Coral islands in the Pacific Ocean have been found to actually be growing rather than shrinking or sinking – including Tuvalu which gained size by 2.9%. Sea level has risen about 400 feet in the last 15,000 years and these islands grew along with the sea level rise. The processes of island growth are still active today.

“Coral reef islands can accrete vertically in response to sea level rise” (Masselink et al. 2020)

Ocean facing shorelines and barrier islands are constantly subject to both sand removal and replenishment and to being reshaped and reconfigured by storms.