A new satellite study reveals that major US cities are experiencing significant land subsidence, with about 29,000 buildings at risk across 28 locations. Urban centers, including Houston and New York City, are sinking faster than surrounding areas. This sinking, mainly driven by groundwater use, exacerbates flooding risk as sea levels rise. The study highlights that uneven sinking can put extra strain on infrastructure, raising concerns for approximately 34 million residents living in affected areas. Without intervention, the impact of subsidence could escalate, threatening urban stability.
The risk factors of land subsidence can escalate dramatically in areas where the sinking is uneven. This unequal sinking can lead to significant infrastructure strain.
According to Shirzaei, 'We did not expect to see such widespread land subsidence.' The analysis illustrated a pattern concerning urban centers sinking faster than rural areas.
The analysis pointed to major cities like Houston as the fastest-sinking in the study, showing significant height changes and implications for flooding and infrastructure.
Subsidences in urban centers represent a pressing concern, especially as 34 million residents live in these sinking regions, endangering homes and civic structures.
Collection
[
|
...
]