Why Chinese cities are sinking? A recent study has unveiled alarming trends in China, where numerous cities are sinking, posing a grave risk to millions of residents.
This phenomenon is primarily attributed to rapid urbanization and extensive groundwater extraction, which collectively account for subsidence affecting about one-third of China’s urban population.
Why Chinese cities are sinking?
The study, utilizing advanced satellite radar and GPS data, focused on 82 urban areas across China.
Shockingly, over half of these areas are experiencing subsidence, with 16% sinking at a rate exceeding 10mm per year.
This region has been dubbed as China’s ‘sinking belt’, highlighting the severity and widespread nature of the issue.
Notably, Shanghai, one of China’s key commercial hubs, has witnessed significant subsidence, with parts of the city sinking by up to three meters over the past century.
The study warns that if this trend continues alongside rising sea levels, an area equivalent to triple the current size could be submerged by the year 2120.
Vulnerable Cities and Climate Change Impact:
Certain cities, such as Tianjin, are particularly vulnerable to these effects, amplifying the risks posed by climate change.
Subsidence compromises the structural integrity of buildings and critical infrastructure, exacerbating flooding risks—especially in coastal areas—by intensifying sea-level rise.
Urgent Call for Action:
Professor Nicholls from the University of East Anglia emphasized the urgent need for a comprehensive national response to address this critical issue.
“Subsidence jeopardises the structural integrity of buildings and critical infrastructure and exacerbates the impacts of climate change in terms of flooding, particularly in coastal cities where it reinforces sea-level rise.”
The study’s findings underscore the necessity of proactive measures to mitigate subsidence, safeguard urban areas, and confront the broader challenges posed by climate change in Chinese cities.
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