@article{PAR00001838,
  title = {{A}toll island vulnerability to flooding and inundation revealed by historical reconstruction : {F}ongafale {I}slet, {F}unafuti {A}toll, {T}uvalu},
  author = {{Y}amano, {H}iroya and {K}ayanne, {H}. and {Y}amaguchi, {T}. and {K}uwahara, {Y}. and {Y}okoki, {H}. and {S}himazaki, {H}. and {C}hikamori, {M}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{T}he reef islands formed on coral atolls are generally small, low, and flat, with elevations of only a few meters. {T}hese islands are thus highly vulnerable to elevated sea levels caused by extreme events and global warming. {S}uch vulnerability was recently evidenced at {F}ongafale {I}slet, the capital of {T}uvalu, when it flooded during accelerated spring high tides possibly related to sea level rise caused by global warming. {M}any factors, not only environmental but also economic and social, determine the vulnerability of an island to sea level rise. {I}n this study, we used data spanning 108 yrs to reconstruct changes in topography, land use/cover, population, and the distribution of buildings at {F}ongafale {I}slet. {T}he results indicate that the vulnerability of {F}ongafale {I}slet relates to its original landform characteristics: the central part of the island was formerly dominated by swampland that flooded at high tides. {F}ongafale {I}slet experienced greater population in-migration and centralization beginning in the 1970s following the independence of {T}uvalu and {K}iribati. {M}igrants were also responding to declines in overseas mining operations and limited options for paid employment. {A}s the population increased, construction took place in vulnerable swampland areas. {O}ur results clearly demonstrate that examinations of global environmental issues should focus on characteristics specific to the region of interest. {T}hese characteristics should be specified using historical reconstruction to understand and address the vulnerability of an area to global environmental changes.},
  keywords = {human settlement ; reef island ; sea level rise ; {T}uvalu ; vulnerability},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{G}lobal and {P}lanetary {C}hange},
  volume = {57},
  numero = {3-4},
  pages = {407--416},
  ISSN = {0921-8181},
  year = {2007},
  DOI = {10.1016/j.gloplacha.2007.02.007},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/{PAR}00001838},
}