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Preparations for Next Moonwalk Simulations Underway (and Underwater)<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"Overhead](\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/1-kanton-kiribati-nasa.jpg?w=2048\")
<\/a><\/figure>\nPacific Island nations such as Kiribati \u2014 a low-lying country in the southern Pacific Ocean \u2014 are preparing now for a future of higher sea levels.<\/div>\nNASA Earth Observatory<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nClimate change is rapidly reshaping a region of the world that\u2019s home to millions of people.<\/em><\/p>\nIn the next 30 years, Pacific Island nations such as Tuvalu, Kiribati, and Fiji will experience at least 8 inches (15 centimeters) of sea level rise, according to an analysis by NASA\u2019s sea level change science team. This amount of rise will occur regardless of whether greenhouse gas emissions change in the coming years.<\/p>\n
The sea level change team undertook the analysis of this region at the request of several Pacific Island nations, including Tuvalu and Kiribati, and in close coordination with the U.S. Department of State.<\/p>\n
In addition to the overall analysis, the agency\u2019s sea level team produced high-resolution maps<\/a> showing which areas of different Pacific Island nations will be vulnerable to high-tide flooding<\/a> \u2014 otherwise known as nuisance flooding or sunny day flooding \u2014 by the 2050s. Released on Sept. 23, the maps outline flooding potential in a range of emissions scenarios, from best-case to business-as-usual to worst-case.<\/p>\n\u201cSea level will continue to rise for centuries, causing more frequent flooding,\u201d said Nadya Vinogradova Shiffer, who directs ocean physics programs for NASA\u2019s Earth Science Division. \u201cNASA\u2019s new flood tool tells you what the potential increase in flooding frequency and severity look like in the next decades for the coastal communities of the Pacific Island nations.\u201d<\/p>\n
Team members, led by researchers at the University of Hawaii and in collaboration with scientists at the University of Colorado and Virginia Tech, started with flood maps of Kiribati, Tuvalu, Fiji, Nauru, and Niue. They plan to build high-resolution maps for other Pacific Island nations in the near future. The maps can assist Pacific Island nations in deciding where to focus mitigation efforts.<\/p>\n
\u201cScience and data can help the community of Tuvalu in relaying accurate sea level rise projections,\u201d said Grace Malie, a youth leader from Tuvalu who is involved with the Rising Nations Initiative, a United Nations-supported program led by Pacific Island nations to help preserve their statehood and protect the rights and heritage of populations affected by climate change. \u201cThis will also help with early warning systems, which is something that our country is focusing on at the moment.\u201d<\/p>\n
Future Flooding<\/strong><\/h3>\nThe analysis by the sea level change team<\/a> also found that the number of high-tide flooding days in an average year will increase by an order of magnitude for nearly all Pacific Island nations by the 2050s. Portions of the NASA team\u2019s analysis were included in a sea level rise report<\/a> published by the United Nations in August 2024. \u00a0<\/p>\nAreas of Tuvalu that currently see less than five high-tide flood days a year could average 25 flood days annually by the 2050s. Regions of Kiribati that see fewer than five flood days a year today will experience an average of 65 flood days annually by the 2050s.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am living the reality of climate change,\u201d said Malie. \u201cEveryone (in Tuvalu) lives by the coast or along the coastline, so everyone gets heavily affected by this.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Flooding on island nations can come from the ocean inundating land during storms or during exceptionally high tides, called king tides. But it can also result when saltwater intrudes into underground areas and pushes the water table to the surface. \u201cThere are points on the island where we will see seawater bubbling from beneath the surface and heavily flooding the area,\u201d Malie added.<\/p>\n
Matter of Location<\/strong><\/h3>\nSea level rise doesn\u2019t occur uniformly around the world. A combination of global and local conditions, such as the topography of a coastline and how glacial meltwater is distributed in the ocean, affects the amount of rise a particular region will experience.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re always focused on the differences in sea level rise from one region to another, but in the Pacific, the numbers are surprisingly consistent,\u201d said Ben Hamlington, a sea level researcher at NASA\u2019s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California and the agency\u2019s sea level change science team lead.<\/p>\n
The impacts of 8 inches (15 centimeters) of sea level rise will vary from country to country. For instance, some nations could experience nuisance flooding several times a year at their airport, while others might face frequent neighborhood flooding equivalent to being inundated for nearly half the year.<\/p>\n
Researchers would like to combine satellite data on ocean levels<\/a> with ground-based measurements of sea levels at specific points, as well as with better land elevation information. \u201cBut there\u2019s a real lack of on-the-ground data in these countries,\u201d said Hamlington. The combination of space-based and ground-based measurements can yield more precise sea level rise projections and improved understanding of the impacts to countries in the Pacific. \u00a0<\/p>\n\u201cThe future of the young people of Tuvalu is already at stake,\u201d said Malie. \u201cClimate change is more than an environmental crisis. It is about justice, survival for nations like Tuvalu, and global responsibility.\u201d<\/p>\n
To explore the high-tide flooding maps for Pacific Island nations, go to:<\/p>\n
https:\/\/sealevel.nasa.gov<\/a><\/p>\nNews Media Contacts<\/strong><\/h3>\nJane J. Lee \/ Andrew Wang
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.
818-354-0307 \/ 626-379-6874
jane.j.lee@jpl.nasa.gov<\/a> \/ andrew.wang@jpl.nasa.gov<\/a><\/p>\n2024-128<\/p>\n
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![\"Overhead](\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/1-kanton-kiribati-nasa.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure>Climate change is rapidly reshaping a region of the world that\u2019s home to millions of people.<\/em><\/p>\n In the next 30 years, Pacific Island nations such as Tuvalu, Kiribati, and Fiji will experience at least 8 inches (15 centimeters) of sea level rise, according to an analysis by NASA\u2019s sea level change science team. This amount of rise will occur regardless of whether greenhouse gas emissions change in the coming years.<\/p>\n The sea level change team undertook the analysis of this region at the request of several Pacific Island nations, including Tuvalu and Kiribati, and in close coordination with the U.S. Department of State.<\/p>\n In addition to the overall analysis, the agency\u2019s sea level team produced high-resolution maps<\/a> showing which areas of different Pacific Island nations will be vulnerable to high-tide flooding<\/a> \u2014 otherwise known as nuisance flooding or sunny day flooding \u2014 by the 2050s. Released on Sept. 23, the maps outline flooding potential in a range of emissions scenarios, from best-case to business-as-usual to worst-case.<\/p>\n \u201cSea level will continue to rise for centuries, causing more frequent flooding,\u201d said Nadya Vinogradova Shiffer, who directs ocean physics programs for NASA\u2019s Earth Science Division. \u201cNASA\u2019s new flood tool tells you what the potential increase in flooding frequency and severity look like in the next decades for the coastal communities of the Pacific Island nations.\u201d<\/p>\n Team members, led by researchers at the University of Hawaii and in collaboration with scientists at the University of Colorado and Virginia Tech, started with flood maps of Kiribati, Tuvalu, Fiji, Nauru, and Niue. They plan to build high-resolution maps for other Pacific Island nations in the near future. The maps can assist Pacific Island nations in deciding where to focus mitigation efforts.<\/p>\n \u201cScience and data can help the community of Tuvalu in relaying accurate sea level rise projections,\u201d said Grace Malie, a youth leader from Tuvalu who is involved with the Rising Nations Initiative, a United Nations-supported program led by Pacific Island nations to help preserve their statehood and protect the rights and heritage of populations affected by climate change. \u201cThis will also help with early warning systems, which is something that our country is focusing on at the moment.\u201d<\/p>\n The analysis by the sea level change team<\/a> also found that the number of high-tide flooding days in an average year will increase by an order of magnitude for nearly all Pacific Island nations by the 2050s. Portions of the NASA team\u2019s analysis were included in a sea level rise report<\/a> published by the United Nations in August 2024. \u00a0<\/p>\n Areas of Tuvalu that currently see less than five high-tide flood days a year could average 25 flood days annually by the 2050s. Regions of Kiribati that see fewer than five flood days a year today will experience an average of 65 flood days annually by the 2050s.<\/p>\n \u201cI am living the reality of climate change,\u201d said Malie. \u201cEveryone (in Tuvalu) lives by the coast or along the coastline, so everyone gets heavily affected by this.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Flooding on island nations can come from the ocean inundating land during storms or during exceptionally high tides, called king tides. But it can also result when saltwater intrudes into underground areas and pushes the water table to the surface. \u201cThere are points on the island where we will see seawater bubbling from beneath the surface and heavily flooding the area,\u201d Malie added.<\/p>\n Sea level rise doesn\u2019t occur uniformly around the world. A combination of global and local conditions, such as the topography of a coastline and how glacial meltwater is distributed in the ocean, affects the amount of rise a particular region will experience.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re always focused on the differences in sea level rise from one region to another, but in the Pacific, the numbers are surprisingly consistent,\u201d said Ben Hamlington, a sea level researcher at NASA\u2019s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California and the agency\u2019s sea level change science team lead.<\/p>\n The impacts of 8 inches (15 centimeters) of sea level rise will vary from country to country. For instance, some nations could experience nuisance flooding several times a year at their airport, while others might face frequent neighborhood flooding equivalent to being inundated for nearly half the year.<\/p>\n Researchers would like to combine satellite data on ocean levels<\/a> with ground-based measurements of sea levels at specific points, as well as with better land elevation information. \u201cBut there\u2019s a real lack of on-the-ground data in these countries,\u201d said Hamlington. The combination of space-based and ground-based measurements can yield more precise sea level rise projections and improved understanding of the impacts to countries in the Pacific. \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThe future of the young people of Tuvalu is already at stake,\u201d said Malie. \u201cClimate change is more than an environmental crisis. It is about justice, survival for nations like Tuvalu, and global responsibility.\u201d<\/p>\n To explore the high-tide flooding maps for Pacific Island nations, go to:<\/p>\n https:\/\/sealevel.nasa.gov<\/a><\/p>\n Jane J. Lee \/ Andrew Wang 2024-128<\/p>\nFuture Flooding<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Matter of Location<\/strong><\/h3>\n
News Media Contacts<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.
818-354-0307 \/ 626-379-6874
jane.j.lee@jpl.nasa.gov<\/a> \/ andrew.wang@jpl.nasa.gov<\/a><\/p>\nShare<\/h2>\n<\/p><\/div>\n