ABSTRACT
The island nation of Tuvalu is composed of nine islands, eight of which are atolls located between 5°S and 10°S of the equator. The dominant surface flow is from the South Equatorial Current, with easterly trade winds being dominant. Wind waves are common but swell with large energy can come from the south. Tidal range reaches almost 2 m. Rims may be open (Nukufetau and Funafuti) or closed (Nanumea, Nui, and Nanumanga) and there are three atolls with remnant lagoons (Nanumanga, Niutao, and Vaitupu). The focal point of Tuvalu is the atoll of Funafuti, which is by far the largest, contains an international airport, and is densely populated, although its total land area is only 2.8 km2. This atoll was drilled by the Royal Society of London to test Darwin’s theory of atoll subsidence but failed to penetrate through the carbonate cap and into the volcanic foundation.
