Enigmatic Progress: Town Slowly Approaching Ocean on a Weekly Basis
According to Handwerger, a minimal amount of infrastructure was constructed on the area previously recognized for its movement. However, the ongoing landslide is affecting numerous existing structures. Handwerger expressed concern, stating, “The pace of the movement is more than sufficient to endanger human lives and infrastructure.”
Some portions of the peninsula form part of an ancient series of landslides that have been in motion for at least the past sixty years, as noted by NASA. This peninsula extends into the Pacific Ocean just below the city of Los Angeles.
A significant crack has emerged along Palos Verdes Drive South in Rancho Palos Verdes, where a landslide has shown accelerated movement, as depicted in a photograph dated August 31, 2024, captured by Wally Skalij of the Los Angeles Times via Getty Images.
Handwerger explained that researchers utilized airborne radar images taken at different time intervals to track the landslides’ motion in three dimensions, allowing for a comprehensive analysis of the movement over time.
The region has been a central focus for scientific investigation due to the looming threat of landslides. NASA is preparing for the Landslide Climate Change Experiment, which will leverage airborne radar technology to explore how extreme precipitation patterns, be it wet or dry, impact landslides.
Alongside airborne radar, satellite data has been instrumental in monitoring the landslide’s motion. These analyses are shared with state authorities to aid in response and mitigation efforts related to the landslides.
The persistence of landslide threats in the area has prompted the City of Rancho Palos Verdes to maintain a website that disseminates monitoring data concerning potential activity within the region.
Last October, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services introduced a $42 million buyout program for homeowners in Rancho Palos Verdes affected by landslides.
“California Coastal Community Shifts 4 Inches Closer to the Ocean Each Week: NASA” was originally published on abcnews.go.com
