A new study spearheaded by NASA has issued a dire warning for California, revealing that vast coastal regions could be overtaken by rising ocean waters within the next 25 years due to accelerating climate change.
Millions of residents in the Golden State could see their homes and communities disappear beneath the rising tides, with major cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco facing sea level increases significantly higher than previously anticipated. According to the study, Los Angeles could experience over a one-foot rise in sea levels, while the San Francisco Bay Area may see water levels surge by as much as 17 inches by 2050.
Climate Change Threatens Coastal California
Recent catastrophic wildfires have already devastated parts of Los Angeles, and now, researchers warn that encroaching sea levels pose an equally alarming risk.
“In many parts of the world, like the reclaimed land beneath San Francisco, the ground is sinking faster than the sea is rising,” explained Marin Govorcin, lead researcher at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). This double threat—rising sea levels combined with land subsidence—is particularly concerning for cities such as San Rafael, Corte Madera, Foster City, and Bay Farm Island.
The Growing Cost of Land Sinking and Rising Seas
Since the 1960s, California has invested over $100 million to combat the effects of land subsidence, according to the Central Valley Flood Protection Board. However, as climate change accelerates, the financial burden is expected to escalate dramatically in the coming years.
NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, in collaboration with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), conducted the study. The findings, published in Science Advances, indicate that by 2050, California could see sea levels rise by six to 14.5 inches above year 2000 levels.
Concerns Over Funding Cuts to Climate Research
The study comes amid concerns that funding cuts to critical climate agencies could hinder necessary research and preparedness efforts. NOAA, along with other agencies like FEMA, has faced significant budget reductions, leading to warnings from scientists that these cuts could endanger lives and slow progress in climate change mitigation.
With coastal cities facing an uncertain future, experts stress the need for immediate action to curb climate change and implement sustainable infrastructure solutions before it’s too late.
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