Professors Shirzaei and Nicholls discuss the sinking of major cities worldwide due to land subsidence and rising sea levels. They explore causes like groundwater extraction and potential solutions like floating cities. The podcast delves into the challenges faced by sinking cities and the need for innovative approaches to combat the effects of climate change.
Urban subsidence is accelerated by human activities like groundwater extraction, impacting cities' stability.
Cities can adapt to sinking land by building defenses, elevating structures, or exploring innovative solutions like floating cities.
Deep dives
Issues with Land Subsidence and Rising Sea Levels
Many major cities worldwide are facing the challenge of sinking land, exacerbating the impacts of rising sea levels. Cities like New York City and Jakarta are experiencing significant subsidence, with Jakarta already sinking by 2.5 meters in the past decade. This dual threat not only leads to increased nuisance flooding but also affects cities' infrastructure and overall habitability.
Causes of Land Subsidence
Land subsidence is primarily driven by human activities such as groundwater extraction for drinking, agriculture, and industry. As groundwater is removed, the porous spaces that support the weight of the land collapse, leading to the lowering of land elevation. This extraction can cause subsidence rates of up to tens of centimeters per year, impacting infrastructure stability and drainage systems.
Adaptation Strategies for Sinking Cities
Cities facing land subsidence have options for adaptation, including protection or relocation. Protecting cities through defense mechanisms like building dikes and draining areas can help mitigate flooding risks. Alternatively, accommodating rising water levels by elevating structures on stilts or reclaiming land can offer temporary solutions. Innovation in adaptation strategies, such as building seaward or floating cities, is being explored to address the long-term challenges posed by sinking land and rising sea levels.
A study has found that more than two dozen US coastal cities are sinking by more than 2mm a year. It’s a similar picture across the world. Nearly half of China’s major cities, as well as places such as Tehran and Jakarta, are facing similar problems. These issues are compounded by sea level rises caused by global heating. Madeleine Finlay speaks to Prof Manoochehr Shirzaei of Virginia Tech University and Prof Robert Nicholls of the University of East Anglia to find out what’s making our cities sink and whether anything can be done to rescue them from the sea. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/sciencepod
Get the Snipd podcast app
Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode
Save any moment
Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways
Share & Export
Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode