Scientists' warnings that climate change will cause rising sea levels to swallow large swaths of land is playing out in the Solomon Islands .

At least five islands there have plunged completely below the ocean's surface over the past several decades. Numerous others in the South Pacific island nation appear to be headed for a similar fate, a new study has found.

Its a perfect storm , co-author Simon Albert of the University of Queensland study told New Scientist. "Theres the background level of global sea-level rise, and then the added pressure of a natural trade wind cycle that has been physically pushing water into the Western Pacific."