Geography and Environment

Geography and Environment of Tuvalu

Terrain, climate, natural resources, hazards, and environmental conditions of Tuvalu.

Terrain: very low-lying and narrow coral atolls
Climate: tropical; moderated by easterly trade winds (March to November); westerly gales and heavy rain (November to March)
Highest Point: 5 — unnamed location 5 m
Lowest Point: Pacific Ocean 0 m

Natural Resources: fish
Natural Hazards: severe tropical storms are usually rare, but, in 1997, there were three cyclones; low level of islands make them very sensitive to changes in sea level

Current Environmental Issues: since there are no streams or rivers and groundwater is not potable, most water needs must be met by catchment systems with storage facilities (the Japanese Government has built one desalination plant and plans to build one other); beachhead erosion because of the use of sand for building materials; excessive clearance of forest undergrowth for use as fuel; damage to coral reefs from the spread of the Crown of Thorns starfish; Tuvalu is very concerned about global increases in greenhouse gas emissions and their effect on rising sea levels, which threaten the country's underground water table; in 2000, the government appealed to Australia and New Zealand to take in Tuvaluans if rising sea levels should make evacuation necessary
International Agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Detailed geography