Discover the future of New York City as it grapples with an alarming reality: it is sinking. In this revealing exploration, the latest research from the US Geological Survey unveils the profound impact of climate change and human activity on one of the world's most iconic cities. By the year 2100, melting glaciers may cause the city to sink up to a meter and a half, an unsettling prospect for Lower Manhattan that stands only 1-2 meters above sea level.

The co-author of the study, Tom Parsons, provides an insightful analysis, highlighting areas in New York City that are even more vulnerable than Manhattan. Through satellite imagery, Parsons exposes regions that are sinking at an unprecedented rate, largely due to the weight of the city's built environment and the artificial filling in of land. The imposing combined weight of New York City's one million buildings, a staggering 1.7 trillion pounds, is causing the city to descend further into the water below.

But the sinking city issue is not confined to Manhattan alone. Staten Island, Queens, Brooklyn, and areas around Jamaica Bay are also witnessing high rates of sinking, especially in places where wetlands have been filled in for construction.
The exacerbation of greenhouse gases by human activity is creating new challenges. Changing wind patterns on the U.S. East Coast could potentially lead to more frequent and more powerful hurricanes, which would further risk the inundation of these sinking regions. This threat has already materialized in recent times with Hurricane Ida and Sandy, highlighting the urgent need for action.

The danger is not only to the city's structure but also its inhabitants. New York City ranks third worldwide for flood risk, and 90% of buildings in danger zones are ill-equipped to handle floods. As a response, New York has begun initiatives to protect the city, such as sea walls and wetland restoration projects. One such project includes a six-mile seawall costing $119 billion and projected to take 25 years to complete.

However, the sinking city phenomenon is not unique to New York. This is a global issue affecting many coastal cities around the world, and by 2050, the United Nations predicts that 70% of the human population will reside in cities, most of which will be coastal. The plight of Jakarta, Indonesia's capital and the world's fastest sinking city, presents a stark warning. The city had to be abandoned due to excessive groundwater extraction leading to land subsidence.

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