Rising sea levels and sinking lands: a looming challenge for US coastal cities
In a recent study, Virginia Tech researchers uncover that sinking land, coupled with rising sea levels, threatens to flood 24 U.S. coastal cities by 2050, impacting half a million residents.
Moriah McDonald reports for Inside Climate News.
In short:
- A new study by Virginia Tech researchers, published in Nature, reveals that land subsidence exacerbates flooding risks in 24 U.S. coastal cities.
- By 2050, this phenomenon could affect 500,000 people and one in every 35 properties, with communities of color disproportionately impacted.
- Adaptation strategies include building protective structures and preserving natural barriers, but recognizing the problem is the first step.
Key quote:
"It’s really a wake-up call to think about how we’re going to live with this changing interface between the land and the sea."
— Robert Nicholls, director of the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research
Why this matters:
In coastal cities, the combination of rising sea levels and sinking land presents a dual challenge. It not only increases the risk of temporary flooding due to storm surges but also leads to permanent inundation of land that was previously above sea level. Displacement due to subsidence and flooding can disrupt social networks and lead to a loss of cultural heritage sites. The stress and uncertainty associated with living in at-risk areas can have lasting effects on mental health and community cohesion.
