Net widening of Southern California beaches
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Abstract
Human impacts from dams reduce river sediment fluxes and are primary causes of coastal erosion worldwide. Here we provide new satellite-derived shoreline observation techniques to examine beach area trends across the diverse coastal settings of California. Contrary to global trends, these data reveal that the most heavily urbanized and dammed region of southern California experienced net beach growth of over 2 million m2 during 1984-2024. While several beaches experienced severe erosion, overall widening is explained by sufficient sediment supply and concentrated widening from longshore transport captured at coastal structures and in littoral convergence zones. These results indicate that adequate sediment sources exist in this human-modified landscape to mitigate coastal erosion, but that this sediment is not effectively distributed to vulnerable beaches. This highlights the critical role that longshore sediment transport plays in long-term beach trends and illuminates management opportunities for coastal sustainability at the regional scale.
Suggested Citation
Warrick, J.A., Vos, K., Buscombe, D.D., Ritchie, A., Vitousek, S., Hachey, T., and Sanders, B., 2026, Net widening of Southern California beaches: Nature Communications, v. 17, 1705, 15 p., https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-68880-9.
Study Area
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Net widening of Southern California beaches |
| Series title | Nature Communications |
| DOI | 10.1038/s41467-026-68880-9 |
| Volume | 17 |
| Publication Date | January 29, 2026 |
| Year Published | 2026 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Nature |
| Contributing office(s) | Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center |
| Description | 1705, 15 p. |
| Country | United States |
| State | California |