Brief
Kelvin wave drives record sea levels along California coast
Scientists say the current Kelvin wave could push sea levels a foot above normal, foreshadowing century‑scale rise.
By Felo News Desk · Published
A slow‑moving surge of water known as a Kelvin wave is currently pushing sea levels about a foot above normal along Southern California, according to Scientific American.
What happened
The wave originated at the equator as part of the ongoing super‑strong El Niño, traveled eastward across the Pacific, and became trapped against the western coasts of the Americas. It now crawls up the California shoreline at roughly 125‑155 miles per day, taking about a week to reach the coast.
What the reports add
Scientific American notes that this particular Kelvin wave is “about as big as Kelvin waves get,” with sea‑level rise typically topping out at about 18 inches. The outlet cites climate scientist Daniel Swain of the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources, who says the wave’s strength is tied to unusually strong westerly wind bursts during this El Niño.
What was said
“What we’ll see at the worst this winter will be something that is closer to the norm later this century in terms of sea level,” Swain told Scientific American.
“This is an unprecedented El Niño event with extremely strong westerly wind bursts,” Swain added.
How it came about
The wave’s formation follows the typical El Niño pattern: weakened trade winds allow warm water to pile up in the western tropical Pacific, then the bulge moves eastward, is blocked by South America’s coast, and spreads north‑south as a coastally trapped Kelvin wave. NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory researcher Severine Fournier confirms that similar waves arrived in January, May and June, with more expected in the coming months.
Key facts
- A Kelvin wave is raising sea levels about a foot above normal along Southern California. (scientificamerican.com)
- The wave originated from the current El Niño and travels 125‑155 miles per day. (scientificamerican.com)
- Scientists say the wave could become the new norm for sea levels later this century. (scientificamerican.com)
Sources
- [1] scientificamerican.com — originally reported as “The ‘Kelvin wave’ hitting California is a potent warning about sea-level rise”
