Alarm call for NY American Geological Survey (USGS) scientists are amazed, as they say the metropolis sinks under the weight of buildings and skyscrapers every year.

A group of scientists from the Institute and the University of Rhode Island calculated that approximately 1 million buildings of various sizes, located on an area of ​​​​778.2 square kilometers, weigh almost 764,000,000,000 kg and the city is sinking at a rate of one to two millimeters per year, “with some areas receding much faster.”

If the annual subsidence seems “insignificant” to some, geologist Tom Parsons, head of the scientific team that conducted the study, emphasizes that it is precisely this magnitude that makes New York extremely vulnerable to Natural disaster.

“New York is facing significant challenges due to the risk of flooding. The threat of sea level rise is 3 to 4 times the global average along the Atlantic coast of North America… A population of about 8.4 million faces varying degrees of risk from flooding in New York City,” emphasizes the research team. in your report.

In addition, the city it is already facing significant repercussions that began more than a decade ago.

Two recent hurricanes have resulted in casualties and significant damage in New York City. In 2012, Hurricane Sandy sent seawater into the city, and heavy rainfall caused by Hurricane Ida in 2021 overwhelmed sewer systems due to heavy runoff in the main paved city.

It is noted that New York ranks third in the world in terms of the exposure of its infrastructure and buildings to coastal flooding. In addition, 90% of the 67,400 structures in high-risk areas designated after Hurricane Sandy were not built to today’s flood standards.

Tom Parsons and his research team express concern that the “structural integrity” of many buildings may be threatened in the future. “A combination of tectonic and anthropogenic subsidence, sea level rise and increased hurricane intensity exacerbates the problem in coastal and offshore areas,” the scientists note, adding: “Repeated exposure of building foundations to salt water can erode reinforcing steel and chemically weaken concrete, causing structural weakening.”

In addition, Parson points out, the risk is increasing as the threat of severe storms is more likely than in past years. He explains that the greenhouse gas “appears to reduce the natural wind shear barrier along the US East Coast, allowing for more frequent high-intensity hurricanes in the coming decades.”

Based on the data, Parson finds it unbelievable that the developers of many of the new properties built in New York after the Sandy disaster do not appear to have taken the situation seriously enough.

According to the Guardian, USA Today