Mapping the world’s fastest-sinking coastal cities : Of the 44 sinking coastal cities found to be sinking faster than sea levels were rising, 30 are found in Asia.
Rising sea levels have long been recognized as a significant threat to coastal cities worldwide. Yet, an equally pressing issue is the phenomenon of the cities themselves sinking. Known as “Relative Local Land Subsidence” (RLLS), this process occurs when underground materials compact or collapse, leading to the ground above sinking.
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The World’s Fastest-Sinking Coastal Cities
Research conducted between 2014 and 2020 on 48 populous coastal cities within 50 kilometers of the coastline has been compiled by Planet Anomaly, revealing which coastal cities are sinking the fastest.
Key Discoveries:
- Among 44 coastal cities identified as sinking more rapidly than sea levels are rising, 30 are located in Asia.
- Tianjin, China, and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, emerge as the fastest-sinking cities, recording peak RLLS velocities of 43 mm per year within the studied timeframe.
- Among the top 10 fastest-sinking cities, the only ones outside of Asia are Houston, US; Lagos, Nigeria; and Istanbul, Turkey, which straddles both Asia and Europe.
The research highlights that many sinking areas are rapidly expanding megacities. Factors such as extensive groundwater extraction and the weight from densely packed buildings are significant contributors to the local land subsidence observed.
This study sheds light on a critical but often overlooked aspect of urban and environmental challenges facing coastal cities, emphasizing the urgent need for sustainable urban planning and water management practices to mitigate these risks.
Lead image courtesy of Lorenza Cotellessa. all other images courtesy of Beagle Button.
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