Recent findings from NASA reveal that the dynamics of land play a crucial role in coastal flooding, alongside oceanic factors. Marin Govorcin, lead author and remote sensing scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, highlights the significance of land movement in regions like San Francisco, where land subsidence is outpacing sea level rise. Using satellite data, the research team monitored land sinking along California’s coastline, attributing it to various causes such as groundwater extraction and environmental conditions. The combination of sinking land and rising seas intensifies community vulnerabilities, emphasizing the need for proactive risk assessment.
Key Findings:
– Certain areas, particularly around the San Francisco Bay, are experiencing a steady sinking rate exceeding 0.4 inches annually.
– Projected sea level rise in California by 2050 is estimated between 6 to 14.5 inches, but integrating the identified sinking rate significantly amplifies this projection for vulnerable regions.
– Contrarily, some regions exhibit land uplift, underscoring the importance of monitoring these dynamic changes.
– Traditional sea level rise projections based on tidal gauge data provide only a partial perspective, necessitating a comprehensive approach to understanding the impact.
Significance:
– Prior studies have identified land subsidence concurrent with sea level rise in various parts of the country, such as New York City and Louisiana.
– The drivers of sea level rise, including ocean warming and greenhouse gas emissions, amplify the risks posed by flooding, storm surge, erosion, and extreme weather events.
– Addressing the implications of sea level rise is crucial in mitigating the escalating threats to coastal communities.
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