No way! New York City is sinking under the weight of its buildings, geologists warn

New York City is famous for its architecture. The many overarching skyscrapers that fill the city sky are a trademark of New York City. Now, however, a new study published in the scientific journal Earth’s Future claims that New York City is collapsing under the weight of its myriad buildings.

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• New York is sinking because of its buildings, geologists say
• The effects of the sinking of the city have been visible for decades

New York is sinking because of its buildings, geologists say

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Well, it’s no surprise that geological research would affirm such a feat, since the city has over a million buildings that weigh approximately 1.7 trillion pounds. According to the study, the city is sinking into surrounding bodies of water at a rate of 1 to 2 millimeters per year “with some areas sinking much faster.”

Although the minuscule slide doesn’t seem like a threat to commoners, experts know that such a shift is not a friend to city residents as the gradual decline makes New York extremely prone to natural disasters, according to the lead researcher and geologist. from the United States Geological Survey Tom Parsons.

Among the various areas at risk, the research suggests that lower Manhattan could be the most affected. Concerns are also growing about the popular neighborhoods of Brooklyn and Queens.

Parsons and his team wrote in a new report: “New York faces significant challenges from flood risk; the threat from sea level rise is 3-4 times the global average along the Atlantic coast of North America… A highly concentrated population of 8.4 million people faces varying degrees of danger from Floods in New York City.

The effects of the sinking of the city have been visible for decades

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The effects of the city’s Titanic-esque future have already been visible for more than a decade. “Two recent hurricanes caused casualties and extensive damage in New York City,” Parsons noted. It added: “In 2012, Hurricane Sandy forced seawater into the city, while heavy rains from Hurricane Ida in 2021 overwhelmed drainage systems due to large runoff within the mostly paved city.” .

The recent hurricanes in the city concern Parsons that these calamities could disrupt the structural integrity of the city. “The combination of tectonic and anthropogenic subsidence, sea level rise, and increased hurricane intensity imply an accelerating problem along coastal and riparian areas.”

Parsons continued in the report: “Repeated exposure of building foundations to salt water can corrode reinforcing steel and chemically weaken concrete, leading to structural weakening.”

The report sees this landslide as a concern shared by the entire world: “New York is emblematic of growing coastal cities around the world that are seen sinking, which means there is a shared global mitigation challenge. against an increasing danger of flooding.”

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Source: vtt.edu.vn