Plate Tectonics:Fiji is located on the Pacific Plate and the Indo-Australia Plate. This part of the Ring of Fire, a string of volcanoes around the boundary of the Pacific Ocean, is on the boundary of the Pacific plate and the Australian plate. This is a convergent plate boundary, where the two plates move toward each other. This causes volcanic mountains which include Mount Tomanivi in Fiji. The Fiji Islands are also a part of an island arc formed by an ancient subduction zone that is no longer active. Fiji has three volcanos that were formed from this subduction zone. They are Taveuni, Koro, and Nebukelevu.
Vanuatu, which lies between Fiji and Australia and north of New Zealand, is part of the "Pacific Ring of Fire", an ocean-wide area alive with seismic and volcanic activity caused by the grinding of enormous tectonic plates. |
Climate:
Fiji's climate is tropical wet and marine west coast. The climate changes in Fiji have caused cyclones and severe flooding in recent times. Air temperature, the number of cyclones and sea level are all predicted to rise, and changes in rainfall are also predicted.The management of invasive species needs to be included in relation to climate change. Many Pacific people rely on native plants and animals to supply them with food, water, shelter and medicine. Damage to ecosystems from climatic events or invasive species, can have a huge effect on island economies. Destruction of coastal ecosystems and coral reefs has been identified as the most urgent environmental issue affecting island ecosystems, and the negative effects of invasive species only add to the vulnerability of Fiji's ecosystems.
With climate change in Fiji, temperatures have increased, sea level has risen, and ocean acidification has been increasing. Climate change is expected to affect the country’s coastal resources through sea level rise, and ocean acidification continues to increase and threaten coral reef ecosystems. There are anticipated impacts on infrastructure caused by the projected increase in the frequency and intensity of cyclones and other tropical storms. Additionally, temperature will continue to increase, rainfall patterns will change, there will be less frequent tropical cyclones, sea levels will continue to rise and ocean acidification will continue. (http://www.pacificclimatechange.net/index.php/country-profiles/fiji)
In Fiji, as in many areas in the Pacific, urban populations are located in highly hazard-prone areas in the coastal zone. Storm surges and sea-level rise can affect settlements, food production and infrastructure. A lack of basic services such as clean water supply and solid waste management can exacerbate the negative effects of climate change. Amid all this, the poorest are almost always the most vulnerable, as they have less access to infrastructure, basic services, and social safety nets in the event of a disaster. (http://www.fukuoka.unhabitat.org/programmes/ccci/pdf/Lami_Town_Fiji_Climate_Change_Vulnerability_Assessment_2014.pdf)
With climate change in Fiji, temperatures have increased, sea level has risen, and ocean acidification has been increasing. Climate change is expected to affect the country’s coastal resources through sea level rise, and ocean acidification continues to increase and threaten coral reef ecosystems. There are anticipated impacts on infrastructure caused by the projected increase in the frequency and intensity of cyclones and other tropical storms. Additionally, temperature will continue to increase, rainfall patterns will change, there will be less frequent tropical cyclones, sea levels will continue to rise and ocean acidification will continue. (http://www.pacificclimatechange.net/index.php/country-profiles/fiji)
In Fiji, as in many areas in the Pacific, urban populations are located in highly hazard-prone areas in the coastal zone. Storm surges and sea-level rise can affect settlements, food production and infrastructure. A lack of basic services such as clean water supply and solid waste management can exacerbate the negative effects of climate change. Amid all this, the poorest are almost always the most vulnerable, as they have less access to infrastructure, basic services, and social safety nets in the event of a disaster. (http://www.fukuoka.unhabitat.org/programmes/ccci/pdf/Lami_Town_Fiji_Climate_Change_Vulnerability_Assessment_2014.pdf)
Water Cycle:
![Picture](/uploads/3/9/5/2/39529253/1399139.jpg?286)
Fiji has an abundance of water to work with. Fiji's main source of water is it's streams which contain fresh water. In Fiji water from the surrounding ocean is evaporated, then it rains causing the water to fall to the ground and soak in. Before the water soaks into the ground the salt is removed, which makes the water clean and clear. The water cycle contributes to the economy because the bottled water brand, "Fiji Water", is a big part of Fiji's economy. Fiji Water is one of the many things that Fiji exports.
An innovative wastewater treatment project in Fiji is improving health, protecting the environment, and delivering income opportunities. It demonstrates the success of partnering specialist skills with active community participation. The Coral Coast on Fiji’s Viti Levu is the main tourist area of Fiji, but the environment is under strain. The flow of wastewater into the marine environment has been increasing from several sources. The population of Fijian villages has grown rapidly , piped drinking water supplies along the coast have been expanded, and flush toilets have been introduced without installation of suitable treatment and disposal systems. Studies have shown that water quality has deteriorated in the area, threatening the sustainability of the reef and its fisheries. The health of the communities living along the coast has been adversely affected. Their future livelihoods and the tourism industry in the area are also threatened.
(http://www.aid.govt.nz/media-and-publications/development-stories/july-august-2011/sustainable-water-solutions-fiji)
An innovative wastewater treatment project in Fiji is improving health, protecting the environment, and delivering income opportunities. It demonstrates the success of partnering specialist skills with active community participation. The Coral Coast on Fiji’s Viti Levu is the main tourist area of Fiji, but the environment is under strain. The flow of wastewater into the marine environment has been increasing from several sources. The population of Fijian villages has grown rapidly , piped drinking water supplies along the coast have been expanded, and flush toilets have been introduced without installation of suitable treatment and disposal systems. Studies have shown that water quality has deteriorated in the area, threatening the sustainability of the reef and its fisheries. The health of the communities living along the coast has been adversely affected. Their future livelihoods and the tourism industry in the area are also threatened.
(http://www.aid.govt.nz/media-and-publications/development-stories/july-august-2011/sustainable-water-solutions-fiji)
Natural Resources:
The natural resources include timber, fish, gold, copper, offshore oil potential, and hydropower. Some issues that they are battling in Fiji are deforestation and soil erosion, logging of watersheds, over-exploitation of terrestrial and aquatic biological resources, improper waste management and pollution control, and impact of climate change. Fiji has a number of materials and natural resources that are very much helpful in building a strong economic backbone of this island country. Fiji also the home of the bottled water brand, "Fiji Water", which is exported to countries all over the world. Fiji's natural resources affect what they export and import. Since they have an abundance of fish, gold, timber, and water they export it to other countries, which helps their economy. Their natural resources also affect what they import, which is cars, petroleum gas, and refined petroleum. This affects them because since they don't have these resources they have to import them.
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Water Security Letter:
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Water Resources of Oceana:
Concept Map:
Works Cited:
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate
- http://iisee.kenken.go.jp/net/shiva/fiji_2/tectonic_01.htm
- https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/fj.html
- http://www.pacificinvasivesinitiative.org/site/pii/files/resources/factsheets/InvasiveSpecies&ClimateChange.pdf
- http://education.nationalgeographic.com/education/encyclopedia/oceania-physical-geography/?ar_a=1
- http://atlas.media.mit.edu/profile/country/fji/
- http://www.aid.govt.nz/media-and-publications/development-stories/july-august-2011/sustainable-water-solutions-fiji
- http://www.fukuoka.unhabitat.org/programmes/ccci/pdf/Lami_Town_Fiji_Climate_Change_Vulnerability_Assessment_2014.pdf
- http://www.icimod.org/?q=5906
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate
- http://iisee.kenken.go.jp/net/shiva/fiji_2/tectonic_01.htm
- https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/fj.html
- http://www.pacificinvasivesinitiative.org/site/pii/files/resources/factsheets/InvasiveSpecies&ClimateChange.pdf
- http://education.nationalgeographic.com/education/encyclopedia/oceania-physical-geography/?ar_a=1
- http://atlas.media.mit.edu/profile/country/fji/
- http://www.aid.govt.nz/media-and-publications/development-stories/july-august-2011/sustainable-water-solutions-fiji
- http://www.fukuoka.unhabitat.org/programmes/ccci/pdf/Lami_Town_Fiji_Climate_Change_Vulnerability_Assessment_2014.pdf
- http://www.icimod.org/?q=5906