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Concern mounts over slow-moving, planetary-scale ‘Kelvin’ wave heading for California
The Guardian • • nation
Key Points:
- A strong El Niño is intensifying a Kelvin wave, a massive oceanic phenomenon that could raise sea levels along California's coast by up to a foot, increasing risks of storm surges and flooding in the coming months.
- Kelvin waves are slow-moving, planetary-scale shifts of warm water that travel from the western Pacific toward the Americas, with one currently moving toward California and expected to impact sea levels for several months.
- Sea levels have already risen about 8 inches over the past century, and the added effect of the Kelvin wave combined with El Niño-driven storms could exacerbate coastal flooding, erosion, and damage.
- California has declared a state of emergency to prepare for the potentially severe winter season, mobilizing resources and urging residents to inspect and reinforce vulnerable coastal areas ahead of high tides and storms.
- Scientists warn that this El Niño, likely the strongest in at least 1,000 years, could cause unprecedented damage due to the combination of elevated sea levels, increased storm activity, and the exceptional intensity of the event.
