Climate Change Hits Malta Thursday, April 05, 2007

According to a recent BBC report, parts of Malta are in danger of being submerged, thanks to the melting of the polar ice caps and rising sea levels caused by global warming. And while it isn't happening yet, there are other complications arising from climate change that are affecting the island nation in more immediate ways. For example, the change in sea level is affecting Malta's fresh water supply.

About 97m (320ft) beneath the surface of the island lie the Ta' Kandja galleries. Reached by a lift, the tunnels stretch out for several kilometres like the spokes of a wheel, all half filled with water that is pumped up to the surface and then to homes and farms around the island.

The water in the tunnels is fresh. But just 10m below it is salty. And thanks to climate change the brackish water is rising.

The Ta' Kandja galleries supply fresh water to the inhabitants And the Malta water services engineer Paul Micallef says the rising sea will make the galleries very difficult to operate in the future.

...

The effects of the increasing salinity are already being felt in some parts of the island. In the beautiful Im'selliet valley; David and Mary Mallia run an organic farm that produces grapes, citrus fruits and vegetables.

Like many people on Malta, the Mallias use a bore hole to extract water for their crops. David says that he's noticed changes in the water in recent months.

"Since the rainfall has become less, the salinity is becoming higher and higher. Normally in winter it would be about 2,000 microsiemens, which is a measure of salinity.

"This year, with the lack of rain, it went up to 4,000. It's not good for irrigation. If you water your trees with this water it will kill them"

—BBC, "Briny future for vulnerable Malta"

The EU is recommending that immediate action be taken to counteract the effect that mankind is having on his environment. And the US is still debating whether to do anything at all.