Urban Subsidence Threatens Major Cities Amid Rising Sea Levels
A recent study published in Nature Communications highlights the alarming issue of urban subsidence, where cities are sinking under their own weight, exacerbating the effects of rising sea levels. Jakarta, Indonesia, the world's most populous metropolis with 42 million residents, is sinking at an average rate of 13.7 millimeters per year, with some areas experiencing subsidence as high as 42 millimeters annually. Other cities such as Tianjin, China (13.5 mm/year), Bangkok, Thailand (8.5 mm/year), Lagos, Nigeria (6.7 mm/year), and Alexandria, Egypt (4 mm/year) are also facing significant subsidence. This phenomenon is driven by factors such as the weight of urban infrastructure and excessive groundwater extraction. Coastal regions in countries like Thailand, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Egypt, China, and Indonesia are experiencing sea-level rises of 10 millimeters annually, further compounding the risk of flooding in these areas. 
