California's Surfing Scene Faces Bigger Waves Amidst Earth's Warming Trend, Study Reveals

Research conducted by oceanographer Peter Bromirski at Scripps Institution of Oceanography reveals that waves off California's coast are getting bigger, with surf at least 13 feet tall becoming more common as the planet warms. By analyzing seismic records dating back to 1931, Bromirski found that average winter wave heights have increased by as much as a foot since 1970, and swells at least 13 feet tall are occurring twice as often between 1996 and 2016 compared to the period from 1949 to 1969. These changes in wave height are attributed to climate change, and they pose a significant threat to coastal communities, causing erosion, flooding, and damage to infrastructure.