NASA warns that major US cities are sinking faster than you think

According to NASA, the US East Coast is facing a double whammy from the water. Rising sea levels are already a concern, but new research shows that the land itself is sinking, adding another layer of risk to major cities like New York, Baltimore and Norfolk.

Scientists at Virginia Tech’s Earth Observation and Innovation Lab, using satellite data and GPS sensors, found that parts of the coastline were receding 1 to 2 millimeters per year between 2007 and 2020. Although this may seem small, it adds to the threat posed by rising seas. levels, potentially putting critical infrastructure and millions of residents at greater risk of flooding and coastal hazards.

The study highlights the complex challenges facing coastal communities as they grapple with the impacts of climate change. Addressing both rising seas and land subsidence will require comprehensive adaptation strategies to ensure the long-term resilience of these regions.

Saltwater encroachment and land subsidence have led to displacement of forests, impacting not only wildlife but also human structures. About 897,000 structures are located on land, including along coasts, highways and airports that are experiencing subsidence.

These findings follow a previous study from EOI Lab, which was published in nature communication, in which the same data was used to show that most of the East Coast marshes and wetlands—crucial to protecting many cities from storm surge during hurricanes—were sinking at a rate of more than 3 millimeters per year. They found that at least 8 percent of coastal forests have been displaced by subsidence and saltwater intrusion, leading to the proliferation of “ghost forests.”

“Subsidence is a dangerous, highly localized and often overlooked problem compared to global sea level rise,” said University of Virginia geophysicist Leonard Ohnhein, “but it is a major factor explaining why water levels in many parts of the eastern U.S. Is increasing.” Take. The consequences for people living along the coast include more “clear sky” tidal flooding, more damaged homes and infrastructure, and more problems with salt water intrusion into farmland and fresh water supplies.