American cities are slowly sinking

Measurements in the 28 most populous cities in the United States show that 20% of the surface area is slowly sinking. It poses risks for approximately 34 million people.

The measurements were conducted by the Columbia Climate School. They show that the largest cities in the US are slowly sinking, by a few millimetres per year. The main cause is the massive extraction of groundwater. This creates empty spaces beneath the ground that collapse. This problem affects 34 million Americans, with Houston being the hardest hit city.

The subsidence is unevenly distributed and leads to damage to buildings and infrastructure. The city with the greatest risk is San Antonio, where 1 in 45 buildings is at risk due to uneven ground movement. Researchers say the situation will only worsen due to population growth, drought, and climate change.

Nevertheless, solutions are possible, such as better drainage, artificial wetlands, and strengthening buildings to mitigate the effects.

(PP with DC - Source: Nature via Scientsia.nl - Picture: © Kevin Hernandez on Unsplash)