Maldives is not actually submerged at all – NYT (As reported by WUWT for more than a decade) – Watts Up With That?
By Paul Homewood
Finally, NYT caught up!
We humans have settled in all kinds of precarious environments: arid deserts, barren tundra, high mountains. There is no place as precarious as atolls, the small, low-lying islands that dot the tropics. As the planet warms and sea levels rise, atoll nations like the Maldives, the Marshall Islands and Tuvalu look set to disappear, like the legendary Atlantis, into underwater oblivion.
Recently, however, scientists have begun to tell a surprising new story about these islands. By comparing mid-20th century aerial photos with more recent satellite images, they were able to see how the islands have developed over time. What they discovered was surprising: Even though sea levels have risen, many islands have not shrunk. In fact, most are stable. Some even grow.
A synthesis study Scientists’ data on 709 islands across the Pacific and Indian Oceans shows that nearly 89% of islands have increased in area or have not changed much in recent decades. Only 11 percent have signed contracts.
WUWT Appendix
Well, it’s not like the dynamics of the Pacific islands (atolls) haven’t been discussed here for over a decade.
That’s probably about 1/2 to 1/3 of our relevant stories.
But more important.
Follow the money
There is significant resort, airport and hotel construction planned or underway in the Maldives in 2024: New resorts and hotels:
- dusitD2 Feydhoo Maldives: Scheduled to open in Q4 2024, this 125-room all-inclusive lifestyle resort will be located on a private island near Malé.
- SO/Maldives: Opening in March 2024 as part of the CROSSROADS Maldives integrated resort development, featuring beach and water villas.
- Several other new resorts are expected to open by 2024, including resorts in Vaavu Atoll, Baa Atoll, Raa Atoll, South Ari Atoll and North Malé Atoll.
- Luxury brands such as Mandarin Oriental, Rosewood and Corinthia are also planning to open new resorts in the Maldives.
Airport expansion:
- Velana International Airport (VIA):
- A new terminal is scheduled to open in 2024, increasing capacity to 7.3 million passengers.
- Further expansion is planned to reach a capacity of 25 million passengers over the next two decades.
- The new domestic terminal will increase capacity from 300 to 2,000 passengers per hour.
- Additional amenities include a dedicated low-cost carrier terminal, expanded fuel storage and enhanced cargo handling capacity.
- Dhaalu Airport:
- Expanding rapidly with over $20 million in investment.
- Extend the runway from 1,800 meters to 2,200 meters to accommodate larger aircraft by December 2025.
- Terminal capacity expanded by more than 30%.
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