More than 70 percent of US coastlines are collapsing

Rising sea levels aren't the only danger to the U.S. coastline. Land in more than 70 percent of the country's coastal areas is sinking more each year, according to a new study.

Researchers from Tufts University and Virginia Tech analyzed more than 190 million measurements to reveal ground movements along the US coast.

Data largely taken from satellites and covering the period 2007-2020 showed that the ground was moving downwards along significant parts of the coastline.

71.5 PERCENT OF COASTS ARE COLLAPSE

According to the research, the ground is sinking more than 1 millimeter per year on 71.5 percent of the US coasts.

In 43 percent of the coasts, annual subsidence is 2 millimeters or more, while in 23.3 percent this figure reaches at least 3 millimeters. The highest subsidence rates were detected along the Gulf of Mexico coast in the south of the country.

Researchers stated that the subsidence on the east coast of the USA also spread to almost the entire coastline. It was determined that the ground was rising in some parts of the western coast.

WHY IS IT SINKING?

There are both natural processes and human activities behind the ground subsidence in coastal areas.

The compression of soft sediments in deltas and wetlands over time can cause the ground to naturally sink. Continuing geological movements after the last Ice Age also affect the land level in some regions.

In addition, excessive extraction of groundwater to meet the needs of settlements, agriculture and industry is one of the factors that can accelerate ground collapse.

84 MILLION PEOPLE LIVE IN AFFECTED AREAS

The researchers also calculated the population living in coastal areas where ground subsidence occurred.

Accordingly, approximately 67.1 million people live in coastal areas where low level ground subsidence occurs, 14 million people live in medium level and 3.2 million people live in coastal areas with high level ground subsidence.

It was stated that a total of approximately 84.3 million people live in areas affected by ground subsidence at different levels.