BLACKSBURG, Va. ( WFXR ) – According to new research from Virginia Tech, urban areas of several major cities across the country are slowly sinking.
A new study published in Nature Cities highlights 28 major urban cities in the US that are sinking by 2 to 10 millimeters every year. The lead author and former Virginia Tech graduate student, Leonard Ohenhen, said the main cause is the extraction of groundwater.
“When land shifts downward, even just a little bit, the structural integrity of buildings, roads, bridges, and dams can be profoundly impacted,” said Ohenhen. “A lot of small changes will build up over time, magnifying weak spots within urban systems and heighten flood risks.”
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New York, Dallas, and Seattle are seeing urban areas sink by 2 to 10 millimeters per year, according to the data. Researchers created high-resolution maps showing the sinking areas using satellite-based radar measurements. These cities are home to 34 million people, which represents about 12 percent of the US population.
(Photo Credit: Virginia Tech – Houston, Texas, (at left) is the nation’s fastest-sinking city, with areas subsiding more than 20 millimeters a year. Much of New York City (at right) is slowly sinking, with hot spots around La Guardia Airport. Warmer colors signify greater sinkage. Graphics courtesy of Jeremy Hinsdale based on Ohenhen et al., Nature Cities 2025. )…