One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
King Tides Reveal Increased Beach Erosion
Waves crash up against sand bags at Capistrano Beach in Dana Point during the king tide on Dec. 23, 2022.
(
Jill Replogle
/
LAist
)
King tide observers say last week’s high tides showed increased beach erosion. King tides are the highest tides of the year that occur when the Earth, moon and the sun’s gravitational pull are aligned.
Alejandra Ceceña, a program coordinator at the Roundhouse Aquarium Teaching Center in Manhattan Beach, said staff members observed a change in the shape of the beach.
“The sandbar (ridges of sand built by the beach waves) wasn't as sloped as it usually is. It was actually a much steeper incline,” she said. “And that could actually affect the way the energy from incoming waves are dispersed and could cause even more erosion.”
The climate crisis contributing to rising sea levels will cause the waves to reach farther ashore and can lead to higher king tides, Ceceña said, affecting homes and habitats on the coastline.
“For example, our marshes, they're very important in terms of being habitats to very key animals and vegetation as well. So losing those habitats and hurting our infrastructure are the main impacts that can come out of the sea level continuing to rise,” she said.
Higher king tides could result in coastal communities being flooded and trigger flash flood warnings.
Sponsored message
The California Coastal Commission wants the public to document the tides for their California King Tides Project and the aquarium is one of the participating organizations.
High tides can be observed again next month on Feb. 9.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
