China Is Sinking And A Third Of Its Population At Risk, Satellite Data Shows
Recent discoveries from satellite observations have revealed a concerning trend affecting China’s urban populations: a significant portion of the land is subsiding, placing about a third of its inhabitants in potential peril. This phenomenon is not only alarming for the individuals directly impacted but serves as a stark indicator of a wider global issue that threatens to disrupt millions of lives.
An analysis involving 82 urban areas within China, including prominent cities like Shanghai and Beijing which collectively house nearly 700 million people, underscores the gravity of the situation. The data indicated that approximately 45% of these urban territories are experiencing land subsidence, with about 16% of the land sinking at a distressing rate of at least 10 millimeters annually. Notably, Beijing and the coastal city of Tianjin are among the areas most severely affected by this downward trend.
Land subsidence, the gradual settling or sudden sinking of the Earth’s surface, is primarily attributed to human activities such as the excessive withdrawal of groundwater, the geological attributes of the terrain, and the considerable weight of urban infrastructure. This issue not only presents immediate risks to local infrastructure and populations but also exacerbates the challenges posed by climate change and sea-level rise, especially in coastal regions.
Researchers have projected a troubling scenario where the urban area situated below sea level could expand threefold by the year 2120, potentially impacting between 55 to 128 million Chinese residents. The implications of such developments could be dire, necessitating immediate and robust societal measures to mitigate the impending risks.
Shanghai, China’s most populous city, exemplifies the scale of the challenge, having sunk up to 3 meters over the past century. This historic trend of subsidence highlights the urgency with which this issue needs to be addressed, not only in China but globally, as similar patterns are observed in other parts of the world.
The significance of integrating land subsidence into future planning, adaptation, and resilience strategies cannot be overstated. Failing to account for this phenomenon in the development of infrastructure and community safeguards could lead to catastrophic outcomes, endangering millions of lives and resulting in extensive damage to the urban built environment.
In conclusion, this recent study serves as a critical wake-up call, highlighting the pressing need for comprehensive measures that encompass not only the mitigation of land subsidence through the reduction of human impact but also the incorporation of climate change adaptation practices. As land continues to sink and the challenges posed by rising sea levels intensify, the time for action is now—to secure a sustainable and resilient future for all affected populations.
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