Republic of the Marshall Islands

Republic of the Marshall Islands

The Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) is historically referred to in folklore as “jolet jen Anij” (gifts from God). A God-given sanctuary apart from the harshness of other areas is therefore part of the socio-cultural identity of the people. However, they are now often referred to as a “front line state” with regard to the climate change issue. Moreover, the Marshall Islands lie in open ocean, and the average height above sea level of its 1,225 islets in 29 atolls is only 7 feet (2 meters).  Fragile coral reefs fringe the atolls, and serve as the only line of defense against the ocean surge. The clearance over the reef in the sections that are covered by water is usually no more than a couple of feet. Given the physics of wave formation and the increasing frequency and severity of storms, the Marshall Islands will likely be at even greater risk in the future. It is likely that evacuation would have to be effected long before inundation is total.  The Marshallese would become among the first of many environmental refugees [1]

Geography

The Marshall Islands is composed of 29 coral atolls and 5 single coral islands, which form two roughly parallel chains running northwest to southeast: the eastern Ratak (Sunrise) chain and the western Rālik (Sunset) chain. The island nation encompasses over 750,000 sq miles (1,942,491 sq km) of ocean, but includes only about 70 sq miles (181 sq km) of land mass [2]. The islands are located about halfway between Hawaiʻi and Australia [3], in the region of the Pacific known as Micronesia. The capital of the Marshall Islands is Majuro, located in the Ratak Chain. Kwajalein lagoon is the largest in the world, covering 840 sq miles (2,176 sq km) [4]. Kwajalein is also a World War II battleground, and is currently used as a US missile test range. The atolls of Bikini and Enewetak are former US nuclear test sites [5].

Climate

The weather in the Marshall Islands is tropical – hot and humid, but tempered by trade-winds which prevail throughout the year. The trades are frequently interrupted during the summer months by the movement of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) across the area [6]. The recorded annual temperature averages since 1948 show hardly any fluctuation with 82.6 °F (28.1 °C) at Kwajalein Weather Station in 2007 [7]. Due to the long distance from north to south, rainfall varies greatly throughout the Marshall Islands.  In the wet, southern atolls, rainfall is heavy and can average as much as 160 inches (1,524 mm) per year, while the dry, northern atolls may only average 20 inches (508 mm). There is also a wet and dry season, with the wettest months being between May and November [1]. Pacific typhoons generally develop to the east of the Marshall Islands area, but the RMI is only occasionally subjected to the full brunt of a Pacific typhoon.  The northern atolls are more subject to typhoons than are the southern atolls.  The storms (sustained winds of 40-74 mph/64-119 km/h) impact the atoll about once every four to seven years on average, corresponding with El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events that warm the ocean waters and provide conditions for the genesis of cyclones [8]. Much more common are minor storms of the easterly wave type, especially from March to April and October to November [1].

For a comprehensive summary of climate trends and future projections, and how climate change is affecting RMI’s key sectors, see Climate Change in the Republic of the Marshall Islands: Indicators and Considerations for Key Sectors. Growing challenges from sea level rise and risks to water and food security and human health are among the major issues detailed in this report. Considerations for managing threatened resources, including fresh water, fisheries, and infrastructure, are outlined in the report by the Pacific Islands Regional Climate Assessment (PIRCA), a consortium of several government, NGO, and research entities.

 Demographics

The estimated population of the Marshall Islands is 36,914 people [2]. Over two-thirds of the total population lives in Majuro, the capital, and Ebeye, the secondary urban center, located in Kwajalein Atoll [2]. Ebeye is one of the most densely populated locations in the world. The main ethnicities are Marshallese 92.1%, mixed Marshallese 5.9%, and other 2% (2006 estimate). Marshallese and English are both official languages, with Marshallese being spoken by approximately 98% of the population, and English widely spoken as a second language. Increasing numbers of Marshallese are migrating to the United States in search of education and employment, with the largest population centers in Hawaiʻi and Arkansas.