Skyscraper-Rich New York City Is Sinking Under The Weight Of Its Buildings

New York City has become a new addition to the list of sinking cities, joining Venice, London and Jakarta.

According to a new research article in Earth’s Journal, the Big Apple is sinking by one to two millimeters yearly. It doesn’t sound alarming and it’s not an emergency, yet but researchers of the study believe that there are actions that can be taken now to alleviate an impending disaster. 

The study aims to raise awareness of the sinking state of New York City and hopefully create solutions to slow the city’s descent. 

There are over one million buildings in the city of New York — 1,084,954 to be specific. According to the study, the collective mass weight of the city’s buildings is 1.68 trillion pounds. The concrete jungle is exactly as it’s described — a large amount of heavy concrete.

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To put it simply, the city is sinking primarily because of all the high-rise buildings in it. 

Not only is the city just sinking, but New York City is also prone to flooding, which makes it much more dangerous for those who live on the coasts. Worldwide, sea levels are expected to rise from an estimated eight to 24 inches by the year 2050. Building more high-rise buildings on coastal, river, or lakefront settings could promote flood risks in the future. 

Buildings aren’t the only reason New York City is sinking though. The rate of how quickly some areas sink depends on the type of soil the buildings are built on. Because of the soil that’s being built on, some areas in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens are sinking at a faster rate than other areas of the city.