Climate change: Alaska's vanishing village

An ariel view of Newtok in Alaska, where climate change is taking hold and the land is slowly being engulfed by the sea Photograph: Brian Adams/Brian Adams/Rapport Press

The permafrost, which acts as foundations for the village, and as a solid wall against the sea, is melting Photograph: Brian Adams/Brian Adams

The Eskimo children in Newtok Photograph: Brian Adams/Brian Adams

When Peter John, 72, was a child, his forefathers told him that change was coming. Now he is an elder he tells children that the change is here Photograph: Brian Adams/Brian Adams

Residents of the village play bingo Photograph: Brian Adams/Brian Adams

Children play outside on the undulating grounds of the basketball court Photograph: Brian Adams/Brian Adams

In the eroded craters it is possible to see the thin layer of ice that is melting around six feet below the surface. The drips are soaked back up into the soil, causing it to become soft and spongy which allows the sea to slowly undercut and eventually take over the soft soil Photograph: Brian Adams/Brian Adams

An Eskimo meal of dried fish and seal ribs, with a seal oil dip Photograph: Brian Adams/Brian Adams

An elderly Newtok resident dries her laundry Photograph: Brian Adams/Brian Adams

The grounds are disintergrating at an alarming rate, the sea is marching in the direction of the villagers at around 90ft a year Photograph: Brian Adams/Brian Adams

Villagers of Newtok Photograph: Brian Adams/Brian Adams

An old moose skull Photograph: Brian Adams/Brian Adams

Stanley Tom stands in front of the new homes that have been built in Mertarvik for the villagers. The first homes are being given to the elders Photograph: Brian Adams/Brian Adams

The children play on the eroded land by the sea Photograph: Brian Adams/Brian Adams

Children play with a baby seagull in the village Photograph: Brian Adams/Brian Adams