Most beautiful Cities in World : Unfortunately that are Sinking

Coastal cities like New York City are facing a significant challenge as the ground beneath them sinks due to the weight of their buildings. To add to the problem, rising sea levels are exacerbating the situation. While it may be difficult to completely halt or reverse these processes, there are steps that can be taken to minimize the impact and safeguard these cities. One approach is to adopt sustainable urban planning practices that take into account the location of buildings and land use patterns. By carefully considering these factors, the strain on the ground can be reduced, helping to address the issue of sinking land. Additionally, implementing measures to mitigate the effects of rising sea levels is crucial for the long-term protection of coastal cities.

Back on September 27, 1889, the construction of the Tower Building was completed, marking New York City's first skyscraper. Standing at 11 storey tall, this architectural marvel boasted a steel skeleton structure. Although the Tower Building no longer exists, its construction set off a wave of building projects that continues to this day.

Within the expansive area of 300 square miles (777 square kilometers) that encompasses New York City, an estimated 762 million tones (1.68 trillion pounds) of concrete, glass, and steel now reside, as calculated by researchers from the United States Geological Survey (USGS). It's important to note that this figure makes some generalizations about construction materials and does not account for the furnishings, fixtures, and furniture within the myriad buildings, nor the extensive transportation infrastructure and the city's 8.5 million inhabitants.

The immense weight of this infrastructure has had a remarkable impact on the underlying land. A study published in May revealed that the ground is sinking at a rate of 1-2mm (0.04-0.08in) per year, partially due to the immense pressure exerted by the towering structures above. This sinking phenomenon, coupled with rising sea levels, poses a significant concern. The combination leads to a relative sea level rise of 3-4mm (0.12-0.16in) annually, which, though seemingly small, accumulates over time and presents substantial challenges for a coastal city like New York.

New York has already experienced subsidence since the retreat of the last ice age. As the burden of ice sheets lifted, certain areas along the Eastern Seaboard began expanding, while others, including the region on which New York City is situated, started to settle. Tom Parsons, a research geophysicist at the USGS's Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center in Moffett Field, California, and one of the study's authors, explains that this settling phenomenon is a result of land relaxation causing subsidence.

The weight of New York City's built environment indeed contributes to the worsening subsidence, as explained by Tom Parsons. This issue extends beyond New York and can be seen as representative of other coastal cities worldwide. These cities, experiencing population growth, urbanization, and rising sea levels, face similar challenges.

While there are various factors causing the sinking of coastal cities, the mass of human infrastructure exerting pressure on the land is a significant contributor. The sheer scale of this infrastructure is staggering, with the combined weight of human-made objects surpassing that of all living biomass in 2020.Halting the sinking of these cities is a complex undertaking, but there are measures that can help mitigate the impacts and safeguard their future. Some possible strategies include:

1. Sustainable Urban Development: Implementing sustainable urban development practices can reduce the strain on the land. This involves thoughtful planning and design that considers the environmental impact, including the load-bearing capacity of the land. 

2. Improved Infrastructure: Investing in the upgrading and maintenance of infrastructure, such as underground drainage systems and foundations, can help manage water and alleviate pressure on the land.

 

3. Natural Resource Management: Protecting and restoring natural resources like wetlands and coastal ecosystems can provide a buffer against rising sea levels and help stabilize the land.

 

4. Flood Control Measures: Implementing flood control measures like seawalls, levees, and floodgates can help manage rising sea levels and protect coastal areas from inundation.

 

5. Managed Retreat: In some cases, strategic relocation or managed retreat may be necessary, particularly for areas that face significant risks from sinking and rising sea levels. This involves relocating communities and infrastructure to safer areas.

It's important to note that addressing these challenges requires collaboration between governments, urban planners, engineers, and communities. Additionally, long-term planning, policy adjustments, and international cooperation are vital in developing comprehensive solutions to protect coastal cities from sinking into the sea.

Indeed, some cities are experiencing much faster rates of subsidence than others, leading to significant challenges. Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, is sinking at an alarming rate. Steven D'Hondt, a professor of oceanography at the University of Rhode Island, explains that in certain cities, subsidence reaches a few centimeters per year, surpassing the rate at which sea levels are rising. To match the speed of sinking, ice melt would need to increase by an order of magnitude.

D'Hondt, along with colleagues Pei-Chin Wu and Matt Wei, conducted a study in 2022 using satellite images to measure subsidence rates in 99 coastal cities worldwide. They found that if subsidence continues at current rates, these cities will face severe flood events much earlier than projected.

Southeast Asia, in particular, has several cities experiencing rapid subsidence. Jakarta, being replaced as Indonesia's capital, is sinking at a rate of 2 to 5 centimeters (0.8 to 2 inches) per year. Other cities facing similar challenges include Manila in the Philippines, Chittagong in Bangladesh, Karachi in Pakistan, and Tianjin in China. These cities already suffer from infrastructure damage and frequent flooding.

On the other hand, Mexico City, although not located on the coast, is sinking at an astonishing rate of 50 centimeters (20 inches) per year. This subsidence is a result of the Spanish draining the underlying aquifers during their colonial occupation. Researchers estimate that it may take another 150 years for the sinking to halt, resulting in approximately 30 meters (98 feet) of additional subsidence.

These examples highlight the urgency of addressing subsidence issues in various cities around the world, as they face not only rising sea levels but also rapid land sinking, which exacerbates the risk of flooding and infrastructure damage.