Webdesk: A new study found that New York City is sinking due to the weight of its buildings.
This slow sinking is particularly worrisome for a city experiencing sea level rise at twice the world average. The sinking issue will exacerbated by the 8–30-inch sea level rise around New York City by 2050.
Scientists also expect more frequent and strong nor’easters and storms due to the human-caused climate problem.
“We’re a ways off from the ocean simply moving in,” said USGS research geophysicist Tom Parsons, the study’s primary author. But we’ve seen two major storm situations with Sandy and Ida in New York where tremendous rainfall created floods, and some of the effects of urbanisation have allowed water to come in.”
The study, published in Earth’s Future, examines the flood risks of coastal, riverfront, and lakefront high-rise buildings. Mitigating risks emphasised by researchers.
The study team measured the combined mass of 1,084,954 buildings in New York City’s five boroughs, which was 1.68 trillion pounds (762 billion kilograms)—equivalent to 1.9 million fully laden Boeing 747-400s.
This weight’s effects on the ground examined using models and satellite data. They found an average sinking rate of 1 to 2 millimetres per year, with some regions sinking 4.5 millimetres. Construction on soft soils, artificial fill, and post-glacial relaxation affect subsidence.
The study shows that subsidence can cause flooding before sea level rise. Many coastal and inland cities worldwide face subsidence issues.
Understanding how urban construction loads affect coastal land subsidence and identifying sensitive regions is vital to addressing sinking city dangers. New York City must understand the changing topography, assess flood susceptibility, and prepare for future sea level rise as one of the most heavily populated coastal locations.
