From NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW THAT

By Paul Homewood

The NYT finally catch up!

We humans have settled in all sorts of precarious environments: parched deserts, barren tundra, high mountains. None are precarious in quite the same way as atolls, the tiny, low-lying islands that dot the tropics. As the planet warms and the oceans rise, atoll nations like the Maldives, the Marshall Islands and Tuvalu have seemed doomed to vanish, like the mythical Atlantis, into watery oblivion.

Of late, though, scientists have begun telling a surprising new story about these islands. By comparing mid-20th century aerial photos with recent satellite images, they’ve been able to see how the islands have evolved over time. What they found is startling: Even though sea levels have risen, many islands haven’t shrunk. Most, in fact, have been stable. Some have even grown.

One study that rounded up scientists’ data on 709 islands across the Pacific and Indian Oceans showed that nearly 89 percent either had increased in area or hadn’t changed much in recent decades. Only 11 percent had contracted.

WUWT Addendum

Well, it’s not like the dynamics of Pacific Islands (atolls) hasn’t been discussed here for over a decade.

That’s probably about 1/2 to 1/3 of our relevant stories.

But more importantly.

Follow the money

There is significant resort, airport, and hotel construction activity planned or underway in the Maldives for 2024: New Resorts and Hotels:

1. dusitD2 Feydhoo Maldives: Scheduled to open in Q4 2024, this 125-key all-inclusive lifestyle resort will be located on a private island near Malé.
2. SO/ Maldives: Opened in March 2024 as part of the CROSSROADS Maldives integrated resort development, featuring beach and water villas.
3. Several other new resorts are set to open in 2024, including properties in Vaavu Atoll, Baa Atoll, Raa Atoll, South Ari Atoll, and North Malé Atoll.
4. Luxury brands like Mandarin Oriental, Rosewood, and Corinthia are also planning to open new resorts in the Maldives.

Airport Expansions:

1. Velana International Airport (VIA):
   • A new terminal is set to open in 2024, increasing capacity to 7.3 million passengers.
   • Plans for further expansion aim to reach a capacity of 25 million passengers over the next two decades.
   • A new domestic terminal will increase capacity from 300 to 2000 passengers per hour.
   • Additional facilities include a dedicated low-cost carrier terminal, expanded fuel storage, and increased cargo handling capacity.
2. Dhaalu Airport:
   • Undergoing rapid expansion with investments over $20 million.
   • Runway extension from 1,800 to 2,200 meters to accommodate larger aircraft by December 2025.
   • Terminal capacity being expanded by over 30%.