new-york-city-is-sinking-nasa-reveals-hotspots-that-are-sinking-more-than-twice-as-fast-as-the-entire-metropolitan-area

A recent study by NASA and partners has revealed that New York City is not just battling rising sea levels — parts of the city are actually sinking, and some hotspots are subsiding more than twice as fast as the metropolitan average. According to the research from Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and Rutgers University, the average rate of ground subsidence across the NYC region is about 0.06 inches (1.6 mm) per year. (NASA) Yet certain areas — particularly those built on fill or reclaimed land — are sinking much faster: for example the runway 13/31 at LaGuardia Airport in Queens is subsiding at around 0.15 inches (3.7 mm) per year. (NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)) Another hotspot is the Arthur Ashe Stadium in Queens, sinking at roughly 0.18 inches (4.6 mm) per year. (NASA)

These rates may seem tiny — just millimetres annually — but when combined with rising sea levels and extreme weather, they compound flood risk substantially. The study attributes the uneven sinking to a mix of natural and human causes: past glacial shifts (the land is still adjusting from ancient ice sheets), and man‑made factors like landfill sites, heavy infrastructure load, and groundwater changes. (NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL))

What does this mean for New York? City planners and engineers now have finer‑scale maps showing which neighbourhoods and infrastructure are most vulnerable. With this data, targeted mitigation — such as reinforcing foundations, improving drainage, and designing for subsidence — becomes more feasible. The key takeaway: even as climate change raises sea levels, ground movement beneath our feet can dramatically change the flood risk picture. As this study shows, not all parts of New York are sinking equally — some are falling much faster, and they’re the spots to watch. (ABC News)