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The original was posted on /r/worldnews by /u/nbcnews on 2024-04-19 16:07:27.
Nearly half of China’s major cities are sinking, researchers say
Submitted 2 years ago by bot@lemmit.online [bot] to worldnews@lemmit.online
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/nearly-half-chinas-major-cities-are-sinking-rcna148515
autotldr@lemmings.world [bot] 2 years ago
This is the best summary I could come up with:
SINGAPORE — Nearly half of China’s major cities are suffering “moderate to severe” levels of subsidence, putting millions of people at risk of flooding especially as sea levels rise, according to a study of nationwide satellite data released on Friday.
The authors of the paper, published by the journal Science, found that 45% of China’s urban land was sinking faster than 3 millimeters per year, with 16% at more than 10 mm per year, driven not only by declining water tables but also the sheer weight of the built environment.
Many of China’s old coal districts have also suffered as a result of overmining, with authorities often forced to inject concrete into the crumbling shafts to reinforce land.
A separate study published in February said around 2.4 million square miles of land across the globe was at risk.
Among the worst-hit countries is Indonesia, with large parts of the capital, Jakarta, now below sea level.
Nicholls said vulnerable cities could learn lessons from Tokyo, which sank by about 16 feet until it banned groundwater extraction in the 1970s.
The original article contains 450 words, the summary contains 178 words. Saved 60%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!