New York City is sinking, exacerbating the effects of sea level rise and flooding
New research has found that New York City is sinking, with some areas plunging at double the average rate of 1-2mm per year. This sinking is worsening the impact of sea level rise, which is accelerating at around twice the global average due to melting glaciers and seawater expansion caused by global heating. The water surrounding New York City has risen by about 9 inches since 1950, and major flooding events from storms could be up to four times more frequent by the end of the century due to the combination of sea level rise and hurricanes strengthened by climate change.
The weight of New York City’s buildings is contributing to the sinking, with the structures weighing a total of 1.68tn lbs, roughly equivalent to the weight of 140 million elephants. This enormous heft is pushing down on a mixture of sands and clays found in the city’s ground, exacerbating the naturally occurring sinking effect along much of the US east coast. The risks faced by New York City will be shared by many other coastal cities around the world as the climate crisis deepens.
The need for planning and action to mitigate the risks of flooding
The sinking of New York City is not an immediate cause for panic, but it increases the risk of inundation from flooding. The softer the soil, the more compression there is from the buildings, and repeated exposure to seawater can corrode steel and destabilize buildings. The risks faced by New York City and other coastal cities around the world require planning and action to mitigate the risks of flooding and the effects of global heating.
The combination of tectonic and anthropogenic subsidence, sea level rise, and increasing hurricane intensity implies an accelerating problem along coastal and riverfront areas. The risks faced by New York City will be shared by many other coastal cities around the world as the climate crisis deepens. The sinking of New York City is a reminder of the urgent need for action to address the climate crisis and its impacts on coastal cities and communities.
Keywords: New York City, sinking, sea level rise, flooding, climate change, hurricanes, coastal cities, global heating, planning, action.