American cities sinking: Study warns of rising land subsidence
Sometimes it's worthwhile to view the world from a different angle. A recent study highlights a problem that the largest cities in the United States are facing: nearly 30 metropolises are sinking into the ground.
The results of the latest study show that 28 American cities are "disappearing before our eyes," sinking at a rate of up to 1 cm per year. This issue affects, among others, cities such as New York and Chicago.
American cities are sinking into the ground
Scientists from Virginia Tech have examined the effects of satellite radar data. It turns out that 28 major American cities are sinking. The list includes some of the largest and most well-known cities, where at least 20% of the area is subsiding. In 25 cases, more than 65% of the area is affected.
At first glance, the rate of subsidence might not seem significant—ranging from 0.2 cm to 1 cm per year. The fastest occurrences are in Texas cities. In Houston, 40% of the city is sinking at a rate of 0.5 cm per year, while 12% of the city's area is sinking by 1 cm annually.
Why are cities in the USA "disappearing before our eyes"?
In 80% of cases, human activity is responsible for the sinking of cities, with the excessive extraction of groundwater cited as the main issue. As cities grow, this problem could escalate. Scientists are calling for changes in water resource management policies and for the monitoring of ground subsidence rates.
The most significant problems related to land subsidence are faced by cities near the coast, where there is a risk of rising sea levels and flooding. Everywhere, there is a potential for infrastructure destabilization, with increased risk of flooding. Uneven settling can lead to damage to buildings, roads, bridges, and rail lines.
The study was published on May 8, 2025, in the journal "Nature Cities".
