According to a new study, as the earth becomes warmer, the possibility of a massive megaflood in California is highly likely. The disaster could swamp Los Angeles, cause historic damage and displace millions.
Megaflood: What are the chances?
A ‘megadrought’ is probably the most concerning issue across the west. Especially amidst the rising threats of earthquakes and wildfires. However, according to a new study, a megaflood is another looming threat in California. A study by UCLA scientists reveals climate change is increasing the risks of floods in the future. They could be humungous and submerge cities, displacing millions. According to the study, an extremely month-long storm brings rain. “Now, each degree of global warming is dramatically upping the odds and size of the next megaflood,” it explained.
According to Daniel Swain, in a scenario where floods come on hotter earth, “the storm sequence is bigger in almost every respect”. Swain is a climate scientist at UCLA and a co-author of the study. “There’s more rain overall, more intense rainfall on an hourly basis, and stronger wind,” he added. According to the research, the end-of-the-century storms will generate 200 to 400 percent more runoff due to the higher precipitation falling as rain.
What will happen in the future?
According to this study, a flood similar to California’s great flood of 1862 will displace about 5 to 10 million people. The megaflood will also cut off major freeways for weeks or even months, increasing economic troubles and submerging cities. Expanding on the 2010 “ArkStorm scenario,” this scenario could be ArkStorm 2. Xanax 0. “Parts of cities such as Sacramento, Stockton, Fresno, and Los Angeles would be under water even with today’s extensive collection of reservoirs, levees, and bypasses. It is estimated that it would be a $1 trillion disaster, larger than any in world history,” stated the researchers.
“There is potential for bad wildfires every year in California, but a lot of years go by when there’s no major flood news. People forget about it,” stated Swain. He added that with increasing attention to wildfires and droughts, Californians may have lost sight of extreme floods. The study used high-resolution weather models and existing climate models to compare the scenarios. According to UCLA, such scenarios occur once per century.