The impact of sea level rise on the Solomon Islands

The aim of this PhD research is to assess the impact sea-level rise is having in small island settings using the Solomon Islands in the south Pacific as an example. In the Solomon Islands, people often live on artificial and informal land reclamations developed from coral and other rubble material. These are not formally designed and during extreme events they can fail. Climate change and sea-level rise are being increasingly blamed as the cause of these failures.
To address the overall aim there are three main objectives:
1. To map and quantify the extent of shoreline change, erosion, adaptation and human development over a range of timescales (100 years, decadal and annual);
2. To assess rates of sea level rise in region, and identify specific storm events and conditions, that have led to major inundation and coastal erosion events in the past; and
3. To investigate how island communities are being impacted, including the role of coastal engineering in mitigating these impacts.
The Solomon Islands are potential recipients of adaptation funding and this research will culminate in developing sympathetic and successful interventions that are consistent with the local way of life.