Climate Refugees

Alaska, the Kigiqtaamiut in jeopardy

1. ;At the time this reporter was in Shishmaref, what should have happened to the sea that had not yet happened?

2. ;How much did the Sarichef ;Island shrink as a result of the mid-October storm?

3. ;Three specific impacts on the island are ascribed to global warming. ;Describe the changes to…

a. ;Seal hunting:

b. ;Storms:

c. ;Permafrost:

d. ;Erosion:

4. ;What action did the people take to slow the erosion of their beaches? ;Was this successful?

5. ;What did they do in 2002 to Mina Weyiouanna’s house, to protect it from the eroding shoreline?

6. ;What happened in 2000 to Jimmy Nayopuk’s house, which was not moved?

Maldives, an archipelago in peril

7. ;What are the Maldivian Islands made of? ;How did they form?

8. ;In addition to flooding from rising sea levels, what other fear do the Maldivian people have for their cities?

9. ;List two specific ways that global warming is causing an increase in sea levels.

10. ;Mohammed Ali has observed an average of 5 millimeters of sea level rise per year in Mali. ;At this rate, how much would the ocean rise over the next century?

a. ;He also states that “…this natural balance is now broken, and that erosion wins out over accretion.” ;What does he give as the cause of this imbalance?

11. ;What impact did the massive El Nino have on the water temperature around the Maldives, and how did this impact the coral?

12. ;In the 1980s, the Maldivian government banned coral mining. ;Explain what they were doing with the mined coral. ;

Discussion Question

Answer these questions based on what you read, and any additional research you conduct.

How would you define a “climate refugee”?