Environment Alert: Climate change could make thousands of islands 'uninhabitable' and disturb key U.S. military installations, study says

Rising seas threaten to sink a way of life in the equatorial Pacific Ocean in the coming decades, according to a study conducted by federal scientists and partially funded by the Defense Department. The study focused on the island of Roi-Namur, part of the Marshall Islands and home to a U.S. military base that supports 1,250 American civilians, contractors and military personnel. In the long term, the rising seas threaten to inundate the islands entirely. More immediately, as seas rise, the islands will more frequently deal with large waves that crash farther onto the shore, contaminating their drinkable water supplies with ocean saltwater, according to the research. In tandem, the forces could render the islands uninhabitable by mid-century or sooner.

Democracy Dies in Darkness     Environment Alert Apr 25, 2:06 PM     Climate change could make thousands of islands 'uninhabitable' and disturb key U.S. military installations, study says Rising seas threaten to sink a way of life in the equatorial Pacific Ocean in the coming decades, according to a study conducted by federal scientists and partially funded by the Defense Department. The study focused on the island of Roi-Namur, part of the Marshall Islands and home to a U.S. military base that supports 1,250 American civilians, contractors and military personnel. In the long term, the rising seas threaten to inundate the islands entirely. More immediately, as seas rise, the islands will more frequently deal with large waves that crash farther onto the shore, contaminating their drinkable water supplies with ocean saltwater, according to the research. In tandem, the forces could render the islands uninhabitable by mid-century or sooner. Read more » Advertisement You received this email because you signed up for news alerts from The Washington Post. Manage my newsletters and alerts | Unsubscribe Privacy Policy | Help ©2018 The Washington Post, 1301 K St NW, Washington DC 20071