New research reveals that some coastal areas are sinking by as much as 5 millimeters per year, which could threaten key infrastructure.
A new study highlights the urgency of restructuring East Coast infrastructure, showing that cities on the Atlantic are sinking by as much as 5 millimeters per year. “Global warming is causing a rise in sea levels, meaning coastal areas are particularly at risk,” explains Robyn White in Newsweek.
While entire areas are unlikely to sink into the ocean, sea level rise threatens infrastructure near the coast. “For example, significant areas of critical infrastructure in New York, including JFK and LaGuardia airports and its runways, along with the railway systems, are affected by subsidence rates exceeding 2 mm per year,” explains Leonard Ohenhen, lead author of the study.
Sea level rise and subsidence is already impacting U.S. infrastructure. On the West Coast, a key Southern California rail corridor was shut down on and off for months as a result of coastal erosion. In Northern California, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) completed its first-ever road relocation project in November of last year.
FULL STORY: US Cities Sinking on the East Coast, Threatening Critical Infrastructure
State Leaders Warn of Risks to Southern California Rail Corridor
Coastal erosion and rising sea levels threaten one of the nation’s most scenic—and strategically important—rail corridors.
California Completes First Coastal Erosion Mitigation Project
Caltrans moved a segment of the state’s celebrated Highway 1 inland by 400 feet to avoid erosion caused by sea level rise.
Sea Level Rise Threatens an Iconic California Train
A scenic Southern California line could require relocation as rising sea levels destabilize the coastal soil that supports its tracks.
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Manufactured housing communities have long been an affordable housing option for millions of people living in the U.S., but that affordability is disappearing rapidly. How did we get here?
Americans May Be Stuck — But Why?
Americans are moving a lot less than they once did, and that is a problem. While Yoni Applebaum, in his highly-publicized article Stuck, gets the reasons badly wrong, it's still important to ask: why are we moving so much less than before?
Using Old Oil and Gas Wells for Green Energy Storage
Penn State researchers have found that repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal-assisted compressed-air energy storage can boost efficiency, reduce environmental risks, and support clean energy and job transitions.
Updating LA’s Tree Rules Could Bring More Shade to Underserved Neighborhoods
A new USC study finds that relaxing Los Angeles’ outdated tree planting guidelines could significantly expand urban tree canopy and reduce shade disparities in lower-income neighborhoods, though infrastructure investments are also needed.
California's Canal Solar Projects Aim to Conserve Resources and Expand Clean Energy
California’s Project Nexus has begun generating electricity from solar panels installed over irrigation canals, with researchers and state agencies exploring statewide expansion to conserve water and boost clean energy production.
HHS Staff Cuts Gut Energy Assistance Program
The full staff of a federal program that distributes heating and cooling assistance for low-income families was laid off, jeopardizing the program’s operations.
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