News Summary
A recent study from the journal Nature Cities reveals that Detroit is sinking at a rate of 2 to 10 millimeters per year, affecting 98% of the city’s area. Conducted by several institutions, the research highlights that the sinking is primarily due to glacial isostatic adjustment rather than groundwater extraction. While the city’s infrastructure is robust, concerns regarding water management due to increased precipitation persist. This study emphasizes the need for urban planning adaptations in response to subsidence, which is also a concern for other major U.S. cities.
Detroit Faces Sinking Challenge, New Study Shows
Detroit is sinking at an alarming rate of approximately 2 to 10 millimeters per year, according to a recent study published in the journal Nature Cities. This study identified that Detroit is among 28 major cities in the United States experiencing land subsidence, which affects about 98% of the city’s area.
The study, published on May 8, was a collaborative effort among several institutions, including Virginia Tech, the Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research, University of California Berkeley, Texas A&M University, University of Colorado Boulder, Brown University, and United Nations University. The research, which analyzed satellite data, found that every city in the study has at least 20% of its urban area sinking, while in 25 out of 28 cities, at least 65% of the land is subsiding.
Key Details of the Findings
From 2015 to 2021, Detroit experienced a subsidence of approximately 10.2 millimeters (0.4 inches). The primary cause of this sinking is not groundwater extraction, as seen in many other U.S. cities, but rather a natural geological process known as glacial isostatic adjustment. This phenomenon occurs as the Earth responds to the retreat of ice sheets from the last ice age, which began over 10,000 years ago. Localized settling may occur in areas built on reclaimed lands, though these are limited in scope.
According to the study’s lead author, although the subsidence in Detroit is notable, it does not pose an immediate threat to the city’s infrastructure. City Engineer Richard Doherty mentioned that the slow rate of settling implies it could take decades before any potential impacts on roads, bridges, and buildings may be felt. Detroit’s infrastructure is designed to accommodate slight ground shifting.
Concerns Regarding Water Management
While the city’s infrastructure is robust against gradual subsidence, concerns have been raised by the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department about increasing precipitation potentially overwhelming the sewer system. In response, Detroit has implemented 19 green stormwater infrastructure projects since 2015 that manage 53 million gallons of water annually. A larger project, designed to handle an additional 99 million gallons annually, is set to commence this year in the Far West neighborhood. The city is also actively seeking federal funding for programs aimed at basement backup protection and private sewer repairs.
Wider Implications of the Study
Detroit is not alone in this challenge. Other cities experiencing significant subsidence rates include Houston, ranked as the fastest-sinking city, where over 40% of the area is subsiding more than 5 millimeters annually, with some regions exceeding 2 inches per year. Major urban areas including Los Angeles, New York, Washington D.C., and San Francisco also have identified fast-sinking zones, highlighting a widening concern linked to urban vulnerabilities exacerbated by climate change and flooding.
The broader implications of subsidence highlight the need for cities like Detroit to adapt to this natural phenomenon. As urban planners and city engineers assess these vulnerabilities, they must consider the long-term impacts of land sinking on infrastructure and city planning, amidst rising climate-related challenges.
Conclusion
This study serves as a vital wake-up call for urban centers across the United States, indicating that even minor subsidence, when accumulated over time, could have serious ramifications for the stability of city infrastructure and planning initiatives. It emphasizes the need for a proactive approach in managing land subsidence and addressing the challenges it brings to urban environments like Detroit.
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Additional Resources
- The Detroit News
- Fox 2 Detroit
- Detroit Free Press
- The New York Times
- WXYZ Detroit
- Wikipedia: Subsidence
- Google Search: Sinking Cities
- Google Scholar: Sinking City
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Subsidence
- Google News: Detroit Sinking
