Post by Admin on Mar 21, 2024 9:18:42 GMT -7
www.accuweather.com/en/climate/where-sinking-cities-are-pushing-sea-level-rise-into-overdrive/1629311
Why are coastal cities sinking?
According to a report in the Journal Nature, cities in the Northeast and along the Gulf coast are especially at risk for devastating flooding due to rising waters.
Groundwater extraction is one of the primary drivers of coastal subsidence. Cities and industries are pumping water from underground aquifers faster than it can be replenished, a situation exacerbated by climate change-fueled drought. Excessive pumping lowers the water table and causes the overlying land to sink.
The same thing happens when oil and gas are extracted from underground. On and offshore, the Gulf Coast is dotted with oil and gas facilities, which not only contribute to the climate crisis that is exacerbating sea level rise but are also one of the leading causes of land subsidence in the region.
Other causes include seismic activity and soil compaction, either naturally from the weight of accumulating sediments over time or from heavy buildings pressing down on the ground, causing land to steadily sink. This is a particular problem in areas where new coastal land has been created over the years by backfilling with sediment.
Cities on the East Coast where sinking land is exacerbating sea level rise include New York City and Atlantic City; Virginia Beach; Charleston, South Carolina; and Savannah, Georgia. New York City was hit with flooding during Tropical Storm Ophelia as shown here in late September, 2023. (Bing Guan/Reuters via CNN Newsource)
Why are coastal cities sinking?
According to a report in the Journal Nature, cities in the Northeast and along the Gulf coast are especially at risk for devastating flooding due to rising waters.
Groundwater extraction is one of the primary drivers of coastal subsidence. Cities and industries are pumping water from underground aquifers faster than it can be replenished, a situation exacerbated by climate change-fueled drought. Excessive pumping lowers the water table and causes the overlying land to sink.
The same thing happens when oil and gas are extracted from underground. On and offshore, the Gulf Coast is dotted with oil and gas facilities, which not only contribute to the climate crisis that is exacerbating sea level rise but are also one of the leading causes of land subsidence in the region.
Other causes include seismic activity and soil compaction, either naturally from the weight of accumulating sediments over time or from heavy buildings pressing down on the ground, causing land to steadily sink. This is a particular problem in areas where new coastal land has been created over the years by backfilling with sediment.
Cities on the East Coast where sinking land is exacerbating sea level rise include New York City and Atlantic City; Virginia Beach; Charleston, South Carolina; and Savannah, Georgia. New York City was hit with flooding during Tropical Storm Ophelia as shown here in late September, 2023. (Bing Guan/Reuters via CNN Newsource)