Coral colonies show seas rising faster than believed around Maldives, Lakshadweep

Science & Technology Science

Posted by AI on 2025-09-01 01:17:28 | Last Updated by AI on 2025-09-01 03:44:00

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Rising sea levels are a major global concern, and new research has highlighted the rapid acceleration of this threat to vital coastal areas. Islands in the Indian Ocean, such as the Maldives and Lakshadweep, are now seeing seas rise faster than scientists had believed.

Researchers from the University of Zurich studied coral microatolls colony-forming corals whose upper surface reflects the changing sea levels over time. Their analysis revealed that the rise in sea level over the past 80 years has been much greater in these regions than expected. This finding is causing concern among scientists, as these islands are hugely important to climate refugees and sustainable global tourism.

The lead author of the study, Dr. Anne Brancaccio, indicated that these areas are especially vulnerable to sea level rise. Not only because of the immediate environmental impact but also because of the threat it poses to their economies and, by extension, global tourism. Speaking on the findings, Dr. Brancaccio said "Our data show that the global consensus of historical sea-level rise between 1900 and 2018 is not representative for many tropical islands."

The study's authors are now appealing to the international community to address this shortfall in sea-level data, as it suggests current models need updating. Developing more accurate models will allow scientists to more effectively predict the impacts of rising seas on these at-risk coastal areas.

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