LOS ANGELES (AP) - A new study predicts that with limited human intervention 31 percent to 67 percent of Southern California beaches could completely erode back to coastal infrastructure or sea cliffs by the year 2100 with sea-level rises of 3.3 feet (1 meter) to 6.5 feet (2 meters).
The study released Monday used a new computer model to predict shoreline effects caused by sea level rise and changes in storm patterns due to climate change.
The study's lead author, Sean Vitousek, says erosion of Southern California beaches is not just a matter of the region losing its identity and tourism dollars, but of exposing critical infrastructure, businesses and homes to damage.
The study has been accepted for publication by the American Geophysical Union's Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface.
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