These 28 major U.S. cities are sinking, new study finds — and researchers say damage may only appear when it’s “potentially catastrophic”
In all 28 of the cities they analyzed, at least 20% of urban areas are sinking, the researchers said. In 25 of the cities, they found at least 65% of the area is sinking, and more than 29,000 buildings are located in “high and very high damage risk areas, indicating a greater likelihood of infrastructure damage.”
How much are U.S. cities sinking?
The map below shows the average “vertical land motion” for 28 U.S. cities studied by Virginia Tech researchers, showing the sinking or the rise of the areas. All but three of the cities studied are sinking. Hover over or click on a dot below for more information.
Source: Virginia Tech research published in Nature
The cities with the most widespread sinking — impacting about 98% of their individual areas — are Chicago, Dallas, Columbus, Detroit, Fort Worth, Denver, New York, Indianapolis, Houston and Charlotte.
Leonard Ohenhen, lead author of the study, said in a press release that when land shifts downward, even slightly, it can significantly compromise the structural integrity of buildings, roads, bridges and dams.
“A lot of small changes will build up over time, magnifying weak spots with urban systems and heighten flood risks,” Ohenhen said.
