Coastal Changes In California

How effective are the coastal management strategies used at present in your local beach area?

This report will discuss the beach of Glenelg on the coast of South Australia. Aspects that will be elaborated on are the history of Glenelg, the location, natural processes that affect Glenelg, human impact at Glenelg, stakeholders in Glenelg, summary of management strategies that have been employed in the past and an evaluation of strategies that could be considered for the future management for Glenelg.

As the World Bank and the United Nations (2010) point out, “Climate-related hazards (“extreme events”) have resulted in an average of $59 billion a year in global damages” (p.174). Climate chance forces emergency planers to not only address current increased risk, but it also requires significant long-term plaining as the problem increases in magnitude. As an example, places like Florida will not only need to contend with a longer and stronger hurricane season, but increased sea levels as well. In the short term, the effects of climate change can have secondary effects. Things like droughts create secondary problems like social and economic disruptions (World Bank & United Nations, 2010, p. 182). This is the case in California where droughts are causing economic problems in the states agricultural sector and an increase in forest fires.

I.) Water and Drought in California: Facts and data show that the weather we are experiencing here in California is that there is a difference between La Niña that brings the ocean temperature down and making them cooler and El Niño brings much warmer ocean temperatures. Currently california is experiencing a weakened La Niña. With a 55% chance of this weather continuing for the next 3 months. La Niña affect patterns of rainfall, atmospheric pressure, and global atmospheric circulation. Even though California is in a severe drought, with coordination, modernization, and compromise, California should be able to provide enough water for a growing population and growing economy.

California’s unique geography as a state makes it a very appealing place to call home. From the odd east to west transverse San Gabriel mountain ranges of the Los Angeles Basin, to the bumpy coastal ranges of the Bay Area, any person can find a compatible topographic terrain to their liking. California may seem to be the perfect place to live with its ideal climate and extensive geographic features. However, due to California’s location over the shifting continental plates, coupled with its enormous and also multiple faults, at any time this great state can fall victim to a seismic disaster. After examining evidence from both Rong-Gong Lin’s II Los Angeles Times article of April 18, 2016 and the NOVA videos Killer Quake ( 2006), Earthquake (2007), as well as Geologic Journey II – Episode 3 (The Pacific Rim: Americas) – Part 3 (San Francisco) and The Great San Francisco Earthquake (American Experience ~ 2005), one can take a comparative account of the three major earthquakes of California’s past. Although each earthquake was very devastating on is own; the Great Quake 0f 1906, the Loma Prieta quake of 1989, and the NorthRidge quake of 1994 each amounted to an extensive forfeiture of property and life. Each of these earthquakes created much suffering and loss. It is imperative for each citizen of this great state to understand the damage that a California quake can actually do and be prepared; for the threat of one always looms.

There are various types of air pollution contributors in California such as fire generated pollutants and vehicle traffic, which add particulate matter and carbon monoxide into the air we breathe. According to an article by Union of Concerned Scientists (Cars, trucks, and air pollution, 2014) particulate matter is made up of fine particles soot and metal that can pose serious threats to human health when deep in the lungs. Other pollutants emitted from vehicles are: nitrogen oxide which lowers the body’s defense system against respiratory infections such as pneumonia, carbon monoxide which blocks oxygen from reaching vital organs, sulfur dioxide which is emitted by both power plants and vehicles affect children and asthmatics, and hazardous air pollutants (toxics) which are chemicals that are linked to cancer, birth defects and other illnesses (Union of Concerned Scientists, 2014).

In the other case, if there is more deposition than erosion, then the beaches grow due to more

A major problem in Southern California is that Los Angeles experiences very little rain all year, followed by intense downpours that last less than one day (53). Its unreliable rainfall severely hurts the region. In Northern California, mountains such as the Sierra Nevada allow for a huge range in rainfall over a short distance. “…a place on the western slope of the range may receive eighty or so inches of precipitation in a year, while a place on the east slope, fifty miles away, may receive ten inches or less” (58).

Most of us consider drought as a period of dry and hot weather with too little or no rain, and while any or all of these conditions might be existent during drought, the definition of drought is more complex and subtle. According to the United States Geological Survey, California Water Science Center (as cited in Congressional Digest, 2015, p. 2):

Because most greenhouse gases would remain in the atmosphere for a long period of time, the temperature of the earth will be continuously rising. If global heat-trapping emissions proceed at a medium to high rate, temperatures in California are expected to rise 4.7 to 10.5°F by the end of the century1. With the rise of temperature, the climate of California would also be changed. California has large area of forest and farmland, hundreds of miles of coastline, large amount of snowpack, and other natural wonders. And these special treasures of nature are especially at risk2. So it is very necessary to understand the strategies of California to combat climate change.

Water is the most important resource, controlling all aspects of life. The effect on climate change is changing California’s water quality and quantity. This creates

Earthquakes, fires, tornados and many more are part of one branch of disaster and are known the most. Poverty, famine and political upheaving are also disasters. These are known as economic disasters and affect society in many ways. We can then define disaster as being any event, natural or economical, that causes impairment of the natural/urban environment. Many regions of the world face these challenges, and Los Angeles is a part of these. The Ecology of Fear, by Mike Davis, claims that the urbanization of Los Angeles has led to fear of the natural environment. As a result, an “apocalyptic” society was made and is not able to interact with its natural environment.

According to NASA studies The Great North American Mega Drought is predicted to happen within the next few decades (Howitt). California being one of the states heavily hit by this drought and it is already evident that the mega drought will happen. Central California was once one of the most fertile lands on the earth is drying up and the Sierra Nevada snow packs are melting away. The cause of the drought can be directly attributed climate change. The Ridiculously Resilient Ridge is an area of persistent high pressure that redirects moist subtropical air to the north. The ridge causes atmospheric water to flow around the pacific edge of California and move up north into Alaska and British Columbia. Leaving us with precipitation deficits and

California is known for their wide variety of fires because of high temperatures and lack of rain. Fire isn’t the only thing causing problems in California but also droughts. The center around all these problems is that water is being used by everyone. California has a huge population; water is needed for farms, different businesses, and households. We can’t just put a limit on water because that might cause more harm. The reason for droughts is there’s not enough rain in California.

With the upcoming El Niño, Los Angeles is at harm from any effects, such as landslides, mudflows, and flooding. El Niño has severely affected the coastal areas of Los Angeles County three times during the years of 1977-1978, 1982-1983, and 1997-1998 (FEMA, 2011). Los Angeles County has several watersheds such as the Los Angeles River, Santa Monica Bay, and San Gabriel River (LADPW) that serve to reduce flooding, but it may not have the proper infrastructure to prevent commercial or residential areas from flooding. Los Angeles may not have levees that can protect its areas because they might be structurally inferior or are not approved by FEMA (City of Los Angeles, Engineering. 2015). There are many hilly areas in Los Angeles, and residential