Waves Getting Larger Due to Climate Change

Researchers connect extreme wave events to global warming

Image: Dudarev Mikhail, Adobe Stock

A recent study published in Advancing Earth and Space Sciences found that global warming is tied to an increase in extreme wave events. Scientists hypothesize that the recent acceleration in warming, marked by record high temperatures, may generate stronger winter storms, leading to more wave activity along the Pacific Coast. While these wave events might present an opportunity for California surfers to catch bigger waves, scientists are also concerned about their impact on coastal biosystems and communities, which have already seen damage due to erosion and flooding.