Rising Seas To Have Uneven Consequences For California Beach Towns

south california coastal erosion
Coastal erosion, South California. Photograph: © SAF

Excerpts;

Rising sea levels projected over the next century could trigger uneven economic gains and losses for towns along the California coast, according to a new study.

Using a series of models to predict the effects of climate-related sea level rise at 51 Southern California beaches, researchers projected that some beaches could shrink or disappear altogether, while others can be expected to remain relatively large.

According to their study, published in the journal Climate Change, a 1-meter rise in sea levels would reduce the width of all beaches. But as smaller beaches diminish, many beachgoers are expected to drive farther to enjoy wider shores…

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California beach towns: Who wins, who loses as sea levels rise, The Los Angeles Times
There will be winners and there will be losers as Southern California beaches erode unevenly in response to rising sea levels over the next century, according to a new study.

Estimating the potential economic impacts of climate change on Southern California beaches, Original Study, by Linwood Pendleton, Philip King, Craig Mohn, D. G. Webster, Ryan Vaughn and Peter N. Adams
Climate change could substantially alter the width of beaches in Southern California. Climate-driven sea level rise will have at least two important impacts on beaches: (1) higher sea level will cause all beaches to become more narrow, all things being held constant, and (2) sea level rise may affect patterns of beach erosion and accretion when severe storms combine with higher high tides. To understand the potential economic impacts of these two outcomes, this study examined the physical and economic effects of permanent beach loss caused by inundation due to sea level rise of one meter and of erosion and accretion caused by a single, extremely stormy year.

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