Sinking Cities

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RISING SHORELINE: Waves wash over a lakefront bike path in Chicago.

What do Chicago, New York City, and Houston have in common? They’re all sinking! In fact, a new study from Virginia Tech has found that the land beneath 28 of the biggest cities in the United States is dropping an average of 2 millimeters (0.08 inches) per year. Some places, like Dallas, are sinking twice that amount per year.

Over time, sinking can increase the risk of floods, disrupt transportation, and damage buildings. The main driver of this trend? Humans are extracting too much groundwater to use for things like bathing and watering lawns. This water found beneath Earth’s surface supports the land above it.

“But here’s the good news: Because we’re causing the problem, we can also fix it,” says Leonard Ohenhen, an earth scientist who led the study. According to Ohenhen, many cities have slowed or stopped sinking by reducing how much water their residents consume.

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