The stories of sinking cities: Here’s what may happen to them
Waterbodies are so important for life that around 37% of the world’s population lives in coastal areas. In fact, 40% of the US population alone lives on the coast! Rampant and uncontrolled human activities have increased the burden on the environment, especially in densely populated places. This has accelerated climate change and impacted the viability of coastlines and coastal communities. Urban areas are at the highest risk of disappearing due to subsidence and rising sea levels. But why is this happening?
Global warming and melting ice are the upfront triggers for the sinking of cities. In many areas, man-made issues such as urbanisation, underground pumping, and oil and gas drilling, are accelerating this process. Studies claim that excess underground water pumping is the leading cause behind subsidence of cities worldwide. Rapid population growth causes groundwater to be over-extracted, which causes the land to sink. Thus, cities with a high concentration of residential buildings and industrial activity tend to sink more quickly than the surrounding landmass. Some of the cities that are running the risk of sinking are Jakarta, Rotterdam and Houston.
Jakarta, Indonesia
According to a study named ‘Sinking Cities’, Jakarta is the world’s fastest sinking city. As of 2017, 40% of the city has already drowned in rising waters and is still sinking at a rate of around 6.7 inches per year. As per the Bandung Institute of Technology (a research university located in Bandung, Indonesia), about 95% of North Jakarta could be submerged underwater by 2050. Excessive groundwater pumping is the main reason behind the sinking of this city. It lacks a reliable network of water pipes, which forces the city's residents to use private, unregulated water wells. This leads to excess underground water pumping. Recently, in order to save the 10 million citizens, the Indonesian government approved a plan to relocate the capital 100 miles from its current site on the island of Java.
Rotterdam, Netherland
According to The New York Times, 90% of Rotterdam lies below sea level already, making it vulnerable to rising water levels. As ocean levels rise, so does the risk of flooding. Rotterdam is sinking 1 to 1.5 cm per year, and climate change is single-handedly responsible for this. To overcome this, Dutch engineers have devised a variety of inventive solutions, including the use of water parks, which are open-air gathering places that also serve as catch basins for water. By acting as storage ponds, these parks prevent water from draining into the streets and flooding nearby neighbourhoods. The catch basins direct the water into the stormwater discharge system during heavy downpours, where it is discharged into the nearby river.
Houston, Texas
This city is sinking at a pace of 1.95 cm per year, making it the 10th fastest sinking metropolis in the world. However, some regions of Houston are sinking at 2 inches per year or more, which is far faster than other parts of the city. According to some reports, groundwater pumping is the main reason for this subsidence. According to the Texas Living Waters Project, groundwater pumping in the Houston area has caused 3,200 square miles of land to sink since 1836, with some parts sinking even to 12 to 13 feet.