What is Compound Flooding? When it comes to flooding in Oceania, the conversation is often dominated by the danger of sea level rise, as this has become one of the defining characteristics of climate change in the region. However, flooding can occur through other mechanisms, which when excluded from resiliency… read more
Heading to higher ground: Uncertainty in elevation data and sea level rise can under predict affected populations
One of the most visible threats to Oceania is sea level rise. Rightly so, as the Pacific Community (SPC) has estimated that the vast majority of people living in Oceania live within 1 kilometer of the coastline. What can seem as a simple calculation of determining what percentage of a… read more
Information imperialism and digital colonialism: Why we need to make sure we are building capacity in Oceanic countries
After attending the American Geophysical Union (AGU) 2019 Conference, I began to think a great deal about the role of science and scientific research in addressing global environmental changes. With nearly 30,000 attendees, this is consistently the second largest annual gathering of researchers in the world focusing on a vast… read more
Combating Climate Change with Infrastructure Investments: How Traditional Methods May Contribute to Risk
The negative effects of climate change are well documented, especially for small island developing states (SIDS) in Oceania. These threats include sea level rise, coastal erosion, and increased intensity of tropical storms (i.e. more dangerous storm surge, strong winds, and high rates of precipitation). Traditionally, there are common civil engineering… read more
Oceania from Space: Why remote sensing is vital for understanding the effects of climate change
Oceania is known for its low-lying island nations, with over 10,000 islands, represented by over 20 countries (including territories/dependencies), spanning an area approximately the size of the United States. Monitoring threats such as sea level rise, tropical storm paths, and water quality is impossible for these nations to do using… read more