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This article introduces the 15 fastest sinking cities in the world, highlighting the causes of land subsidence. If you want to skip the detailed analysis, you can go directly to the next page. Five World’s fastest sinking city.
Land depression and its causes: analysis
Land subsidence, or shrinkage of the earth’s surface, has emerged as a problem with serious consequences. As reported by National Geographic, the Earth’s surface tends to sink for multiple reasons. Relative sea level rise refers to the combined effects of land survival and sea level rise, further exacerbating the problem.
Land subsidence can be caused by human activities such as building cities on soft sediments or pumping groundwater. Groundwater extraction is a common cause of land subsidence worldwide. When water is drained from underground aquifers, the weight of the earth tends to cause the pores to contract. The seriousness of this excavation is clear from the fact that parts of Mexico City are sinking 4 inches every year. Extraction of hydrocarbons from pores can also lead to subsidence.
Human development is cited as the biggest cause of land subsidence. Developments on peatlands are at high risk of facing land subsidence. The problem is also prevalent in the squishy delta region, which is home to major cities such as Shanghai and Jakarta. The earth’s natural movements also cause subduction. For example, the last Ice Age witnessed ice sheets weighing down the center of North America, causing the coasts to rise before melting. This has caused ground subsidence of 2 millimeters per year not only in New York but also along the East Coast.
At the same time, geography also plays an additional role in this regard. Much of Mexico City was built on a reclaimed lake, and the sinking surface of the lake illustrates the influence of topography on land subsidence.
Land subsidence adversity: flooding
Cities that experience frequent land subsidence will experience severe flooding sooner than expected. Regionally, the fastest subsidence has been reported in South Asia, Southeast Asia, and East Asia. Other regions such as North America, Europe, Africa, and Australia are also facing this subsidence. Land sinks faster than sea levels rise, putting people living in coastal areas at higher risk of both flooding and sea level rise. Sea level rise as a result of climate change is expected to further increase the proportion of areas prone to flooding. You can also take a look at some of the countries most vulnerable to climate change.
Land subsidence and rising sea levels will put more than 500,000 people in 32 coastal cities in the United States alone at risk of repeated flooding, according to a study published March 6 in the journal Nature. Other countries at highest risk of flooding are also discussed. Sea levels along the U.S. coastline are projected to rise an average of 10 to 12 inches over the next 30 years. Considering the fact that more than 30% of the country’s population lives in coastal cities, this further worsens the situation in already sinking land areas. Storm surge flooding is expected to affect between 59,000 and 263,000 people along the U.S. Atlantic coast. At the same time, an additional 110,000 to 225,000 people along the U.S. Gulf Coast will be exposed. Population exposure is expected to range from 6,000 to 30,000 people in Pacific Coast cities. You can also view the most disaster-prone countries in the world.
Protection against possible dangers
Keeping in mind the aforementioned forecast scenarios, protection against flood hazards becomes necessary. Companies that protect assets from water and flood damage include Tokio Marine Holdings (OTC:TKOMY), Zurich Insurance Group (OTC:ZURVY), and Chubb Limited (NYSE:CB). Let’s take a look at what these companies offer in terms of protection.
Tokio Marine Holdings (OTC:TKOMY) is a multinational insurance holding company headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. The company’s private flood solutions offer broader coverage, including coverage for business income and additional living expenses. Premium rates are available with deductible options from $1,000 to $100,000. Additionally, no elevation certificate is required. Tokio Marine Holdings, Inc. (OTC:TKOMY) effectively addresses the insurance needs of single-family homeowners, commercial property owners, and tenants through its private flood programs.
Zurich Insurance Group Ltd (OTC:ZURVY) is a multi-insurance company serving people and businesses in more than 200 countries and territories. In addition to providing insurance coverage, the company also provides preventive services to promote health and strengthen resilience to climate change. The company’s residential private flood insurance program allows you to customize coverage based on your needs. Coverage provided includes dwellings, other structures, personal property, ordinances, loss of use, and more. Optional insurance is also offered by Zurich Insurance Group, Inc. (OTC:ZURVY) to allow structures to be repaired with flood-resistant materials after a flood occurs. Additionally, the company’s residential private flood insurance has no waiting period.
Chubb Limited (NYSE:CB) is one of the world’s largest property and casualty insurance companies. The company’s personal flood insurance covers up to $15 million in total property value. For special possessions like art, collectibles, and jewelry, insurance companies set higher-than-average limits. If you are unable to live in your home, Supplemental Living Expenses Coverage will pay up to $7,500 for temporary housing, food, and other expenses. Chubb Limited (NYSE:CB) will also pay for the replacement of damaged goods and property, up to policy limits.
Now that we have analyzed the reasons behind land subsidence, its harmful effects, and the necessary preventive measures that can be taken, let’s move on to the 15 fastest sinking cities in the world.
The 15 fastest sinking cities in the world
Our methodology:
To create our list of the world’s 15 fastest sinking cities, we sourced data from Geophysical Research Letters, which report on major geoscience disciplines. We chose the city’s maximum survival rate as our indicator. This indicator is expressed in millimeters per year. The fastest sinking cities are therefore ranked in ascending order of maximum survival rate expressed in millimeters per year.
The 15 fastest sinking cities in the world
15. Chennai
Maximum subsidence rate: 15.53mm/year
Chennai, the capital of the state of Tamil Nadu, is one of the fastest sinking cities in the world. The maximum subsidence rate of the city is reported to be 15.53 mm per year. The area of low-lying land sinking at a rate of more than 2 mm per year in Chennai was 38.38 sq km.
14. Alexandria
Maximum subsidence rate: 16.53mm/year
Alexandria ranks as another rapidly sinking city in the world. This Egyptian city is located on the western edge of the Nile River Delta. Alexandria has 122.24 square kilometers of low-elevation area that is sinking faster than sea levels are rising.
13. Quanzhou
Maximum subsidence rate: 16.61mm/year
Quanzhou City is located in the southern part of Fujian Province, People’s Republic of China. The maximum subsidence rate in the city is 16.61 mm per year. Therefore, Quanzhou ranks as one of the top 15 fastest sinking cities in the world.
12. Bangkok
Maximum subsidence rate: 17.15 mm per year
Bangkok is one of the most populous cities in Thailand. The city is sinking rapidly, as evidenced by more than 1,000 square kilometers of low-lying areas sinking at a rate of more than 2 millimeters per year.
11. Dhaka
Maximum subsidence rate: 18.29mm/year
Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, is facing the problem of land subsidence.Dhaka’s maximum subsidence rate was recorded at 18.29 mm per year, the first time in 11 years.th The highest among other cities.
10. Houston
Maximum subsidence rate: 19.47mm/year
The US state of Texas is home to Houston, which ranks as one of the fastest sinking cities in the world. Although systematic remedial actions limited subsidence in Houston in the 1970s, the city’s maximum subsidence rate still tends to reach 19.47 millimeters per year.
9. Kerala
Maximum subsidence rate: 19.57mm/year
It has been confirmed that land subsidence is occurring in the state of Kerala as well. The city’s 793.14 square kilometers of low-lying land is sinking rapidly compared to sea level rise, and the land area below 10 meters above sea level is 3,281.98 square kilometers.
8. Kobe
Maximum subsidence rate: 22.64 mm per year
Kobe is a part of Japan and is ranked as one of the fastest sinking cities worldwide. The area of the city is 41.86 square kilometers and 25.28 square kilometers, and the altitude is less than 10 meters and 5 meters respectively.
7. Chittagong
Maximum subsidence rate: 23.52 mm per year
The maximum subsidence rate of Chittagong is reported to be 23.52 mm per year. The Bangladesh-based city has 44.28 square kilometers of low-lying area that is sinking at a rate of more than 2 millimeters per year. In this way, Chittagong is also one of the cities where the ground is rapidly sinking.
6. Hanoi
Maximum subsidence rate: 24.45 mm per year
Hanoi is one of Vietnam’s most populous cities and has significant low-elevation areas that are experiencing rapid land subsidence. The maximum subsidence rate in the city was 24.45 mm per year, while the total area below 10 meters above sea level was 1,695.51 square kilometers.
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Disclosure: None. 15 World’s fastest sinking city Originally published on Insider Monkey.
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