A community in Southern California’s Palos Verdes Peninsula is shifting downslope towards the Pacific Ocean at an alarming rate, according to NASA. The area has been experiencing a slow-moving landslide, averaging about 4 inches per week between September and October last year. This movement was triggered by record-breaking rainfall in 2023 and early 2024.
The landslide initially accelerated last summer but has recently slowed down. Researchers used airborne radar images to measure the motion of the landslides in three dimensions, providing a more accurate time series of motion. The study found that some areas have been moving for at least six decades.
This shift poses significant risks to human life and infrastructure. With little to no existing infrastructure on the portion of the peninsula expected to move, hundreds of buildings are impacted. NASA’s upcoming Landslide Climate Change Experiment will use airborne radar to investigate how extreme precipitation patterns influence landslides. The findings will support response efforts to the landslides and aid in the development of a buyout program for affected homeowners.
The California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services has unveiled a $42 million buyout program for Rancho Palos Verdes homeowners impacted by landslides, highlighting the persistent threat posed by landslides in this region. The City of Rancho Palos Verdes manages a website providing monitoring data for potential landslide activity, demonstrating the ongoing efforts to address this pressing issue.
Source: https://abcnews.go.com/US/california-coastal-community-shifts-4-inches-closer-ocean/story?id=118493997