A massive underwater wave associated with this year’s El Niño weather phenomenon is making its way up the western coast of the Americas, sparking concerns among scientists regarding how climate change is amplifying the effects of this natural occurrence.

Known as the Kelvin wave, this event is not unexpected. However, occurring amidst the backdrop of human-induced climate change, which has already heated up the oceans and atmosphere, adds to the complexity.

A smaller wave reached British Columbia earlier this summer, with another wave anticipated to arrive within the next one to two weeks, as per Bill Merryfield, a research scientist at Environment and Climate Change Canada.

Unlike a typical tsunami, the Kelvin wave causes a temporary elevation in sea levels, resembling a broad and shallow bulge across hundreds of miles, raising the ocean surface by about a foot, according to University of California climate scientist Daniel Swain.

These impacts are most notable during king tides, especially during high tides coinciding with gravitational forces from the sun and moon. When combined with the additional sea level rise due to El Niño, and potential storm surges from winter storms, the effects could be severe.

The compounding factors of the Kelvin wave, strengthened northward winds, and winter storms, coupled with the ongoing climate change-induced sea level rise and extreme weather patterns, may exacerbate coastal flooding and erosion. Past strong El Niños have caused extensive erosion on California’s beaches.

Authorities in California are taking precautionary measures by adding emergency sand to beaches, preparing for water levels to rise by six to 12 inches due to the Kelvin wave, according to the Associated Press.

Merryfield cautioned that the repercussions of the Kelvin wave and El Niño could extend beyond the current season. During El Niños, excess heat stored in the oceans due to greenhouse gas emissions is released into the atmosphere, potentially leading to 2027 being the warmest year on record by a significant margin.

These warnings align with similar alerts from various climate research organizations and scientists, emphasizing the need for proactive measures to address the escalating impacts of climate change.