The Island of East Island in Hawaii has disappeared in Walaka Hurricane

The small island of East Island in Hawaii is gone. The island is under water after the passage of powerful hurricane Walaka. Scientists are worried that the disappearance of the island will mean for endangered animals – and for the global ecosystem.
"These islands are at a much greater risk than we thought," climate scientist Chip Fletcher told The Guardian.

Walaka, a Category 5 hurricane with winds up to 70 meters per second, crossed the frigate zone in early October. On past and subsequent images, the island of eastern Iceland is an important place for seals and endangered turtles, now underwater.

– I thought mr. It's gone. Some ecosystems and biodiversity networks on this planet are being destroyed, "said Chip Fletcher, research scientist at Hawaiian University at the local Honolulu newspaper Civil Beat, who was the first to report on l & # 39; news.

"Higher than expected risk"

The island, located in the northwest of Hawaii Eagle, is also a nature reserve, and would be between 1000 and 2000 years old. Chip Fletcher planned to investigate the island, its sand and coral, in collaboration with a team of researchers, to determine its age and chances of coping with the climate threat.

Chip Fletcher says that he knew that the island would have ended up under water, but not that it would go so fast.

"We are disappointed that she left, but on the other hand, we learned that these islands are at a much greater risk than we thought, I thought the island would stay for a decade or two but she's a lot more sensitive than I thought, "Chip Fletcher told The Guardian.

More islands changed

East Island was a small island of about 4.5 hectares and was largely covered with sand. But the island, which is part of the Papahanaumokuakea Nature Reserve, was a very central place for endangered animals.

The Papahanaumokuakea National Marine Monument is currently analyzing images taken by the island after the storm. We will study the degree of damage to the island and the impact it can have on wildlife. The national monument has seen changes even on other islands in the region after the hurricane.

"The images seem to show that the changes on Tern Island and East Island seem to be under water," says the national monument in a statement:

"Tern and East Island were an important area for egg-laying for the endangered green turtle and for the threatened children of Monshell."

"Climate change is happening now"

In the short term, the animals weathered the storm relatively well, which particularly hit East Island after coral reefs. According to biologist Charles Littnan, most of the animals had already left the island when the hurricane arrived on the island.

– The species are resistant to a certain extent. But it may be that in the future, their resistance is no longer sufficient, says Charles Littnan at Honolulu Civil Beat.

There has been no climate change that has created Hurricane Walaka, which literally swept the island off the map. But climate change has contributed to rising water temperatures, which has created heavier storms that are spreading further north than before, "said Randy Kosaki in front of the national monument.

"What we need to bring is that climate change is going well and is happening now, as some people claim, no scams are spreading in China," said Kosaki.

October 26, 2018 0:31