Researchers have issued a stark alert regarding certain cities in the United States, which are reportedly ‘sinking’ due to the effects of global warming.
Climate change remains a contentious issue, sparking debates even among top government officials.
The inability of US leaders to come to a consensus on climate change complicates public understanding of the issue.
Despite the disagreements, scientists continue to be a reliable source of information, now cautioning that 34 million US residents might be in danger.
A recent study featured in Nature Cities highlighted this concerning pattern, urging policymakers to address climate change with greater urgency.
“While often considered solely a coastal hazard due to the relative sea-level rise, subsidence also threatens inland urban areas, causing increased flood risks, structural damage and transportation disruptions,” the study states.
“We estimate that at least 20 percent of the urban area is sinking in all cities, mainly due to groundwater extraction, affecting ~34 million people. Additionally, more than 29,000 buildings are located in high and very high damage risk areas.”
Cities including New York, Dallas, and Seattle are thought to be gradually descending into the ground. Estimates reveal that approximately 20 percent of urban regions in the US face significant subsidence levels.
Utilizing satellite data, researchers developed detailed maps of land movement from 2015 to 2021, revealing noteworthy insights.
Houston emerged as having the most severe ‘sinking’ rates, with cities such as Las Vegas, New York, and Washington DC also showing significant figures.
Leonard Ohenhen, the study’s author, informed Newsweek: “In drought-prone regions, reduced surface water availability may increase dependence on groundwater, accelerating aquifer depletion and land compaction.
“Additionally, in coastal cities, the combination of subsidence and rising seas leads to increased relative sea-level rise—meaning the land is sinking while the water is rising, compounding the hazard.
“This shortens the timeline for when cities reach critical thresholds for chronic flooding.”
Ohenhen further explained: “When fluid is removed from the ground, particularly those composed of clay-rich or compressible sediments, the pore spaces collapse, leading to land compaction and surface subsidence.
“Houston, in particular, has experienced decades of aquifer drawdown. Subsidence is a silent but powerful force reshaping our cities.
“It’s a slow, often invisible process that undermines infrastructure, increases flood risk, and quietly erodes urban resilience.”