Sea level rise is reshaping a California beach town and threatening a key rail line
Officials say 3 million cubic yards of sand are needed as repeated closures and bluff damage threaten the rail corridor.
- A massive pulse of warm water called a Kelvin wave is expected to reach Southern California by early October, temporarily lifting sea levels by 5 to 10 inches as El Niño strengthens.
- Weakening trade winds trigger this phenomenon, releasing warm water that travels eastward across the Pacific Ocean before moving north along the coastline as a coastally trapped wave.
- Scientists warn this elevated baseline makes low-lying areas vulnerable to flooding, especially when coinciding with high tides, storm surges, and significant erosion already affecting the coastline.
- California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency to prepare for winter storms, while California Coastal Commission Executive Director Kate Huckelbridge urged residents to inspect vulnerable property.
- The Climate Prediction Center forecasts a 90% chance of a very strong El Niño event through winter, as researchers expect the wave's influence to persist into early next year.
170 Articles
170 Articles
Slow-moving wave threatens more damage to US West Coast
Sea levels in California are set to rise by as much as a foot (30cm) in the coming days as an enormous wave washes up the US West Coast.The huge surge of energy, known as a “coastal trapped wave” or a “Kelvin wave,” is part of El Nino, a months-long phenomenon in the Pacific Ocean that scientists sa
Malay Mail
AlKhaleej TodayThe dark side of El Nino: Sea levels to rise in California as coastal wave surges up west coast
LOS ANGELES, Oct 3 — Sea levels in California are set to rise by as much as a foot (30 centimetres) in the coming days as an enormous wave washes up the US West Coast.The huge...
union-bulletin.com
A pulse of warm water hitting the Pacific coast could mean erosion and flooding
Sea levels along the West Coast will begin to rise by up to a foot this month as a series of pulses of warm water called Kelvin waves hit the shoreline and move north, sparking concerns about beach erosion and…
The Kelvin wave flows thousands of kilometres along the Pacific coast of the American continent. This wave causes a significant rise in sea level, leading to flooding and beach erosion. - A giant ocean wave will increase sea level on the American west coast (Environment) by 30 cm.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 60% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
