Scientists at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory have been monitoring an alarming increase in landslide activity on the Palos Verdes Peninsula in California, where land is sliding toward the ocean at speeds of up to 4 inches per week. Using advanced radar technology, researchers mapped the movement of unstable terrain and found that the affected area has expanded significantly, posing a threat to homes and infrastructure.
The Palos Verdes Peninsula, located just south of Los Angeles, sits atop an ancient landslide complex that has been shifting for at least 60 years. Recent heavy rainfall in 2023 and early 2024 has accelerated the movement, with the active landslide zone expanding even further. NASA’s Uninhabited Aerial Vehicle Synthetic Aperture Radar (UAVSAR) was used to track the movement of the terrain, providing valuable insights into the speed and direction of the landslides.
The analysis found that the rate of movement has increased, putting human life and infrastructure at risk. “In effect, we’re seeing that the footprint of land experiencing significant impacts has expanded, and the speed is more than enough to put human life and infrastructure at risk,” said Alexander Handwerger, the JPL landslide scientist who performed the analysis.
The findings are part of a larger study using data from multiple satellite sources, including ESA’s Copernicus Sentinel-1A/B satellites. The insights will be used to support California officials’ response to the landslides and made available to the public through NASA’s Disaster Mapping Portal.
Source: https://scitechdaily.com/californias-coast-is-slipping-away-nasas-radar-data-sounds-the-alarm