For years now, the left has been telling us we are all going to die because of man-made climate change.
Rising temperatures will cause sea levels to rise and drown us all.
Well, it turns out various places in America are actually sinking, but not primarily because of climate change emissions.
Why Are Parts of America Sinking?
The earth has layers, sort of like pancakes. When they get squished together, they become thinner and land levels fall.
This is called “land subsidence” and it’s happening surprisingly quickly in various parts of the country.
Hurricanes and high rains make lower areas and coastal zones more dangerous, as well as shifting tectonic plates and land use.
Things like heavy buildings literally push land height down over time, as well as oil drilling and other activities that lessen the hardness of the land.
The weight of New York City's 1.1 million buildings is making the city slowly sink https://t.co/p7GsqNYExK
— Scientific American (@sciam) May 30, 2023
Where Is Most In Danger?
The highest danger places in America are the following:
- Houston, Texas
- New Orleans, Louisiana
- Tampa Bay, Florida
- New York, New York
- Norfolk, Virginia
- San Diego, California
The reasons why these areas are sinking depend on each place and its unique challenges.
WaPo finally reports coastal areas sinking b/c of geology & land use, not emissions:
– New York City: Glacial rebound.
– Houston: Groundwater withdrawal.
– New Orleans: Groundwater withdrawal & shifting faults.Also sinking: The climate narrative.https://t.co/6x3dt4pDIa
— Steve Milloy (@JunkScience) May 30, 2023
Why Are They Sinking?
Houston is sinking the fastest in America at about .67 inches per year. Some areas of Houston have gone down three meters in the past century.
It’s mainly because groundwater is flowing away from underneath the city and clay and silt compress down when this happens.
New Orleans has lost six to 20 inches of height in the past several decades. It’s sinking also because of groundwater flowing away and tectonic plates shifting.
Tampa Bay and areas north of it are losing around .2 inches per year partly because they are such flat areas.
New York is losing height, due to heavy buildings pressing down and various other reasons.
Finally, Norfolk and San Diego are both sinking, due to land use and glacial rebound, which makes their level fall.
This article appeared in StatesmanPost and has been published here with permission.
