US cities are sinking due to water extraction!
Washington, May 9 (EFE).-
The 28 largest United States cities are sinking between two and 10 millimeters (0.03 inches) a year, mostly due to groundwater extraction, according to a study published in the journal Nature Cities.
The cities with the most widespread subsidence, affecting about 98% of their area, are Chicago, Dallas, Columbus, Detroit, Fort Worth, Denver, New York, Indianapolis, Houston, and Charlotte.
In five cities, New York, Chicago, Houston, Dallas, and Fort Worth, at least 10% of the urban area is sinking at a rate of over 3 millimeters per year.
The authors said Houston, Texas, is the fastest-sinking city in the country, with 12% of its land sinking over 10 millimeters per year.
“We estimate that a total land area of 17,900 square kilometers (11,122 square miles) is sinking across these 28 US cities,” the investigation read.
The study, conducted by scientists from the US, Canada, and the Netherlands, used geodetic measurements taken by satellite between 2015 and 2021 to create high-resolution maps of the subsidence rate in the country’s 28 most populous cities.
The scientists concluded that at least 20% of the urban area of the 28 cities studied is sinking, affecting some 34 million people.
The study also highlighted that over 29,000 buildings are located in areas at high or very high risk of damage.
The rapid subsidence of major coastal cities worldwide, such as Jakarta, Bangkok, Venice, and New Orleans, has been well documented for some time.
However, inland cities such as Mexico City, Beijing, and Tehran are also experiencing worrying subsidence rates, according to the authors, who cautioned that even the slightest subsidence can cause serious structural damage.
“Over time, these incremental changes may accumulate, magnifying vulnerabilities within urban systems, notably exacerbating existing flood risks with impacts on urban livability,” the text warned.
The scientists called for an “immediate need for infrastructural adaptation to promote sustainable urban development in the face of escalating environmental pressures” to address the long-term needs of groundwater management. EFE jcr/dgp/mcd
