert Weiss, associate professor in the Department of
Geosciences at Virginia Tech even said, “Our research shows that sea-level rise can significantly
increase the tsunami hazard, which means that smaller tsunamis in the future can have the same
adverse impacts as big tsunamis would today," (Braun, 2018). With rising sea levels, it’s only
natural for the wave related natural disasters to also rise.

Current, and Future Solutions to Protect our Islands

Change needs to happen indefinitely to help protect our islands, and while some islands and
governments have implemented them, more need to realize our islands could face irreparable
damage unless we work to combat it now. While some methods such as beach nourishment, the
depositing of sand on a beach to artificially widen it (Seawall Pros, 2017), can be expensive,
other methods have been proven to work with far less cost. Not to mention while also being
environmentally conscious. The planting of vegetation and breakwaters are two great examples
of current solutions to protect our islands. Breakwaters are constructed barriers, typically of
larger rocks, to allow a beach to grow while protecting it from the harsh currents. While this is a
great solution to protect smaller beaches, it wouldn’t guard an entire coast. A Breakwater can be
seen in Figure 3 the figure below.

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 Figure 3: Hilo Bay Breakwater, Hawaii (BRESTOVANSKY, 2019)

The use of vegetation is a popular and cheaper method to combat the tides and rising seas, as the
strategic planting of indigenous plants can anchor in the sand on coasts, and act as a long-term
preventative measure to combat erosion of island coasts. In more tropical areas, coral could be
replanted in efforts to rebuild the reefs that have deteriorated. In other climates, marshes and sea
grass along coasts are great examples of this (Seawall Pros, 2017). The only downside to this is
the decrease in potential tourist areas, which doesn’t hold a candle to the natural wildlife and
residents at risk that care about their community. Seawalls are expensive, however a great
investment to combat the rising sea levels in more residential island locations, as it combats the
rising levels with structures that line the coast and can potentially be added onto in the future.
Potential new solutions, for more residential island areas should include flood prevention plans
and housing, and restrictive construction. With the rising sea levels being a problem for all
coastal cities, it can be expected that islands are more at risk. So along with the vegetation plans,
housing should only be made with the rising sea levels taken into consideration.

Natural Vegetation: A Solution

The use of indigenous vegetation to combat the erosive effects of rising sea levels has both a low
natural, and financial burden. Vegetation has long been the natural use to combat rough weather,
such as grass for plains and roots for loose dirt, as vegetation anchors in the surrounding ground
matter with its roots, combatting the effects of erosion. By planting indigenous vegetation along
shores, not only will the natural course of erosion be displaced for a short period, but wildlife
will also thrive, and more vegetation and cover will ultimately grow. By using indigenous plants
only, they’ll be used to the environment, won’t take over and harm the ecosystems, and also be a
tourist attraction as many vines and natural plants harbor much anticipated wildlife. Hawaii for
example, has the Pohuehue plant, which is a long vine that spans lengths of 30 ft, and anchors in
shorelines while also bearing purple flowers that are home to many native species of wildlife
(Pohuehue. Waikīkī Aquarium 2017).

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A more expensive alternative, a breakwater as pictured in the image above, would also be
beneficial to combat the rising sea levels and damage to corals. Usable on any island, a
breakwater is a way to alter the currents in a way that won’t erode important beaches and
possible cities by diverting the currents to these rock formations. When the waves hit the
breakwater, minimal damage is done, compared to the dramatic inches off coasts per year that
occurs worldwide. It would also work to protect the natural coral of the area, if it were behind the
breakwaters. The harsh waves and currents would then have an alternative barrier to hit instead
of the corals and islands.

Conclusion
When looking over the threats islands faced beforehand, and how they’re amplified by the effects
of climate change, it can’t be simply ignored. Islands are a natural phenomenon, occurring with
the change of tectonic plates, continental elevations, sea level dependent sand deposits, and
volcanic deposits, and are being destroyed by a man-influenced situation. Climate change as it is
currently, can’t be altered. Sea levels will continue to rise, continue to affect the coral anchoring
in island sands, continue to affect the currents and the deposits that form the islands, and
continue to affect the tsunamis that can wash an island away in an instant. The only thing that
can be done beside be more conscious of one’s carbon footprint, is to take the measures
necessary to keep the coasts and reefs that we do have safe. Through preventative measures such
as planting indigenous vegetation, sea barriers, and sea walls, we can attempt to make up for that
footprint and move to protect our islands.

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 References
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45730449

Chandler, D. L. (2020, May 13). Harnessing wave power to Rebuild Islands and combat sea-level rise.
SciTechDaily. https://scitechdaily.com/harnessing-wave-power-to-rebuild-islands-and-combat-sealevel-rise/

Coral impacts. Reef Response. (2014, May 2). https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/reefresponse/home/coral-impacts/

Environmental Protection Agency. (2016, September 30). Climate impacts in the U.S. islands. EPA.
https://19january2017snapshot.epa.gov/climate-impacts/climate-impacts-us-islands_.html

Environmental Protection Agency. (n.d.). EPA. https://www.epa.gov/heatislands/climate-change-andheat-islands

O'Hanlon, M. (2019, May 1). Get ready for China to target the Senkaku Islands. The National Interest. Retrieved
June 14, 2022, from https://nationalinterest.org/feature/get-ready-china-target-senkakuislands-55332

MICHAEL BRESTOVANSKY Hawaii Tribune-Herald | Sunday, D. 8. (2019, December 8). Study of hilo bay
breakwater expected to begin in early 2020. West Hawaii Today. Retrieved June 15, 2022, from
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Pohuehue. Waikīkī Aquarium. (2017, September 10). Retrieved June 21, 2022, from
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important%20for%20erosion%20control%20along%20sandy%20shorelines.

Team, R. C. (2021, April 20). What is coral mining and what can we do to fight it? - reefcause.
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fight-it/

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2022, June 9). Climate change. National Institute of
Environmental Health Sciences https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/climatechange/index.cfm

United Nations. (n.d.). Small islands, Rising seas. United Nations.

https://www.un.org/en/chronicle/article/small-islands-rising-seas

UNUniversity. (n.d.). Sea level rise is inevitable but we can still prevent catastrophe for coastal regions. Our World.
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US Department of Commerce, N. O. and A. A. (2015, March 3). How does climate change affect coral reefs?
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Ways to prevent beach erosion: Seawall professionals of Florida. Seawall Pros. (2017, April 17). Retrieved June 14,
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0used,and%20build%20marshes%20along%20coasts%20to%20prevent%20erosion .