California Sea Levels Expected to Rise Due to Coastal Wave

Sand berms have been built along beaches in Southern California in anticipation of storms hitting the area. Sea levels in California are projected to rise by as much as a foot (30 centimeters) in the coming days due to a coastal trapped wave, also known as a Kelvin wave, which is part of the El Nino phenomenon. This wave is characterized as a sustained bulge of excess water up to 30 kilometers (18 miles) wide that will travel along the coastline up to Alaska. Dillon Amaya, an oceanographer at North Carolina State University, stated that the elevated sea levels could increase the risk of flooding and beach erosion when combined with other natural phenomena such as storm surges and high tides. Amaya noted that every two to four inches (5-10 centimeters) of sea level rise doubles the flood risk. Recently, parts of Southern California have experienced storm surges that have damaged properties and eroded beaches. In Dana Point and Laguna Beach, several houses have become uninhabitable, and one has collapsed. In Malibu, a sinkhole appeared in the driveway of a home owned by actor Nicolas Cage due to coastal erosion from nearby hurricane waves. The Kelvin wave originates in waters near Indonesia when trade winds weaken, allowing warm water to move back along the equatorial strip. This wave suppresses cold water from the deep ocean, resulting in higher surface temperatures, which is characteristic of El Nino. As the equatorial Kelvin wave reaches South America, it converts into a coastal Kelvin wave that travels north and south along the continents. The wave heading towards the US is currently north of Cabo, Mexico, and is expected to reach San Diego within the next week. Amaya indicated that while Kelvin waves are common during El Nino events, this particular wave arrives at a time of already elevated sea temperatures, which can further contribute to sea level rise.