SLO County’s coastline rising, while Santa Barbara County sinks

October 25, 2020

By CCN STAFF

Rising sea levels do not impact all communities along the coastline of California equally, as some communities are rising while other areas are sinking, according to NASA.

Because of thermal expansion and melting ice sheets and glaciers, sea levels are rising globally at about 1 inch every 10 years. But while sea levels rise, the elevation of land masses is also changing based on factors such as the movement of tectonic plates and groundwater levels.

On the Central Coast, Santa Barbara County is declining in elevation while San Luis Obispo County is either stable or rising in what scientists refer to as vertical motion.

In Northern California, the Gordo Plate — which is located beneath the Pacific Ocean — is pushing under the North American Plate and raising the coastline a few millimeters every year.

On the Central Coast, the Pacific Plate moves north as it grinds by the southbound North America Plate, creating less uplift.

By mapping out the vertical movement of land, NASA is enabling communities to plan for rising sea levels.


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The best answer is to responsibly enjoy everyday as best as you can. The planet will morph into whatever as it has repetitively done in the past. The good news is that change will be a very slow with the exception of a volcanic episode.


“California tumbles into the sea

That’ll be the day I go back to Annandale…”


I will see your Steely Dan, and raise you a Warren Zevon:

And if California slides into the ocean

Like the mystics and statistics say it will

I predict this motel will be standing until I pay my bill


thanks, good one.


Warren Zevon is a poet


Almost all rivers and streams flow into the Pacific Ocean on the west coast carrying sediment trees rocks etc etc .

Everywhere in the world the same occurs in all other oceans .

It is impossible for oceans to not rise .

Plate movement is completely natural and cannot be blamed on humans