Officials and scientists are raising alarms over an approaching oceanic anomaly known as a kelvin wave, which threatens to elevate sea levels along California’s coastline by as much as one foot. Researchers attribute the intensifying hazard to an exceptionally strong El Niño currently developing across the Pacific Ocean, a condition expected to exacerbate storm surges and flooding throughout the coming months.
The kelvin wave originates from significant disruptions in typical Pacific wind patterns. Under normal conditions, trade winds blow from South America toward Asia, but during El Niño years, these winds weaken or reverse direction. This shift triggers a massive, slow-moving displacement of warm water, effectively trapping it along the western coast and amplifying the risk of coastal inundation.
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