The french conquest of polynesia the latter half of the twentieth century marked a profound shift in global politics and economics caused, at least in part, by the decolonization of large parts of the americas, africa, asia and the pacific. However, since 2014, french polynesia has shown signs of recovery. Geography, geology and coral reefs the island of moorea eimeo lies 15 miles 25 km northwest of tahiti, at 17o30 s latitude and 149 o50 w longitude. Sealevel reconstructions over the past two millennia provide a preindustrial context to assess whether the magnitude and rate of modern sealevel. According to the world meteorological organization wmo, sea levels have been rising about 3 mm per year since 1993 totaling a 200 mm increase 7. Understand makatea in french polynesia is one of the three great phosphate rock islands in the pacific ocean the others are banaba ocean island in kiribati and nauru. Based on gis and on cell by cell spatial modelling techniques and survey investigations, our study aims at assessing coastal vulnerability to sea level rise on tahiti island, french polynesia.
A rendering of the seasteading institutes floating islands project, which aims to begin the construction of floating cities off the coast of french polynesia as early as 2018. It is composed of 118 geographically dispersed islands and atolls stretching over an expanse of more than 2,000 kilometres 1,200 mi in the south pacific ocean. Papeeteb, fare ute point, french polynesia noaa 780011. However the land above sea level accounts for only some 7,000 square kilometres consisting of 118 islands, grouped into five archipelagoes 4 volcanic, 1 coral. Pdf ice volume and climate changes from a 6000 year sealevel. The french conquest of polynesia sea education association. New data on holocene sea levels have been obtained in 28 atolls and 10 high islands in the society, tuamotu, gambier and austral islands, in an area of the.
News science worlds first floating city to be built off the coast of french polynesia by 2020. Data and station information for papeeteb, fare ute point. This website initially focused on operational monitoring of sea level. Worlds first floating city to combat rising sea levels. The currency of french polynesia is the cfp franc xpf. The climate component of sea level variation displays significant spatial variability, and it is now possible to reconstruct how sea level varied globally and regionally over the past half century. Jan 18, 2018 french polynesia is an ideal region for palaeo sea level studies due to its location in the far field, where accurate information regarding the melting history of ice sheets can be extracted from.
French polynesia flood map map of potential flooding in. Sea offers college level semester at sea, high school, and teacher programs focusing on oceanography, maritime studies, marine biology, sailing tall ships, and the environmental study of oceans. Shom confirmed that although on french polynesia the tide gauge at papeete belongs to uhslc since its. Evidence of past changes in sea level in french polynesia has been obtained from coral core samples gathered on reefs around tahiti.
These two islands are the largest of the windward group of the society islands french. Sea level is the base level for measuring elevation and depth on earth. As well, the people of french polynesia are refered to as french polynesian. Among the various adverse effects of climate change, sea level rise is expected to increase the severity and frequency of flooding events impacting the vulnerable, lowlying islands of french polynesia. Here you can find list of sea ports of french polynesia on the map and read information about their size, coordinates, restrictions, water depth etc. With pristine white beaches and clear, warm water, french polynesia is a.
Mid to lateholocene sealevel record in french polynesia. Lessons from moruroa, french polynesia an inclined borehole through the margin of moruroa atoll, french polynesia, in which the ages of units are. French polynesia and new caledonia would be the worst affected. French polynesia is an ideal region for palaeo sea level studies due to its location in the far field, where accurate information regarding the melting history of ice sheets can be extracted from. It has long been understood that sealevel changes are not spatially uniform, yet this aspect is not taken into account in the decisionmaking. French polynesia master liveaboard in french polynesia.
The government of french polynesia publicly committed to make every effort to preserve the polynesian natural and cultural heritage to. It has long been understood that sea level changes are not spatially uniform, yet this aspect is not taken into account in the decisionmaking. Coastal sea temperatures around french polynesia ocean temperature and marine climate data is provided daily by the national oceanic and atmospheric administration. Sea level rise is an increasing threat to lowlying island nations around the world. It includes some islands scattered across part of the pacific. Mar 20, 2017 featurefaced with rising seas, french polynesia ponders floating islands. French polynesia is an ideal region for palaeo sealevel. Because the pacific plate is in motion, an individual hot spot can generate a series of. Ongoing project making concept of seasteading a reality, building a semiautonomous. Sealevel rise and the tourism industry in french polynesia since 1990, tourism has played an important role in the economy of french polynesia, representing up to 78% of the countrys total income figure 4.
The volcanoes which created these islands were active 3 to 4 million years ago. Multidecadal atoll shoreline change on manihi and manuae, french polynesia. Indeed, the integrated ocean drilling program tahiti sea level expedition around the edifice revealed. French polynesia flood map shows the map of the area which could get flooded if the water level rises to a particular elevation. Catalog previous station station at gmt next station more details gts message show on map station metadata. Jan 17, 2017 sea level rise is an increasing threat to lowlying island nations around the world. During past ice ages, sea level was much lower because the climate was colder and more water was frozen in glaciers and ice sheets. Many islands in french polynesia could lose their coastlines or even disappear due to global warming. French, tahitian, other french polynesian dialects, and some english.
Exploring the relation between sea level rise and shoreline erosion using sea level reconstructions. The pacific nation of french polynesia, looking for a. As interest in the impact of sealevel rise on atoll islands increases, this study contributes to the growing database of observations of shoreline changes on south pacific islands. In the nw coast of tahiti, faa1 gps station is maintained by meteofrance weather service.
Pdf sea level rise and coastal morphological changes on. French polynesia does not share land borders with any countries. Exploring the relation between sea level rise and shoreline. Nov 14, 2017 news science worlds first floating city to be built off the coast of french polynesia by 2020. Plot of monthly mean sea level data at papeeteb, fare ute point. These hotel bungalows in bora bora, french polynesia, have stilts to take them inches.
So much of the world, places like kiribati and many of the islands of french polynesia, are threatened by rising sea levels, seasteading institute executive director randolph hencken said in a. The audio, illustrations, photos, and videos are credited beneath the media asset, except for promotional images, which generally link to another page that contains the media credit. Based on gis and on cell by cell spatial modelling techniques and survey investigations, our study aims at assessing coastal vulnerability to sea level rise on tahiti island. A different outcome developed in moorea, french polynesia, where in situ seawater temperature from 15 march 2016 to 15 april 2016 was an average of 0. Iles du vent along with the much smaller islands of maiao and mehetia, and the atoll of. However, winds, currents, river discharges, and variations in gravity and temperature prevent the sea surface from being truly level. Apr 26, 2012 based on gis and on cell by cell spatial modelling techniques and survey investigations, our study aims at assessing coastal vulnerability to sea level rise on tahiti island, french polynesia. Sep 17, 20 french polynesia and new caledonia would be the worst affected. This makes both volcanos well over 33,000 feet tall, and the tallest mountains in the world, often with snowcapped peaks during the winter.
Click on individual points for current elevation, elevation after sea level rise, and the number and percentage of people losing. Learn everything you need to know about planning a trip to tahiti and the islands of french polynesia. Australia oceania french polynesia the world factbook. Our coral reef research in the tuamotu archipelago began with an aerial survey, at an elevation of 500 feet above sea level, using the golden eye seaplane. French polynesia, an overseas collectivity of france consisting of five archipelagoes in the southcentral pacific ocean. Aerial reconn of the tuamotus living oceans foundation. For example, a tahitian chief is an arii, while a samoan or a hawaiian chief is an alii. Jul 01, 20 multidecadal atoll shoreline change on manihi and manuae, french polynesia.
Sea level rise in tahiti sea education association. Recent changes in sea level and implications for human settlements in the atolls all the atolls investigated in the northwest tuamotus have shown evidence of a holocene sea level in french polynesia 365 fig. At the peak of the most recent ice age, about 18,000 years ago, sea level was perhaps 100 meters 300 feet lower than it is today. French polynesia master liveaboard in french polynesia all.
Late holocene sealevel changes in the northwest tuamotu. Although the islands of french polynesia have a population of demis, people of french and polynesian. The dialing code for the country is 689 and the top level internet domain for french polynesian sites is. Mont orohena is a mountain located in the south pacific, on the island of tahiti. French polynesia is an ideal region for palaeo sealevel studies due to its location in the far field, where accurate information regarding the melting history of ice sheets can be extracted from. Flood map shows the map of the area which could get flooded if the water level rises to a particular elevation. Documentation database, information sources and material on sea level. Multidecadal atoll shoreline change on manihi and manuae. The mean sea level msl trend at papeeteb, fare ute point, french polynesia is 2. An inclined borehole through the margin of moruroa atoll, french polynesia, in which the ages of units are constrained by radiometric dates, provides a unique opportunity to examine the relationship between sea.
Past and future sealevel changes in french polynesia core. Sea level rise and coastal morphological changes on tropical. Master liveaboards was founded to bring divers to the best dive locations and provide an unsurpassed liveaboard diving experience. Faced with rising seas, french polynesia ponders floating.
The tuamotu islands constitute the largest archipelago in french polynesia, spanning an area that is similar in size to western europe but with a land area of only about 850 km 2, and including 77 of the 425 atolls of the world. Global flood map uses nasa satellite data to show the areas of the world under water and at risk for flooding if ocean levels rise. Porinetia farani is an overseas collectivity of the french republic and its sole overseas country. French polynesia exports noni juice, a high quality vanilla, and the famous black tahitian pearls which accounted for 55% of exports in value in 2008. Tahitian and the other distinct french polynesian dialects, such as those spoken in the tuamotu islands, are closely related to all other dialects throughout the polynesian triangle. Interactive map allows you to see what effect rising seas will have on french polynesia. Among the various adverse effects of climate change, sealevel rise is expected to increase the severity and frequency of flooding events impacting the vulnerable, lowlying islands of french polynesia. Changes in sea level sea level may vary with changes in climate.
French polynesia master liveaboard was built in 2016 with 43 metre and can accommodate 25 guests in lower and upper deck airconditioned cabins with ensuite bathrooms. Worlds first floating city to combat rising sea levels lorraine chow. The deep bay on the eastern side of raiatea right side of image is fed by the faaroa river, the only navigable river in french polynesia. Dive the galapagos, truk lagoon, french polynesia, the red sea, maldives or the bahamas with more superb diving destinations to followread more. The sea turtles care center was created in february 2004 with the financial support of the ministry for the environment and is part of the sea turtles protection program of french polynesia. However the volcanos actually start at the ocean floor and rise above sea level. Evidence for a slow subsidence of the tahiti island from gps. The plot shows the monthly mean sea level without the regular seasonal fluctuations due to coastal ocean temperatures. Ice volume and climate changes from a 6000 year sealevel. If youre looking for the best trails around tahiti, weve got you covered. Sea level rise and coastal morphological changes on tropical islands. So that the surface of the ocean can be used as a base for measuring. Ice volume and climate changes from a 6000 year sealevel record.
With an elevation of 2,241 metres 7,352 ft above sea level, it is the highest point of french polynesia. Tahiti travel guide tahiti info and tahiti facts about. If youre looking for the best trails around tupauruuru, weve got you covered. Communal relaxation areas include a spacious indoor lounge area, camera set up station with bench seating and plasma screen and a shaded outdoor lounge area on the upper deck with cosy seating.
Bora bora, the island to the northwest top of image is also fringed by a coral reef. Coastal vulnerability to sea level rise on tahiti island. The peaks of mauna kea and mauna loa located on hawai. Featurefaced with rising seas, french polynesia ponders. French islands under threat from rising sea levels. As interest in the impact of sea level rise on atoll islands increases, this study contributes to the growing database of observations of shoreline changes on south pacific islands, where few observations are currently available. Could small islands threatened by sea level rise find a new future afloat.
French polynesia s seafloor contains rich deposits of nickel, cobalt, manganese, and copper that are not exploited. Geography, geology and coral reefs the island of moorea eimeo lies 15 miles 25 km northwest of tahiti, at. Featurefaced with rising seas, french polynesia ponders floating islands. Because the ocean is one continuous body of water, its surface tends to seek the same level throughout the world. The closing of the atoll of takapoto would have occurred, in this case, not less than several centuries ago. The makemo tide gauge measurements can be viewed and downloaded on the refmar portal. Climateforced sealevel lowstands in the indian ocean.
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