The Bay Area faces an imminent threat from sea level rise — but it’s different from what you think – San Francisco Chronicle

The Hunters Point Naval Shipyard (pictured in 2022), is one of several sites where rising seas that elevate groundwater levels could release hazardous materials and buried toxins (by Dale Cruse CC BY 2.0 via Flickr).

Dangerous chemicals hiding in the ground around the Bay Area are due to be released by groundwater as it’s pushed closer to the surface with sea level rise, a new study has found. In many cases, it can happen without warning as cancer-causing volatile compounds escape into schools and homes, experts say…

“Groundwater rise and sea level rise are gradual processes that are accelerating,” said Kristina Hill, associate professor at UC Berkeley’s College of Environmental Design, lead author of the study. “It’s a problem tomorrow, and it’s a problem today…”

Atmospheric rivers hitting California will become even more intense. Here’s how they work – the San Francisco Chronicle

The Cement Ship, SS Palo Alto continues to be battered by strong surf, Seacliff State Beach, CA Januray 13, 2023 © 2023 Shmuel Thaler - Santa Cruz Sentinel.

The same weather that replenishes California water supplies could bring the next megaflood.

A procession of storms is drenching Northern California this week, with rainfall already topping 2 inches in San Francisco and surpassing 8 inches in the Santa Cruz Mountains. More precipitation is on tap through the weekend, prompting concerns of widespread urban flooding and potential landslides…