NASA researchers have analyzed slow-moving landslides on the Palos Verdes Peninsula in Los Angeles County, revealing that land is sliding towards the ocean by up to 4 inches per week. The movement was accelerated by record-breaking rainfall in 2023 and early 2024, putting human life and infrastructure at risk.
According to Dr. Alexander Handwerger, a landslide scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the active area of landslides has expanded, with hundreds of buildings affected across local communities. The researchers used airborne radar data to create a map showing the active zone, which was shared with state officials and made publicly available.
The study found that parts of the peninsula are part of an ancient complex of landslides, which have been moving for at least six decades. NASA’s Uninhabited Aerial Vehicle Synthetic Aperture Radar (UAVSAR) instrument was used to estimate the speed and direction of the landslides in three dimensions. The data will help inform response efforts and aid in mitigating potential risks to residents and infrastructure.
Source: https://mynewsla.com/orange-county/2025/01/31/nasa-data-reveals-how-palos-verdes-landslides-accelerated-due-to-heavy-rains