Something strange is happening beneath the streets of New York City. The ground under the Big Apple is slowly sinking, putting buildings and infrastructure at risk. Scientists have discovered that most of the city is subsiding at a rate of 1-2 millimeters per year. While this might sound small, over decades it can cause serious problems for the city’s buildings, roads, and subway systems.
A Quiet Crisis Beneath the City
The ground beneath New York City isn’t as solid as it seems. Using special radar satellites, scientists can now measure tiny changes in ground level across the entire city. What they’ve found is troubling: almost 98% of NYC is sinking.
This isn’t a sudden collapse but a gradual process happening millimeter by millimeter each year. The concrete jungle’s massive weight is literally pushing down on the earth beneath it. Buildings constructed decades ago weren’t designed with this slow-motion threat in mind.
Over time, this subtle sinking creates stress on foundations, water pipes, and subway tunnels. The oldest structures face the greatest danger as they’ve already endured years of this invisible pressure. Even small changes in ground level can cause big problems when multiplied across thousands of buildings.
The Technology That Exposed It
Scientists couldn’t see New York sinking until recent advances in satellite technology changed everything. A technique called Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) now lets researchers measure ground movements smaller than a grain of rice…