The Palos Verdes Peninsula with its coastal community in Southern California is sinking into the Pacific Ocean according to NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
The area that runs between the Pacific Ocean and just south of the city of Los Angeles is well known for its landslides, which have been occurring for decades. But radar images and satellite data collected by the NASA laboratory recently revealed that the area where the Los Angeles County community is located is sliding towards the ocean at an astounding average of about 4 inches per week. According to reports by Alexander Handwerger, an expert working at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, the landslide accelerated as early as last summer, particularly from mid-September to mid-October 2024. NASA had recorded a huge crack along Palos Verdes Drive South in Rancho Palos Verdes created very quickly on August 31, 2024.
But there is a reason why this is occurring. According to NASA experts, in 2023, Hurricane Hilary brought record-breaking rainfall to Southern California, which significantly accelerated the land movement. The heavy precipitation continued into early 2024, further contributing to it.
The landslide is already impacting hundreds of existing buildings and experts do not rule out the possibility that it could have negative and even destructive consequences . “The speed of the landslide process on the California peninsula is more than enough to put human life and infrastructure at risk,” Handwerger said.
The ongoing land movement has already caused damage to roads, homes, and other infrastructure in the area. Efforts are being made to monitor and mitigate the impact, but the situation remains a significant concern for the community.
