Published: Less than 20 min ago
A study warns of a “catastrophic flood” in California.
It would be unlike anything anyone alive has seen before, according to the experts.
– Rather a question of when the megaflood occurs, than if it occurs, says climate scientist Daniel Swain to CNN.
California on the US West Coast has been hit by large wildfires and widespread drought in recent years.
The state is the USA’s most populous with 40 million inhabitants and with a land area almost as large as Sweden’s.
In a new study, published by the scientific journal Science Advances, it is warned that the risk of a “mega flood” hitting the state within 40 years has doubled due to climate change.
Daniel Swain has participated in the study and says that what they are warning about in the study may be similar to the floods that occurred in St. Louis and Kentucky during the year.
– But over a much larger area, such as the entire state of California, says Swain.
The mega-flood could have disastrous consequences for the state when it occurs.
According to experts, the risk of similar floods has existed in the past, but climate change has contributed to the increased risk and natural disasters like this one will be able to happen every 25 to 50 years.
Produces 25 percent of US food
One of the areas that risk being hit the worst is the Central Valley, which spreads out in the middle of California.
If the area was flooded, it would have major consequences for the rest of the country as well. According to USGSwhich is the American equivalent of the Swedish Land Survey, 25 percent of the country’s food is produced in that particular region.
According to the study, “such flooding in California would likely exceed the damage from a major earthquake by a considerable margin.”
To date, Hurricane Katrina of 2005 is the costliest natural disaster in US history. The study estimates that a mega-flood would lead to five times the costs in comparison.
The study is the first of three to be published. According to Daniel Swain, the aim is not only to scientifically investigate natural disasters.
– We also want to help California prepare for them.