America's Coastal Catastrophe: 32 Cities Under MAJOR Threat

By Lisa Pelgin | Tuesday, 12 March 2024 12:00 PM
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America's Coastal Catastrophe: 32 Cities Under MAJOR Threat

A recent study has revealed an alarming trend of coastal cities across the United States gradually sinking into the ocean, posing a significant threat to millions of American citizens and the nation's geographical landscape.

The study, published in the journal Nature, highlights the phenomenon of "coastal subsidence," a process where land begins to sink into the ocean. This process is not a new occurrence in the Earth's extensive geological history. However, the continuous addition of weight to the shallow coastal land by societies, oblivious to this natural process, is exacerbating the situation.

According to the study, coastal subsidence currently endangers an estimated population of up to 273,000 Americans. "This might not sound like a lot of people at risk from this natural process, but it equates to 1 in 50 people across 32 cities," the study states. The authors also suggest that these numbers might be a conservative estimate, implying that the actual figures could be much higher.

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The study criticizes the lack of representation of coastal subsidence in coastal-management policies and long-term urban planning. The Gulf and East Coasts, home to major population hubs such as New York City, Atlantic City, Virginia Beach, Charleston, Savannah, Galveston, Freeport, and Corpus Christi, are particularly vulnerable to this process.

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Parts of California, including San Francisco, Oakland, Santa Cruz, Orange County, and San Diego, are also at risk due to land subsidence.

The study warns that ignoring the rate of coastal land subsidence while planning for potential sea-level rise could render all business and governmental goals futile. It likens this to preparing for wildfires by stocking up on water, but neglecting to clear flammable materials that could prevent the fire in the first place.

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As cities continue to sink under their own weight, and as sea-level change combines with extreme weather events to increase the prevalence of natural disasters for humans, the study suggests that preparing for the worst seems to be the only viable option.

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The study also criticizes misguided attempts to mitigate the consequences of living in a flood zone. It cites an instance where a community spent over $500,000 to dump 14,000 tons of sand in front of their homes to prevent flooding, only for the sand to wash away within three days.

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