Finding Culprits of Beach Erosion

Re: Study Envisions Rising Sea Levels, Disaster (March 16).

As a professor of geology and oceanography at the University of LaVerne and Ventura College, I should like to make several remarks about the article.

My reading indicates that the authors conducting the study started from the premise that global warming is occurring. This is a perfectly acceptable starting point; however, your readers should be made aware that such is the case.

The statement that, “There is broad agreement among scientists that the Earth has become warmer” does not necessarily translate to “global warming.” In fact, data are available that show significant portions of the northern hemisphere cooling during the past 40 years.

From a scientific and statistical basis, global warming, via CO2 and other gaseous emissions, is far from proved. Furthermore, a case can be (and has been) made that the greenhouse gases could actually trigger a new cold period, including an ice age.

The most prominent culprits contributing to Ventura County beach erosion are dams (Matilija, Casitas, and Piru), harbors (Port Hueneme, Channel Islands marina, and Ventura marina), and the Mandalay Beach power plant that circulates some 300,000 gallons of water per minute through what used to be the surf zone.

Any construction that interferes with the longshore current (in the surf zone) or that keeps sand from reaching the beach, causes or accelerates beach erosion. Furthermore, at Oxnard Shores, developers leveled foreshore dunes (deposited by wave action) and constructed homes seaward of the dunes’ old configuration. This invited Mother Nature’s wrath.

Finally, should we be concerned? Of course, we should; however, much more cogent data are needed before we create panic among coastal dwellers. One thing everyone should keep in mind is, from a geologic time perspective, the Earth, on average, has exhibited much warmer conditions than it does today. In other words, we could simply be returning to “normal” rather than facing some human-created disaster.

I support the studies being conducted, but I beg people not to make up their collective minds before definitive data are presented. I, for one, have serious doubt about global warming in the context espoused by many fine scientists--most of whom admit they could be wrong, and so could I. Either way it’s long past due to give attention to the coastal zone and the terrible practices that have led to construction in harm’s way.

PHILIP R. WINTERS, Oxnard