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NYC's the future Venice - 19th June 2023

According to recent research, New York City’s slowly sinking into the ocean. This is due to the weight of its skyscrapers. The study was published in Advancing Earth and Space Science. It suggests that the city’s sinking at a rate of one to two millimetres annually, which is mainly caused by shifting soil. While this is typically associated with mineral or oil mining, in NYC, the huge buildings are to blame. This problem's known as 'settlement'.

New York City's population rapidly increased in the 19th century. City planners chose to construct upwards instead of outwards. The Tower Building became the first skyscraper built in Manhattan in 1889, which started a trend. Since then, over 6,000 high-rises have been built, which include 274 skyscrapers.

Soil type also contributes to the issue. Much of New York City’s constructed on clay soil, which the scientists claim is prone to settlement.

Currently, the approximately 8.4 million residents of NYC are at risk of flooding and future natural disasters. While the few millimetres of soil movement may not appear serious, some areas experience faster rates depending on building weight and soil composition. With the threat of rising sea levels, the city that never sleeps could eventually resemble Venice, Italy.

New York City isn't the only urban area threatened by shifting soil and settlement. It’s predicted that 70 percent of the global population will live in cities by 2050. Therefore, it’s important to plan our cities carefully.