“The Weigh and Sinking of New York City: Implications for Natural Disasters”

How much do you think New York City weighs?

Believe it or not, there is a real answer: The “Big Apple” weighs approximately 1.7 trillion pounds.

This value results from the combination of the weight of all the buildings that compose it.

And according to a new geological study published in the journal “Earth’s Future,” these buildings are so heavy that they push the city downward, causing it to sink at a rate of one to two millimeters per year. Some areas do it double.

The figure may not sound so alarming, but keep in mind that the sea level is rising at the same time.

The combination of both factors makes New York more vulnerable to natural disasters.

In this regard, the Army Corps of Engineers is working on ways to prevent the city from submerging during future megastorms, such as Superstorm Sandy.