What is the Kelvin wave on the West Coast?
Science Friday

What is the Kelvin wave on the West Coast?

B1IntermediateOctober 9, 202612 min
  • Science

A Kelvin wave has reached California and is creeping up the West Coast, raising both sea levels and concerns from government officials. This kind of massive internal wave begins in the western Pacific Ocean and then travels eastward to the Americas along the equator, and then up and down the coastline. While it might raise sea levels up to 12 inches, it stays below the surface instead of crashing on the shore. Host Flora Lichtman speaks to oceanographer Andrew Leising to get the lowdown on what exactly a Kelvin wave is, and how wary West Coasters should be.<...

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There is a strange ocean phenomenon creeping up on the coast of California.

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0:00

Hey, it's Flora Lichtman and you're listening to Science Friday. There is a strange ocean phenomenon creeping up on the coast of California. Calvin waves, kind of the latest buzzy word. You've probably heard a lot about them.

0:17

We're worried about them coming our way with El Nino. They're invisible underwater waves and could raise sea levels along the California coastline by up to a foot. So what does that exactly mean?

0:30

Yeah, what exactly does all this mean? Here to give us the Kelvin waves lowdown, the who, what, where, when, and how concerned we should be is my guest, Dr. Andrew Leising, an oceanographer who studies

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