The phenomenon is known as land subsidence, and it is affecting urban centers around the world.
The Weight of a Modern Megacity
Researchers estimate that New York City’s more than one million buildings collectively weigh approximately 1.68 trillion pounds.
To put that into perspective, that mass is roughly equivalent to nearly two million fully loaded Boeing 747 aircraft.
Every skyscraper, apartment complex, office tower, roadway, subway tunnel, and utility network exerts pressure on the ground beneath it.
Although Earth’s crust can support tremendous loads, the pressure generated by such dense urban development can contribute to gradual settling over time, particularly in regions with softer geological foundations.
Scientists have calculated that much of New York is sinking at an average rate of one to two millimeters per year.
Some localized areas are subsiding even faster, reaching rates of approximately 4.5 millimeters annually.
