Kelvin wave

Scientists are tracking a slow-moving, planetary-scale Kelvin wave in the Pacific that is heading toward the California coast. The ocean phenomenon could raise sea levels along the coast by up to a foot, with El Niño conditions keeping warm water trapped near the shoreline. Observers are watching for increased coastal flooding and erosion risks as the wave arrives.

A Kelvin wave is a pulse of unusually warm water that travels eastward along the equator beneath the ocean surface. Meteorologists are watching a developing Kelvin wave because it can push warmer water toward the US West Coast, potentially influencing ocean temperatures, marine life, and weather patterns in California, and hinting at whether an El Niño event may form later this year.

Climate researchers have published an explanation of how Kelvin Waves move through the ocean, describing how these large-scale waves redistribute warm and cool water across vast distances. The feature walks through the mechanics of the phenomenon and its role in shaping ocean temperatures, with implications for weather patterns and climate monitoring.