The Aporia · Northern California’s picturesque coastline vanishing at a truly startling rate: study

Northern California’s picturesque coastline vanishing at a truly startling rate: study

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Wu, T. (2026, October 27). Northern California’s picturesque coastline vanishing at a truly startling rate: study. New York Post. https://nypost.com/2026/10/27/science/californias-coastline-is-crumbling-fast-ucsd-study-finds/

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Quick Summary

A new study from the University of California, San Diego reports that California’s coastal cliffs, which make up about 70% of the state's coastline, are eroding rapidly, especially in Northern and Central California regions such as Humboldt, San Francisco, San Mateo, and Monterey counties. The research found some areas experiencing erosion rates exceeding 30 feet per year, with one hotspot retreating by over 70 feet annually. Using lidar imagery from 2016 to 2023, researchers determined that statewide, cliff tops eroded an average of about 1.6 inches per year, posing significant hazards and safety risks for coastal communities.

Written by AI on 2026-10-27, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

AI analysis

Story summary

A new study by the University of California, San Diego reveals that California’s seaside cliffs are rapidly eroding into the sea at alarming rates. The research, focusing on Northern and Central California, found areas in Humboldt, San Francisco, San Mateo, and Monterey counties experiencing erosion of more than 30 feet or even up to 70 feet per year. For instance, the Lost Coast Headlands in Humboldt County saw an erosion rate of about 73 feet annually between 2016 and 2023, resulting in a landslide of over 1.4 million cubic yards of rock and soil.

Researchers warn that these high rates of cliff top retreat pose significant hazards to coastal communities. Lead author Danghan Xie noted the instability of cliffs due to ongoing erosion and collapse, citing fatal cliff landslides as a major concern. This rapid degradation is particularly alarming given predictions that an upcoming strong El Niño could exacerbate wave and tidal conditions, potentially causing even more severe erosion.

Written for “California Coastline Erosion Rate Stunning” on 2026-11-05, grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.

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Claims extracted

sentences that state something as happening or true

Uncertain

13%

2 of 15 hedged ("reportedly", "may", "according to")

Leaning

not political

takes no side on a contested political question

Publisher signals

66/100

New York Post's corrections and hedging, across everything collected from it. Not a measure of accuracy.

Outlets on this story

Environment

Same framing elsewhere

articles that frame the event the way this one does

Who wrote this

Titus Wu

83 article(s) here · 1 carrying a prediction

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Also by Titus Wu

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2026-11-04 · New York Post

California voters reject Prop 39, stricter voter ID measure

2026-11-04 · New York Post

Karen Bass takes Election Day swipe at Nithya Raman with embarrassing blooper reel

2026-11-03 · New York Post

Xavier Becerra roasted for bizarre deflection on California housing debate: ‘Maybe in my backyard?’

2026-10-31 · New York Post

Nothing else under this byline is closely related to this article, so these are simply their most recent.

All 83 articles by Titus Wu →

Narrative

Claims (15 extracted, 2 hedged)

California’s seaside cliffs — which make up roughly 70% of the state’s iconic coastline — are rapidly crumbling into the sea, according to a new study by University of California, San Diego. uncertain

which → make → California

Much of the coastal cliff erosion was concentrated in hotspots in Northern and Central California, specifically Humboldt, San Francisco, San Mateo and Monterey counties. asserted

Much → concentrate → California

They included areas retreating more than 30 feet or even 70 feet per year, in what one researcher called a “significant hazard to the coastal community.” asserted

researcher → include → community

They erode and collapse over time,” said Danghan Xie, lead author of the study, said in a university post. asserted

Xie → erode → post

“We’ve seen many sad news stories about fatal cliff landslides.” asserted

We → see → landslides

Researchers highlighted the example of the Lost Coast Headlands in Humboldt County, where the cliff top eroded by 22.3 meters, or about 73 feet, per year between 2016 and 2023. asserted

top → highlight → 2016

“Seventy feet per year is a lot, over the seven-year study period that is more than the length of a football field,” said Adam Young, a coastal geomorphologist at the university. asserted

Young → say → university

Cliff top retreat rates of 10 feet or more per year also ocurred on the coasts at the King Range, Redwood National Park, Point Reyes National Seashore, Big Sur, Vandenberg Space Force Base, Palos Verdes and more. asserted

rates → ocurre → Verdes

Statewide, 65% of cliffs showed a measurable change. asserted

% → show → change

Researchers conducted their study using lidar imagery of the coast in 2016 and 2023 to compare and contrast. asserted

Researchers → conduct → 2016

Using that method, researchers found that across the entire coast, cliff tops eroded approximately 1.6 inches per year in California. asserted

tops → use → California

The conclusions may have some timely necessity given a historically strong El Niño may churn out stronger-than-usual waves and tides that could cause more erosion. uncertain

that → have → erosion

Scientists at UC San Diego have created a California Coastal Cliff Erosion Viewer website for the public to see the erosion rate along any segment of the coast. asserted

public → create → coast

The site is expected to update potentially twice a year with more lidar data. asserted

site → expect → data

Knowing where and the rate at which cliffs are crumbling can be crucial for public safety, experts said — particularly with landslides. asserted

experts → know → landslides

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Northern California’s picturesque coastline vanishing at a truly startling rate: study

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Claims (15 extracted, 2 hedged)