Climate change in the US pacific islands

A webpage by the United States environmental protection agency details predicted impacts on tropical regions of the United States pacific islands, mainly the state of Hawaii (my home state). The webpage can be read in full here.

The webpage briefly details the impacts of water resources, agriculture, ecosystems and on infrastructure. To sum it up briefly:

Fluctuations in rainfall will greatly impact a pacific island's water resources. A drastic increase in rainfall will flood oceans and may contaminate fresh water supplies and decrease crop yields. Flooding can cause mud slides and cause sewage to spill into water supplies.

Changes in pH will destroy local ecosystems in areas in the pacific (and anywhere else). In addition, "climate change will facilitate the spread of invasive species" To add to that, warmer waters will destroy coral reefs (a source of income through tourism in Hawaii), which are also home to many native fish.

The mongoose is a very well known invasive predator in Hawaii. Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Changes in temperature will change migratory fish habits, and also damage a lot of fish habitat. According to the environmental protection agency, pacific islanders more than a quarter of their protein intake from fish (source).

Most importantly, climate change will impact tourism, which is one of the state's biggest sources of revenue. Warmer waters, destruction of native habitat and erosion of beaches through increased rainfall will negatively impact tourism.