New Study Finds New York City is Sinking, Posing Increased Flooding Concerns
QUEENS — New research conducted by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Rutgers’ University Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences has identified alarming rates of sinking in New York City. The study, published in Science on Wednesday, reveals that the city is sinking at a rate of approximately 1.6 millimeters per year.
Using an innovative technique that combines Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) and the Global Navigation Satellite System, researchers were able to pinpoint the “hot spots” in the New York City metropolitan area that are sinking the fastest. The neighborhoods that experienced the most significant vertical land motion between 2016 and 2023 were LaGuardia Airport and Arthur Ashe Stadium, where the annual U.S. Open tennis tournament takes place – both located in Queens.
One of the most striking findings from the study is that all the sinking hotspots were former landfills. LaGuardia Airport, surrounded by a landfill in the 1930s and 1940s, and Arthur Ashe Stadium, which required a lightweight cloth roof due to the sinking land, serve as vivid examples of this correlation.
The sinking phenomenon in New York City is attributed to glacial isostatic adjustment, a geological process resulting from the melting of a massive ice cap that once covered the northern half of North America around 20,000 years ago. As the ice receded, the land beneath began to rise, and now it is gradually reverting to its original shape and sinking. The research also suggests that the removal of water from underground aquifers may be contributing to the increased sinking.
While the sinking is not directly linked to climate change, it has significant implications for the future. As sea levels continue to rise globally, these sinking regions will become even more vulnerable to flooding. The study serves as a timely reminder of the urgent need for adaptation and mitigation measures to protect vulnerable coastal areas.
Interestingly, the research also revealed areas of uplift, such as East Williamsburg’s Newton Creek. These findings, however, lacked a precise explanation for their occurrence.
As concerns grow over the sinking of New York City, experts emphasize the need for informed decision-making, adaptive infrastructure, and comprehensive urban planning to mitigate the risks posed by sea-level rise and increased flooding. The findings of this study should serve as a wake-up call to policymakers and urban planners to prioritize resilient and sustainable development strategies.
ABC News contributed to this report.
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