Global warming
Marjorie Henry, Contributor

The question I have been going through for a while now is number 10 from the June 2008 question paper. Today, I will focus on the last section of that question. It is as follows:

(e) Compare THREE possible consequences of global warming in the Maldives or Mauritius with those in a named Caribbean country.

Please remember that whenever you are asked to do a comparison of something between two countries, you are to refer to what is similar or different about the matter being discussed in each country. Whatever point of comparison is discussed in one country must also be dealt with in your discussion of the other country. Failure to do so will result in you losing marks.

Another guideline I would like to offer is that whenever the question states 'in a named Caribbean country' you are required to give the name of a particular Caribbean country. Your answer cannot be referring to a generalised situation. Again, if you fail to indicate a specific country, you will lose marks. In offering some possible responses to this part of the question, I will choose Jamaica as the Caribbean country and compare it with the Maldives.

Jamaica is facing numerous consequences and problems resulting from global warming. These include:

• An increase in occurrence of tropical storms or hurricanes. Hurricanes gain their energy from warm seas. They form only when sea surface temperatures are above 27ºC. Warmer seas might lead to a longer storm season, with more frequent and more powerful hurricanes.
• A decrease in food production. Higher temperatures increase evaporation. This slows down crop growth, unless there is more irrigation. If rainfall is reduced, this would increase the problem.
• A drop in tourist arrivals. Beach erosion and destruction of corals will increase, affecting tourism. Beachfront hotels and other coastal structures may be damaged as sea level rises. Higher temperatures may be uncomfortable for the tourists.
• Coastal flooding. Jamaican coasts are affected by flooding from the large storm surges that result from the increased occurrences of tropical storms that occur annually between June and November. When coastal flooding occurs, economic activities like fishing and tourism come to a standstill.

An awareness of the topography of the Maldives is useful in answering the question. The text informs us that the Maldives are a group of about 1,200 tiny islands located in the Indian Ocean, approximately southwest of India. Most of the tiny islands were created naturally on coral reefs and lie just above sea level. The highest point is on an island in the Addu Atoll. It is about 2.4m above sea level. The general low height of the country makes it very vulnerable to even a small rise in sea level.

The Maldives may face numerous problems resulting from global warming. Comparing the Maldives to Jamaica, these serious problems include:

• An increase in the occurrence of tropical storms. The increased temperature will cause more storms to occur.
• A decrease in food production. Fishing is one of the main economic activities in the Maldives. Global warming may affect the fishing industry. With the change in the climate, the population of the tuna, a common fish in the Maldives, may decrease as they migrate to other areas which are more conducive. The tuna harvest may decline, leading to the crashing of the fishing industry.
• A drop in tourists arrivals. In recent years, beach erosion has become a serious environmental problem. The beaches of many of the tiny islands are being washed away more rapidly than they are being formed naturally. The shapes of many of the tiny islands have also been changed by beach erosion. Infrastructure like hotels and roads near beaches could be swept away as coastlines get eroded. This eventually will have a direct impact on tourists arrivals.
• Coastal flooding. Most times, seas around the Maldives are calm and serene, but the weather can change suddenly, resulting in coastal flooding. Because of flood risk, three islands were evacuated by 2005. Some scientists think that most of the country will be flooded by 2035.

As you read your textbooks, identify the other problems associated with global warming in both Jamaica and the Maldives. The sources for this lesson are:

• Geography for CSEC by Jeanette Ottey et al
• CSEC New Integrated Geography by Sheldon G. Bleasdell et al
• The Caribbean Geography for CXC Geography by Mark Wilson

Shari-Jo Miller is 'crowned' by Bishop Gibson High School principal, Dr Annette Piper during a celebratory function in the Manchester school's auditorium on Monday.