This July 23, 2015 photo provided by the California Department of Water Resources shows The Russell Avenue bridge, over the Delta Mendota Canal in Firebaugh, Calif., The drought has caused the bridge to subside until there’s almost no space between bottom of bridge decking and canal water surface. A NASA scientist says in a report released Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2015 that parts of California’s Central Valley are sinking faster than ever as groundwater is being pumped during the state’s historic drought. (Florence Low/ California Department of Water Resources via AP)
end quote from:
http://news.yahoo.com/report-groundwater-pumping-california-land-sinking-182608459.html
I got to thinking about how because of this "Godzilla" El Nino coming this fall-winter and spring to California and the western States, that flooding could be made worse by the ground sinking especially in the San Joaquin and Sacramento Valleys. The likelihood of fairly extreme flooding grows with each day the El Nino Temperatures continue to grow. This temperature is killing coral reefs throughout the Pacific ocean in several areas where the water never used to go above the 70s Fahrenheit.
However, now there are areas where the ocean is now 90 Degrees or higher. This kills coral polyps so the coral dies. So, now it isn't so much about chemicals and pollution in the water it is all about the water temperatures themselves.
But, this heat is going to cause massive storms and precipitation. NOAA predicts most of this precipitation is going to hit from San Francisco South in a band all the way across the U.S.
So, likely more than any other year in history (so far) the likelihood of extreme flooding or even arc storm Atmospheric rivers (normally called the Pineapple express in normal times) from the Hawaii region. We are normally hit by these storms any time from the fall to the late spring here in California.
But, because of the extreme altitude changes from Mt. Whitney (well over 14,000 ft) and many other mountains over 14,000 feet in California all the way down to sea level all along the coast, flash flooding has always been a problem in various parts of California.
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