California Coastal Landslide Early Warning Research

Coastal landslides threaten public resources, coastal infrastructure, and public safety, throughout the state of California. Rising sea levels, coastal populations, and tourism will intensify the risks. Over two dozen people have died from coastal cliff collapses on California beaches. Therefore, understanding the processes and timing of coastal landslides is critical for improved coastal management and hazard mitigation. To address this issue, Assemblymember Tasha Boerner introduced California Assembly Bill 66, and subsequently Assembly Bill 72, which authorized Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego to conduct research on coastal cliff landslides and provide recommendations for developing a coastal cliff landslide early warning system.