New York real estate is causing worrying sinking into the sea, study finds
New York, the iconic city of towering skyscrapers, is facing an alarming problem: it’s slowly sinking into the water due to its real estate. A recent study, published last week in the scientific journal American Geophysical Union, highlights the dangers facing the city due to the combination of massive skyscrapers and rising sea levels.
According to this comprehensive study, sea levels are expected to rise by 200 to 600 mm by 2050. However, densely built urban areas, such as New York, will experience a much faster sinking than less urbanized areas, with a rate four times faster. The researchers point out that the risk to New York actually comes more from its real estate than from climate change. While climate change contributes to sea level rise, the presence of a large number of massive skyscrapers and the insufficient resistance of constructions to natural disasters greatly increase the risks for the city.
New York, which currently has a population of 8.4 million, ranks third in the world in terms of assets at risk from flooding. Due to its population density and position, with Manhattan between one and two meters above sea level, geologists are particularly concerned about lower Manhattan, followed closely by Brooklyn. The whole city is affected by these risks.
This study also highlights the dangers exacerbated by natural disasters. New York’s slow sinking makes it more vulnerable to extreme weather events. Greenhouse gases present in the city weaken the natural wind barrier along the eastern seaboard of the United States, increasing the intensity and dangerousness of hurricanes. Additionally, buildings in New York City, including those constructed after Hurricane Sandy, are not sufficiently adapted to withstand the devastating power of these storms.
Urgent action is needed to address this worrying situation. Authorities and city planners will need to rethink New York’s real estate by incorporating building standards that are resilient to natural disasters and considering measures to prevent coastal flooding. Protecting the city and its residents from the risks associated with sinking into the sea must be a top priority to ensure a safe and sustainable future for the iconic American metropolis.
Jforum.
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2023-05-19 07:00:00
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