Aerial and Satellite images show rising sea levels have caused five islands in the Solomons in the South Pacific to completely disappear, the first scientific evidence that confirms the dramatic impact of climate change on low-lying islands.
A newly published study by Australian academics using time series aerial and satellite imagery of 33 reef islands from 1947- 2014 reveals that 11 islands across the northern Solomon Islands have either totally disappeared over recent decades or are currently experiencing severe erosion due to sea level rise.
The five islands — Kakatina, Kale, Rapita, Rehana and Zollies — that vanished ranged in size from one to five hectares and supported dense tropical vegetation that was at least 300 years old. The authors of the study said: