New York City Sinking 4 mm

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New York City Sinking 4 mm a year

According to the United States Geological Survey, New York City is sinking at a rate of up to four millimetres per year due to the weight of its skyscrapers, approximately 1,080,000 buildings weighing about 764 billion kilograms, as well as the added weight of transportation infrastructure, furniture, and the city's 8.5 million inhabitants.

Dr. Tom Parsons warns that this gradual sinking, combined with rising sea levels, could make New York more prone to natural disasters, especially floods, along its coasts and rivers.

Comparisons with Venice and Jakarta demonstrate the potential dangers of building new high-rise buildings in areas with already sinking foundations.

As cities continue to grow and attract more people, subsidence is a common issue, and experts predict that 70% of the world's population will live in cities by 2050.

Comprehension Questions

Based on the text above, what can you deduce, either directly or indirectly about the follow questions:

  1. What is the rate at which New York City is sinking?
  2. What is causing New York City to sink?
  3. (Approx) How many buildings are in New York City?
  4. (Approx) How many kilograms do the buildings in New York City weigh?
  5. (Approx) What is the added weight contributing to the sinking of New York City?
  6. What is Dr. Tom Parsons warning about the sinking of New York City?
  7. What type of natural disaster is New York City more prone to with the combination of sinking and rising sea levels?
  8. What are the potential dangers of building new high-rise buildings in areas with already sinking foundations?
  9. Why is subsidence a common issue in growing cities?
  10. What percentage of the world's population is predicted to live in cities by 2050?

Discussion Questions

  1. What is causing New York City to sink, according to the article?
  2. What are the potential dangers of cities sinking and becoming more prone to natural disasters?
  3. How do comparisons with other cities, such as Venice and Jakarta, illustrate the risks of building high-rise buildings in areas with sinking foundations?
  4. Why is subsidence becoming a common issue in cities, and what are the predictions for the world's population living in cities by 2050?
  5. What can be done to mitigate the sinking of cities and reduce the risks of natural disasters in the future?

Manhattan is sinking at a rate of 1-2 mms a year

It might be the city that never sleeps but now New York is the city that's sinking. Researchers say Manhattan is losing ground due to a combination of rising sea levels and the enormous weight of its skyscrapers. It's sinking at a rate of 1-2 mm every year and it's not just happening in New York. Many other coastal cities around the world are sinking, too. Joining us to talk about the new study is one of the authors, Steve D'Hondt.