A new study by scientists from the Technical University of Munich and Tulane University has revealed a "double whammy effect": while the ocean is advancing from above, cities are pressing down on the ground under their own weight, causing land subsidence. In some regions, including Southeast Asia, the rate of sinking is three times higher than the global average of water level rise, turning local land subsidence into the primary threat to the survival of millions of people.
Why cities are sinking
The study, published in Nature Communications, proves that in densely populated zones, the relative sea level rises by 6 millimeters per year. This is twice the climatic norm. The cause lies in anthropogenic pressure: the immense weight of skyscrapers and infrastructure literally compresses the earth, while groundwater extraction deprives the soil of its natural internal skeleton. The situation is further aggravated by tectonic shifts and the compaction of recent river deposits in deltas. "We are used to blaming only melting glaciers for flooding, but for the resident of a coastal megacity, the land subsidence beneath their home is a much more tangible factor. When we remove underground water, the pores in the rocks collapse. Restoring the soil to its original state is almost impossible," geologist Alexei Trofimov stressed when speaking to Pravda.Ru. Data shows that the human factor has become dominant. While neural networks discover hidden resources below the earth, their uncontrolled extraction leaves coastlines vulnerable. Dr. Julius Elsmann, lead author of the study, notes that "we are significantly amplifying the impacts of climate change," by ignoring what is happening right beneath the foundations of cities.
From Jakarta to Texas
At the top of the list of the most vulnerable countries are Thailand, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Egypt, China, and Indonesia. In these areas, the coast "sinks" by 7-10 millimeters annually. An absolute negative record was set in certain parts of Jakarta, where a subsidence of 42 millimeters per year was recorded. For comparison, even in the US and the Netherlands, the indicators hover around 4-5 millimeters, which is already considered critical for long-term planning. "It is important to understand that ground subsidence does not occur uniformly, even within the same city block. If the land subsides in one part of the city and remains stable in another, this creates immense pressure on utility networks and foundations, causing technological accidents," seismologist Viktor Andreev explained to Pravda.Ru. Interestingly, against the backdrop of global sinking, Scandinavia exhibits the opposite process. In Sweden and Finland, the land continues to rise after being released from the ice sheet of the last ice age. This uplift happens faster than the rise of the ocean, which essentially pushes the coastline back. However, for most of the planet, the forecast remains alarming, especially considering that magnetic storms and climate changes simply add instability to general geophysical processes.
Resource management as a lifeline
Despite the terrifying numbers, scientists see a way out through strict hydrological control. The experience of Tokyo, where in the last century the land was subsiding by 24 centimeters per year, proves the following: banning excessive groundwater extraction and transitioning to alternative water sources can halt the destruction. Similar measures are being taken in Texas, where a special district to combat land subsidence has been regulating water pumping since the 1970s. While humanity looks for ways to survive on Earth, some are turning their eyes upward: NASA is preparing a permanent base on the Moon to secure an alternative refuge for civilization. However, solving coastal problems requires action here and now: replenishing aquifers and revising urban planning designs. "The natural balance is a fragile thing. When cities start pushing down on the soil and we simultaneously pump out its 'lubrication' in the form of water, we are literally digging our own grave. Only strict ecological discipline will save the coasts from the deluge," ecologist Denis Polyakov pointed out when speaking to Pravda.Ru.
www.bankingnews.gr
Readers’ Comments