New research, led by scientists at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and the National Center for Atmospheric Research, has found that the state faces a catastrophic flood that could inundate vast areas with water flows hundreds of miles long and tens of miles across. length . “Every major population center in California will be hit immediately — possibly parts of Nevada and other adjacent states as well,” Daniel Swain, a UCLA climate scientist and co-author of the paper, said in a news release. About a decade ago, scientists began looking at the state’s current flood risk after a major disaster in 1862. During that “Great Flood” — when flood management practices weren’t in place — waters overwhelmed the state’s Central Valley up to 300 miles long and nearly 60 miles wide. About half a million people lived in California then, compared to 40 million today. A similar event today would leave major cities like Los Angeles and Sacramento under water, even with flood control measures in place. The damage estimate is $1 trillion, the costliest ever. Findings from the ongoing research project – called “ArkStorm 2.0” to reflect the biblical scale – explain how the climate crisis will worsen flooding. “In the future scenario, the sequence of storms is longer in almost every way,” Dr Swain said. “There is more rainfall overall, heavier hourly rainfall and stronger wind.” This article is being updated
