NASA scientists deliver bad news to residents of these California coastal cities: “The earth is moving down”

NASA recently published a study in which they highlighted the dangers of the ever-changing world in which we live. This time, however, they have issued warnings to Californian residents after it was discovered that the land around some coastal areas is sinking - at the same time as the the sea levels rise.

Using highly developed satellite radar systems, scientists at both the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) have found that some areas are indeed at risk.

Which areas in California are at risk of land sinking?

The scientists found that the San Francisco Bay Area (specifically San Rafael, Corte Madera, Foster City, and Bay Farm Island) is “subsiding at a steady rate of more than 0.4 inches (10 millimeters) per year due to sediment compaction.

Per Maven’s Notebook, lead author Marin Govorcin, a scientist at NASA’s JPL said that “in many parts of the world, like the reclaimed ground beneath San Francisco, the land is moving down faster than the sea itself is going up.”

However, not every area in California is sinking. In certain regions, particularly the Santa Barbara groundwater basin and Long Beach, California, researchers detected ground uplift. These elevated areas correspond to a replenishing water basin and oil and gas extraction, which cause ground deformation or elevation.

Related stories

NBA

Davis admits Mavs “undermanned” in gruelling assessment

Beverages

Simply Pop, The Coca-Cola Company’s new “fruit forward” bubbly prebiotic soda

Land subsidence threatens coastal cities with heightened flooding as rising sea levels result from increasing global temperatures. Human activity, such as burning fossil fuels for energy, have filled the atmosphere with harmful gases that trap solar heat, warming the planet and contributing to rising sea levels.

Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.