Reef islands have continually adjusted to environmental change over the past two millennia

P. S. Kench (), C. Liang, M. R. Ford, S. D. Owen, M. Aslam, E. J. Ryan, T. Turner, E. Beetham, M. E. Dickson, W. Stephenson, A. Vila-Concejo and R. F. McLean
Additional contact information
P. S. Kench: National University of Singapore
C. Liang: Southern Institute of Technology
M. R. Ford: University of Auckland
S. D. Owen: National University of Singapore
M. Aslam: Fares-Maathodaa Island
E. J. Ryan: University of Auckland
T. Turner: University of Auckland
E. Beetham: University of Auckland
M. E. Dickson: University of Auckland
W. Stephenson: University of Otago
A. Vila-Concejo: University of Sydney
R. F. McLean: University of New South Wales

Nature Communications, 2023, vol. 14, issue 1, 1-12

Abstract: Abstract Global environmental change is identified as a driver of physical transformation of coral reef islands over the past half-century, and next 100 years, posing major adaptation challenges to island nations. Here we resolve whether these recent documented changes in islands are unprecedented compared with the pre-industrial era. We utilise radiometric dating, geological, and remote sensing techniques to document the dynamics of a Maldivian reef island at millennial to decadal timescales. Results show the magnitude of island change over the past half-century (±40 m movement) is not unprecedented compared with paleo-dynamic evidence that reveals large-scale changes in island dimension, shape, beach levels, as well as positional changes of ±200 m since island formation ~1,500 years ago. Results highlight the value of a multi-temporal methodological approach to gain a deeper understanding of the dynamic trajectories of reef islands, to support development of adaptation strategies at timeframes relevant to human security.

Date: 2023
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-36171-2

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