zbnoo
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 Posted: Tue Nov 11, 2008 7:32 am Post subject: No Rise In Sea level For At Least A Decade |
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30 Jul 2003
THE MALDIVES SEA LEVEL PROJECT. II: PAST-PRESENT-FUTURE
MÖRNER, Nils-Axel, Paleogeophysics & Geodynamics, Stockholm Univ, Stockholm
S-10691 Sweden, morner@pog.su.se.
The Maldives have a uniquely position in sea level research (as discussed in
Integrated Coastal Zone Management, No. 1, 2000, p. 17-20). In the last
decade, they have attracted special attention because, in the IPCC-scenario,
the Maldives would be condemned to become flooded in the next 50-100 years.
Our research data do not lend support to any such flooding scenario,
however.
On the contrary, we find no signs of any on-going sea level rise. Our
results comes from visits to numerous islands including extensive work on
Hulhudoo and Guidhoo in the north, in Viligili and Loshfuchi (the site of
"the reef woman") in the middle, and in Addu in the south. This includes
coring, levelling, sampling and dating (35 C14-dates). Present sea level was
reached at about 4500 BP. In the last 4000 years, sea level oscillated
around the present in the last 4000 years. At 3900 BP, there was a short and
sharp sea level high-stand at about +1.2 m.
For the last millennium, a detailed sea level record is established: +0 m
1000-800 BP, +60 cm 800-300 BP, 0 to just below 0 in the 18th century AD,
+30 cm 1790-1970 AD, fall to 0 in ~1970 up to today.
At about 1970, sea level fell by 20-30 cm (presumably due to increased
evaporation). This is recorded in storm level, high-tide level, mean sea
level and in lake and lagoon levels (from the north to the south). In the
last decade, there are no signs of any rise in sea level.
Hence, we are able to free the islands from the condemnation to become
flooded in the 21st century.
Co-authored with the Maldives Project Team Members.
XVI INQUA Congress
General Information for this Meeting
http://gsa.confex.com/gsa/inqu/finalprogram/abstract_54486.htm
Warmest Regards
Bonzo |
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