NEW DELHI: A recent study has revealed a concerning trend in China, where about one-third of the urban population is facing the risk of land subsidence. This issue however is not unique to China but is seen as a
global phenomenon
.
The study predicts that China's
urban areas
below
sea level
could triple by the year 2120, potentially impacting a significant number of residents, ranging from 55 to 128 million.
Using satellite data, a research team that included experts from the University of East Anglia in the UK examined 82 cities in China, such as Shanghai and Beijing, which are home to nearly 700 million people.
The team discovered that 45% of the urban land area studied is sinking, with 16% experiencing a rapid rate of subsidence at 10 millimetres per year. Notable hotspots for this phenomenon were identified in Beijing and Tianjin, a coastal city.
The study suggests that around 270 million urban residents could be affected by land subsidence, with almost 70 million experiencing rapid sinking of 10 millimetres or more annually.
The researchers warned that this subsidence is primarily driven by human activities in cities, which can exacerbate climate change and sea-level rise, posing a particular threat to coastal cities like Tianjin.
The findings, published in the journal 'Science', speaks about the importance of factoring in
land sinking
when developing adaptation and resilience plans.
Not accounting for land sinking in adaptation and resilience plans now could potentially risk destruction of lives and infrastructure in the coming years, they pointed out.
English (US) ·