California Rushes To Prepare For Massive 'Kelvin' Wave, Predicted Sea Level Rise

Communities in California are preparing for the approaching Kelvin wave, a vast band of warm water that is expected to inundate portions of the extensive North American coastline. The wave is currently moving towards southern California, and is anticipated to reach the San Francisco Bay Area by early October, continuing its journey towards Alaska.

Scientists predict that sea levels could rise by up to a foot along the California coast, effectively doubling the 8-12 inch increase in sea levels already attributed to climate change over the past century. Unlike typical ocean waves, the Kelvin wave elevates tides from below the surface, essentially causing a large-scale sloshing of warm water, driven by El Nino conditions, that travels across the Pacific before intersecting with the South American coastline and accelerating northwards.

While not typically destructive on its own, the wave can exacerbate the impact of high tides or storm surges, potentially inundating beaches, eroding bluffs and coastlines, and submerging streets, homes, and businesses. Dr Jonathan Warrick, a research geologist at the US Geological Survey, cautions that the approaching wave is merely the start of the issue, with the most severe storms, waves, and tides expected between January, February, and March.

These storms, combined with the wave, could magnify their effects, creating a particularly challenging winter. Warrick concludes, "When it comes to these storms and the tides, we're really kind of rolling the dice."