Recent research indicates that 28 major American cities, including New York, Dallas, and Seattle, are experiencing significant subsidence, sinking between 0.08 to 0.4 inches annually. The study, led by Virginia Tech, utilized satellite radar data to map this phenomenon, which threatens the structural integrity of urban infrastructure and raises flood risks for approximately 34 million residents. The findings highlight that at least 20% of each city's area is sinking, with localized zones experiencing even faster rates, prompting concerns about the long-term impacts of consistent land motion on urban stability and safety.
The major cause of urban subsidence in cities like New York, Dallas and Seattle is groundwater extraction, leading to significant structural and flood risk concerns.
A lot of small changes in elevation due to subsidence can build up over time, magnifying weak spots within urban systems and heightening flood risks.
Cities are sinking, with all 28 studied facing altitude loss of 0.08 to 0.4 inches per year, affecting 34 million people in total.
Localized zones within cities show varying rates of sinking, contributing to the complex challenges of urban infrastructure stability and flood management.
Collection
[
|
...
]