The problem of cities sinking isn’t exactly new. Many populated coastal cities are at risk of submerging. However, people in Houston, Texas, may be interested to know that their city is also on the list. Based on a new report from Nature Cities, scientists have discovered that many large cities in America are sinking to varying degrees. Among them is Houston, which is experiencing the most significant sinking compared to other cities. The study indicates that more than 40% of the city’s area is sinking at a rate exceeding 5 millimeters per year, with some locations experiencing a decline of up to 5 centimeters.
The main cause of this sinking is groundwater extraction, which removes the water that supports the ground, causing the underground soil to become more compact and leading to subsidence. While scientists acknowledge that other factors also contribute to the issue, a major contributor in Texas is the pumping of oil and gas. Houston isn’t the only city facing this problem; Fort Worth and Dallas are also suffering from the same issue.
A natural cause of sinking is the disappearance of ice sheets. Though this ice sheet has been gone for 20,000 years, it still affects the land in North America. When it existed, its weight caused the surrounding area to bulge. After it disappeared, the land has been slowly lowering. However, this isn’t the only factor causing cities like Houston to sink. The weight of city buildings also has an impact. The scientists hope this study will encourage governments to address the issue. Some of the measures they can take to mitigate sinking include raising land, creating artificial wetlands, and improving drainage systems.
Although this new study may seem very concerning, not many people seem alarmed. Most internet users who heard the news only joked about the situation, with one Redditor saying, “Oh no! It’s always going to be Sink-o de Mayo.” Others even joked about being so overweight that they caused Houston to sink.
Some found the study enlightening, though they didn’t find it surprising that the land is sinking. “Kinda makes sense… we haven’t had a major area-wide flood here in quite some time to bring in new mud (I think since Imelda), and it’s been drier than normal, so I can see the ground contracting. Plus, we’re using water from underground, aggravating the sinking,” one Redditor said.
