New York City Is Sinking. It’s Far From Alone

A research paper, coauthored by a scientist from the United States Geological Survey, indicates that coastal cities worldwide are subsiding under their own weight. Models show NYC sinking at a rate of 1-4 millimeters/year, parts of Delaware at up to 10 millimeters/year, and more drastically Jakarta, Indonesia sinking at a rate of nearly a foot/year. This is due to multiple factors: extraction of groundwater, composition of underlying soils, and the incredible weight of the built environment. Of course, this is occurring as sea levels are rising which increases flood risk. Read more about the research, how subsidence affects floodplains, and what measures are available to reduce the risk of compounding sea-level rise with additional subsidence in this article (https://www.wired.com/story/new-york-city-is-sinking-its-far-from-alone/) by Matt Simon, Wired Magazine, May 23, 2023.