Geography of Tuvalu

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The Western Pacific nation of Tuvalu, formerly known as the Ellice Islands, is situated 4,000 kilometers (2,500 mi) northeast of Australia. It is one half of the way from Hawaii to Australia. Tuvalu consists of three reef islands and six true atolls (see Islands of Tuvalu). Its small scattered group of atolls has poor soil and a total land area of only about 26 km², less than 10 sq mi (30 km2).

Tuvalu has westerly gales and heavy rain from November to March and tropical temperatures moderated by easterly winds from April to November. The land is very low-lying, with narrow coral atolls. The highest elevation is 4.6 metres (15 ft) above sea level on Niulakita.

Location: Oceania, island group of nine islands comprising three reef islands and six true atolls in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to Australia.[1] The islands of Tuvalu are spread out between the latitude of 5° to 10° south and longitude of 176° to 180°, west of the International Date Line.[2]

Geographic coordinates: 5°41′S 176°12′E / 5.683°S 176.200°E / -5.683; 176.200 to 10°45′S 179°51′E / 10.750°S 179.850°E / -10.750; 179.850

Map references: Oceania

Area:
total: 26 km²
land: 26 km²
water: 0 km²

Area - comparative: 0.1 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 24 kilometres (15 mi)

Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nmi (44 km)
exclusive economic zone: 200 nmi (370 km)
territorial sea: 12 nmi (22 km)

Tuvalu’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) covers an oceanic area of approximately 900,000 km2.[3]

Climate: tropical; moderated by easterly trade winds (March to November); westerly gales and heavy rain (November to March)

Terrain: low-lying and narrow coral atolls

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location, 4.6 metres (15 ft) on Niulakita

Extreme points:

Lat. and Long. 8°19′S 179°08′E / 8.31°S 179.13°E / -8.31; 179.13 (Funafuti)

This is a list of the extreme points of Tuvalu, the points that are farther north, south, east or west than any other location.

See also: Islands of Tuvalu and List of villages and neighbourhoods in Tuvalu

Natural resources: fish

Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 60%
other: 40% (2011)

Irrigated land: NA km²

Natural hazards: Severe tropical cyclones are usually rare, however the low level of islands makes them very sensitive to sea-level rise. A cyclone caused severe damage to the islands in 1894.[4] Cyclone Bebe in 1975 caused severe damage to Funafuti. in 1997, there were three cyclones that passed through the islands of Tuvalu.

Nui was struck by a giant wave on 16 February 1882;[5] earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occurring in the basin of the Pacific Ocean - the Pacific Ring of Fire - are a possible cause of a Tsunami.

Severe tropical cyclones are usually rare.

See also: Climate change in Tuvalu
Tuvalu Meteorology Service, Fongafale, Funafuti atoll

Environment - current issues: since there are no streams or rivers and groundwater is not potable, most water needs must be met by catchment systems with storage facilities; beachhead erosion because of the use of sand for building materials; excessive clearance of forest undergrowth for use as fuel; damage to coral reefs from the bleaching of the coral as a consequence of the increase of the ocean temperatures and acidification from increased levels of carbon dioxide; Tuvalu is very concerned about global increases in greenhouse gas emissions and their effect on rising sea levels, which threaten the country's underground water table.

See also: Funafuti Conservation Area and 2011 Tuvalu drought

El Niño and La Niña: Tuvalu experiences the effects of El Niño and La Niña that flow from changes in ocean temperatures in equatorial and central Pacific. El Niño effects increase the chances of tropical storms and cyclones; while La Niña effects increase the chances of drought conditions in Tuvalu.[6] On 3 October 2011, drought conditions resulted in a state of emergency being declared as water reserves ran low.[7][8] Typically the islands of Tuvalu receive between 200mm to 400mm of rainfall per month, however a weak La Niña effect caused a drought by cooling the surface of the sea around Tuvalu.[6]

Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none

Geography and environment

A beach at Funafuti atoll.

Tuvalu consists of three reef islands and six true atolls. Its small, scattered group of atolls have poor soil and a total land area of only about 26 square kilometres (less than 10 sq. mi.) making it the fourth smallest country in the world. The islets that form the atolls are very low lying. Nanumaga, Niutao, Niulakita are reef islands and the six true atolls are Funafuti, Nanumea, Nui, Nukufetau, Nukulaelae and Vaitupu. Funafuti is the largest atoll of the nine low reef islands and atolls that form the Tuvalu volcanic island chain. It comprises numerous islets around a central lagoon that is approximately 25.1 kilometres (15.6 mi) (N–S) by 18.4 kilometres (11.4 mi) (W-E), centred on 179°7’E and 8°30’S. On the atolls an annular reef rim surrounds the lagoon, with several natural reef channels.[9] A standard definition of an atoll is "an annular reef enclosing a lagoon in which there are no promontories other than reefs and composed of reef detritus".[9]

Surveys were carried out in May 2010 of the reef habitats of Nanumea, Nukulaelae and Funafuti (including the Funafuti Conservation Area) and a total of 317 fish species were recorded during this Tuvalu Marine Life study. The surveys identified 66 species that had not previously been recorded in Tuvalu, which brings the total number of identified species to 607.[10] [11]

The eastern shoreline of Funafuti Lagoon was modified during World War II when the airfield (what is now Funafuti International Airport) was constructed. As well several piers were constructed, beach areas filled, and deep water access channels were excavated. These alternations to the reef and shoreline have resulted in changes to wave patterns with less sand accumulating to form the beaches as compared to former times; and the shoreline is now exposed to wave action. Several attempts to stabilize the shoreline have not achieved the desired effect.[12] The reefs at Funafuti have suffered damage, with 80 per cent of the coral having been bleached as a consequence of the increase of the ocean temperatures and acidification from increased levels of carbon dioxide.[13][14] The coral bleaching, which includes staghorn corals, is attributed to the increase in water temperature that occurred during the El Niños that occurred from 1998–2000 and from 2000–2001.[15]Researchers from Japan have investigated rebuilding the coral reefs through introduction of foraminifer.[16]

Because of the low elevation, the islands that make up this nation are threatened by current and future sea level rise.[17][18] The highest elevation is 4.6 metres (15 ft) above sea level on Niulakita,[19] which gives Tuvalu the second-lowest maximum elevation of any country (after the Maldives). However, the highest elevations are typically in narrow storm dunes on the ocean side of the islands which are prone to over topping in tropical cyclones, such as occurred with Tropical Cyclone Bebe.[20][21]

Ocean side of Funafuti atoll showing the storm dunes, the highest point on the atoll.

Tuvalu is mainly composed of coral debris eroded from encircling reefs and pushed up onto the islands by winds and waves. Paul Kench at the University of Auckland in New Zealand and Arthur Webb at the South Pacific Applied Geoscience Commission in Fiji released a study in 2010 on the dynamic response of reef islands to sea level rise in the central Pacific. Tuvalu was mentioned in the study, and Webb and Kench found that seven islands in one of its nine atolls have spread by more than 3 per cent on average since the 1950s. One island, Funamanu, gained 0.44 hectares, or nearly 30 per cent of its previous area.[22] The storm surge resulting from a tropical cyclone can dramatically shift coral debris. In 1972 Funafuti was in the path of Cyclone Bebe. Tropical Cyclone Bebe was a pre-season tropical cyclone that impacted the Gilbert, Ellice Islands, and Fiji island groups.[23] First spotted on October 20, the system intensified and grew in size through October 22.

Tuvalu is affected by perigean spring tide events which raise the sea level higher than a normal high tide.[24] As a result of historical sea level rise, the king tide events lead to flooding of low lying areas, which is compounded when sea levels are further raised by La Niña effects or local storms and waves. In the future, sea level rise may threaten to submerge the nation entirely as it is estimated that a sea level rise of 20–40 centimetres (8–16 inches) in the next 100 years could make Tuvalu uninhabitable.[25][26]

A wharf and beach at Funafuti atoll

Tuvalu experiences westerly gales and heavy rain from October to March - the period that is known as Tau-o-lalo; with tropical temperatures moderated by easterly winds from April to November. Drinking water is mostly obtained from rainwater collected on roofs and stored in tanks; these systems are often poorly maintained, resulting in lack of water.[27] Aid programs of Australia and the European Union have been directed to improving the storage capacity on Funafuti and in the outer islands.[28]

The rising population results in increased demand on fish stocks, which are under stress;[13] although the creation of the Funafuti Conservation Area has provided a fishing exclusion area that helps sustain fish populations across the Funafuti lagoon. Population pressure on the resources of Funafuti and in-adequation sanitation systems have resulted in pollution.[18][29] The Waste Operations and Services Act 2009 provides the legal framework for the waste management and pollution control projects funded by the European Union that are directed to organic waste composting in eco-sanitation systems.[30] Plastic waste is also a problem as much imported food and other commodities is supplied in plastic containers or packaging.

When the airfield at Funafuti was constructed during World War II the coral base of the atoll was used as fill to create the runway; the resulting borrow pits impacted on the water aquifer; at these pits the sea water can be seen bubbling up through the porous coral rock to form pools on each high tide.[31][32][33]

Native broadleaf forest

Fualifeke Islet

The islets of the Funafuti Conservation Area have 40% of the remaining native broadleaf forest on Funafuti atoll. While Coconut palms are common in Tuvalu, they are usually cultivated rather than naturally seeding and growing. Tuvaluan traditional histories are that the first settles of the islands planted Coconut palms as they were not found on the islands. The native broadleaf forest of Funafuti would include the following species, that were described by Charles Hedley in 1896, [34] which include the Tuvaluan name (some of which may follow Samoan plant names):

The blossoms that are valued for their scent and for use in flower necklaces and headdresses include: Fetau, (Calophyllum inophyllum); Jiali, (Gardenia taitensis); Boua (Guettarda speciosa); and Crinum.[34]

Charles Hedley (1896) identified the uses of plants and trees from the native broadleaf forest as including: [35]

Thaman (1992) provides an literature review of the ethnobiology of the Pacific Islands.[36]

Aquifer salinization of Fongafale Islet, Funafuti

The investigation of groundwater dynamics of Fongafale Islet, Funafuti, show that tidal forcing results in salt water contamination of the surficial aquifer during spring tides.[37] The degree of aquifer salinization depends on the specific topographic characteristics and the hydrologic controls in the sub-surface of the atoll. About half of Fongafale islet is reclaimed swamp that contains porous, highly permeable coral blocks that allow the tidal forcing of salt water.[38] There was extensive swamp reclamation during World War II to create the air field that is now the Funafuti International Airport. As a consequence of the specific topographic characteristics of Fongafale, unlike other atoll islands of a similar size, Fongafale does not have a thick freshwater lens.[38] The narrow fresh water and brackish water sheets in the sub-surface of Fongafale islet results in the taro swamps and the fresh groundwater resources of the islet being highly vulnerable to salinization resulting from the rising sea-level.[38]

In addition to the increased risk of salinized by the sea-level rise, the freshwater lens is at risk from over extraction due to the large population that now occupies Fongafale islet; the increased extraction can be exacerbated by a decrease of the rainfall recharge rate associated with the climate change.[37] Water pollution is also a chronic problem, with domestic wastewater identified as the primary pollution source.[39] Approximately 92% of households on Fongafale islet have access to septic tanks and pit toilets. However these sanitary facilities are not built as per the design specifications or they are not suitable for the geophysical characteristics, which results in seepage into the fresh water lens and run off into coastal waters.[39]

On Funafuti and on the other islands, rainwater collected off the corrugated iron roofs of buildings is now the primary source of fresh water. On Funafuti a desalination unit that was donated by Japan in 2006 also provides fresh water.[40] In response to the 2011 drought, Japan funded the purchase of a 100 m³/d desalination plant and two portable 10 m³/d plants as part of its Pacific Environment Community (PEC) program.[41][42] Aid programs from the European Union[28][30] and Australia also provided water tanks as part of the longer term solution for the storage of available fresh water.[43]

Aquifer salinization and the impact on Puluka production

Swamp taro (Cyrtosperma chamissonis), known in Tuvalu as Pulaka, is grown in large pits of composted soil below the water table,[44] Pulaka has been the main source for carbohydrates,[44] it is similar to taro, but "with bigger leaves and larger, coarser roots".[45]

In recent years the Tuvaluan community have raised concerns over increased salinity of the groundwater in pits that are used to cultivate pulaka.[46] Pits on all islands of Tuvalu (except Niulakita) were surveyed in 2006. Nukulaelae and Niutao each had one pit area in which salinity concentrations thought to be too high for successful swamp taro growth. However on Fongafale in Funafuti all pits surveyed were either too saline or very marginal for swamp taro production, although a more salt tolerant species of taro (Colocasia esculenta) was being grown in Fongafale.[47]

The extend of the salinization of the aquifer on Fongafale Islet is the result of both man-made changes to the topographic that occurred when the air field was built in World War II by reclaiming swamp land and excavating coral rock from other parts of the islet. These topographic changes are exacerbated by the groundwater dynamics of the islet, as tidal forcing pushes salt water into the surficial aquifer during spring tides.[37]

The freshwater lens of each atoll is a fragile system. Tropical cyclones and other storm events also result in wave wash over and extreme high water also occurs during spring tides. These events can result in salt water contamination of the fresh groundwater lens. Periods of low rainfall can also result in contraction of the freshwater lens as the coconut trees and other vegetation draw up the water at a greater than recharge than it can be recharged. The over extraction of ground water to supply human needs has a similar result as drought conditions.[38]

Geography of Oceania
Sovereign states
Dependencies and
other territories

Footnotes

  1. ↑ "Maps of Tuvalu". 
  2. ↑ "Maps of Tuvalu". Retrieved 21 October 2011. 
  3. ↑ Dr A J Tilling & Ms E Fihaki (17 November 2009). Tuvalu National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan. Fourth National Report to the Convention on Biological Diversity. p. 7. 
  4. ↑ Pasoni Taafaki, Hugh Laracy (ed.) (1983). "Chapter 2 – The Old Order". Tuvalu: A History. Institute of Pacific Studies, University of the South Pacific and Government of Tuvalu. p. 27. 
  5. ↑ Sotaga Pape, Hugh Laracy (ed.) (1983). "Chapter 10 – Nui". Tuvalu: A History. Institute of Pacific Studies, University of the South Pacific and Government of Tuvalu. p. 76. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "El Niño and La Niña". Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology. Retrieved 9 October 2011. 
  7. ↑ Benns, Matthew (3 October 2011). "Tuvalu 'to run out of water by Tuesday'". The Telegraph (London). 
  8. ↑ Macrae, Alistair (11 October 2011). "Tuvalu in a fight for its life". The Drum – Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 12 October 2011. 
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 McNeil, F. S. (1954). Organic reefs and banks and associated detrital sediments. Amer. J. Sci., 252(7): 385–401. 
  10. ↑ Sandrine Job, Dr. Daniela Ceccarelli (December 2011). "Tuvalu Marine Life Synthesis Report". an Alofa Tuvalu project with the Tuvalu Fisheries Department. Retrieved 3 December 2013. 
  11. ↑ Sandrine Job, Dr. Daniela Ceccarelli (December 2012). "Tuvalu Marine Life Scientific Report". an Alofa Tuvalu project with the Tuvalu Fisheries Department. Retrieved 3 December 2013. 
  12. ↑ Carter, Ralf (4 July 1986). "Wind and Sea Analysis - Funafuti Lagoon, Tuvalu". South Pacific Regional Environmental Programme and UNDP Project RAS/81/102 (Technical. Report No. 58 of PE/TU.3). Retrieved 4 November 2011. 
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Lusama, Tafue (29 November 2011). "Tuvalu plight must be heard by UNFCC". The Drum - Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 29 November 2011. 
  14. ↑ Hugh Govan & Sandrine Job et al. (June 2007). "Funafuti Atoll Coral Reef Restoration Project – baseline report". Coral Reefs in the Pacific (CRISP), Noumea. Retrieved 26 October 2011. 
  15. ↑ Whitty, Julia (July/August 2003). All the Disappearing Islands. Mother Jones. 
  16. ↑ "Hope for Tuvalu in 'sand' that grows, the Asahi Shimbun". Retrieved 8 September 2010. 
  17. ↑ Lal, Andrick. South Pacific Sea Level & Climate Monitoring Project - Funafuti atoll. SPC Applied Geoscience and Technology Division (SOPAC Division of SPC). 
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 Krales, Amelia Holowaty (18 October 2011). "As Danger Laps at Its Shores, Tuvalu Pleads for Action". The New York Times - Green: A Blog about Energy and the Environment. Retrieved 24 October 2011. 
  19. ↑ Lewis, James (December 1989). "Sea level rise: Some implications for Tuvalu". 9(4) The Environmentalist 269–275. Retrieved 5 May 2012. 
  20. ↑ "Tropical Cyclone Bebe". Retrieved 20 September 2011. 
  21. ↑ Tropical Cyclones in the Northern Australian Regions 1971-1972. Bureau of Meteorology (1975) Australian Government Publishing Service. 
  22. ↑ Zukerman, Wendy (2 June 2010). "Shape-shifting islands defy sea-level rise". New Scientist. Retrieved 5 May 2012. 
  23. ↑ Bureau of Meteorology (1975) Tropical Cyclones in the Northern Australian Regions 1971-1972 Australian Government Publishing Service
  24. ↑ Shukman, David (22 January 2008). "Tuvalu struggles to hold back tide". BBC News. Retrieved 5 August 2008. 
  25. ↑ Patel, S. S. 2006. A sinking feeling Nature 440:734-736
  26. ↑ Hunter, J. A. 2002. Note on Relative Sea Level Change at Funafuti, Tuvalu. Retrieved 13 May 2006.
  27. ↑ Kingston, P.A. (2004). "Surveillance of Drinking Water Quality in the Pacific Islands: Situation Analysis and Needs Assessment". Situation Analysis and Needs Assessment, Country Reports, WHO. Retrieved 5 May 2012. 
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 "Tuvalu - 10th European Development Fund". Delegation of the European Union. Retrieved 24 October 2011. 
  29. ↑ Baarsch, Florent (4 March 2011). "Warming oceans and human waste hit Tuvalu's sustainable way of life". The Guardian (London). 
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 "Tuvalu / Water, Waste and Sanitation Project (TWWSP): CRIS FED/2009/021-195, ANNEX". European Union. Retrieved 24 October 2011. 
  31. ↑ "Global Warming". The Luaseuta Foundation. Retrieved 14 October 2011. 
  32. ↑ Laafai, Monise (October 2005). "Funafuti King Tides". Retrieved 14 October 2011. 
  33. ↑ Mason, Moya K. "Tuvalu: Flooding, Global Warming, and Media Coverage". Retrieved 13 October 2011. 
  34. ↑ 34.0 34.1 Hedley, Charles (1896). General account of the Atoll of Funafuti. Australian Museum Memoir 3(2): 1–72. pp. 30–40. 
  35. ↑ 35.0 35.1 35.2 35.3 35.4 35.5 35.6 Hedley, Charles (1896). General account of the Atoll of Funafuti. Australian Museum Memoir 3(2): 1–72. pp. 40–41. 
  36. ↑ Thaman, R.R. (May 1992). "Batiri Kei Baravi: The Ethnobotany of Pacific Island Coastal Plants". Atoll Research Bulletin, No. 361, National Museum Of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved 8 February 2014. 
  37. ↑ 37.0 37.1 37.2 Nakada S., Yamano H., Umezawa Y., Fujita M., Watanabe M., Taniguchi M. (2010). "Evaluation of Aquifer Salinization in the Atoll Islands by Using Electrical Resistivity". 30 (5) Journal of the Remote Sensing Society of Japan. pp. 317–330. Retrieved 5 May 2013. 
  38. ↑ 38.0 38.1 38.2 38.3 Nakada S, Umezawa Y, Taniguchi M, Yamano H. (2012 Jul-Aug). "Groundwater dynamics of Fongafale Islet, Funafuti Atoll, Tuvalu". 50(4) Ground Water. pp. 639–44. Retrieved 5 May 2013. 
  39. ↑ 39.0 39.1 Fujita M., Suzuki J., Sato D., Kuwahara Y., Yokoki H., Kayanne, Y. (2013). "Anthropogenic impacts on water quality of the lagoonal coast of Fongafale Islet, Funafuti Atoll, Tuvalu". Sustained Science (Springer). Retrieved 5 May 2013. 
  40. ↑ "Japan Provides Desalination Plant to relieve Tuvalu's water problems". Embassy of Japan in the Republic of the Fiji Islands. 2 June 2006. Retrieved 1 December 2011. 
  41. ↑ "Japan-New Zealand Aid Cooperation in response to severe water shortage in Tuvalu". Department of Foreign Affairs of Japan. 4 November 2011. Retrieved 1 December 2011. 
  42. ↑ "Japanese fund three desalination plants for Tuvalu". The International Desalination & Water Reuse Quarterly industry website. 17 October 2011. Retrieved 1 December 2011. 
  43. ↑ Richard Marle, Parliamentary Secretary for Pacific Island Affairs (Australia) (12 October 2011). "Climate change poses a Pacific problem". The Punch – News Limited. Retrieved 12 October 2011. 
  44. ↑ 44.0 44.1 Koch, Gerd (1983/1990). The material culture of Tuvalu. Institute of Pacific Studies, University of the South Pacific. p. 46. Retrieved 12 May 2010. 
  45. ↑ "Leaflet No. 1 - Revised 1992 - Taro". Food and Agriculture Organization. Retrieved 15 August 2012. 
  46. ↑ "Tuvalu could lose root crop". Radio New Zealand. 17 September 2008. Retrieved 10 May 2010. 
  47. ↑ Webb, Dr Arthur (March 2007). "Tuvalu Technical Report: Assessment of Salinity of Groundwater in Swamp Taro (Cyrtosperma Chamissonis) "Pulaka" Pits in Tuvalu". Pacific Islands Applied Geoscience Commission, EU EDF8-SOPAC Project Report 75: Reducing Vulnerability of Pacific ACP States. Retrieved 5 May 2013. 
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