Contents
A new report has shed light on California’s shifting landscape. The report found that the state is sinking in some areas and rising in others.
Checkout this video:
Introduction
A new report sheds light on just how much California is sinking. The findings, published in the journal Science, show that the state has sunk more than a foot in some areas over the past 150 years. And it’s only going to get worse.
Why is this happening? The primary cause is groundwater depletion. When water is removed from the ground, the sediments and rocks that make up the earth’s surface compact and settle. This causes the land to sink, a process known as subsidence.
Subsidence is a serious problem because it can damage infrastructure like roads, buildings, and canals. It can also increase the risk of flooding. And as sea level rise continues to accelerate due to climate change, subsidence will make California even more vulnerable to flooding and other impacts of rising waters.
The new study used data from GPS stations to measure how much the ground surface has changed over time. The results showed that between 2008 and 2015, large parts of California experienced rates of subsidence that were among the highest in the world. In some areas, the ground surface sank by more than two inches per year.
The researchers say that groundwater depletion is by far the largest driver of subsidence in California. But they also point to other factors like natural compaction of sediments, tectonic activity, and even drought.
The good news is that subsidence is a problem that can be managed. By conserving water and using it more efficiently, we can greatly reduce or even eliminate subsidence in many areas of California. With climate change looming large, this is an issue we need to start paying attention to now.
The report
A new report from the United States Geological Survey (USGS) has shed light on the state of California’s shifting landscape. The report, which was released on Thursday, March 28, 2019, shows that the state is slowly sinking.
What it says
A new report on California’s land subsidence reveals that the state is sinking at an alarming rate. The report, released by the US Geological Survey (USGS), shows that California is subsiding at a rate of up to two inches per year in some areas.
The report attributes the land subsidence to a variety of factors, including groundwater pumping, oil and gas extraction, and natural compaction of sedimentary basins. Groundwater pumping is thought to be the primary cause of land subsidence in the Central Valley, where the majority of California’s population resides.
The findings of the USGS report are consistent with previous studies that have shown California to be sinking at an accelerating rate. In 2016, a study by NASA found that parts of the state were sinking as much as 12 inches (30 centimeters) per year.
The new USGS report underscores the need for better management of California’s natural resources. With the state’s population projected to grow to 50 million by 2050, it is imperative that we take steps to ensure that our land resources are sustainably managed.
What it means
As California experiences more frequent and more intense droughts, the state’s landscape is slowly sinking, according to a new report from the United States Geological Survey.
The report, released on Tuesday, found that more than half of the state is experiencing what is known as “negative water balance.” That means that the amount of water being taken out of the ground each year — through agricultural irrigation, urban use and other factors — exceeds the amount of precipitation that is being returned to the ground.
Over time, this can lead to land subsidence, or sinking. In some cases, this subsidence can be significant: In one area of Central Valley, land has sunk more than 28 feet (8.5 meters) since 1920.
The report found that between 2003 and 2014, nearly 2,000 square miles (5,200 square kilometers) of California — an area larger than the state of Delaware — experienced “significant” subsidence. Most of this sinking occurred in agricultural areas in the Central Valley, where farmers have been pumping large amounts of groundwater to irrigate their crops during droughts.
Subsidence can cause serious problems for infrastructure like roads and buildings. It can also lead to groundwater contamination and saltwater intrusion into aquifers. The report notes that measurements of subsidence are “essential for understanding” these potential impacts.
Despite these risks, there has been very little research on subsidence in California until now. The USGS plans to continue monitoring the state’s land surface with satellites and GPS sensors in order to build a better understanding of how it is changing over time.
The reaction
A new report from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has found that California is sinking at an alarming rate. The report, which was released on Thursday, says that the state is sinking at a rate of up to two inches per year. In some areas, the land is sinking as much as eight inches per year.
The scientific community
The scientific community is still debating whether or not California is sinking, but a new study has shed some light on the issue. The study, published in the journal Science, found that the state has been slowly sinking for the past 150 years.
Researchers used GPS data to track the movement of the Earth’s surface over time. They found that California has sunk about 3/4 of an inch (1.9 centimeters) since the 1850s. The rate of sinking has increased in recent years, and could accelerate if climate change causes sea levels to rise.
The findings come as no surprise to many Californians, who have long been familiar with the state’s shifting landscapes. In some areas, roads have cracked and buildings have toppled as the ground beneath them has shifted.
The study’s authors say that their research could help authorities better prepare for the impacts of climate change. As sea levels rise and the ground continues to sink, coastal areas will become increasingly vulnerable to flooding and other damage from storms. By understanding how fast and how far California is sinking, officials can begin to take steps to protect vulnerable areas.
The layman
A new report from the United States Geological Survey (USGS) has shed light on the shifting of California’s landmass. The report, which was released on Wednesday, September 18, 2019, says that the state is slowly sinking.
The report found that the combined effects of human activity and natural processes are causing California to sink at an accelerated rate. These activities include groundwater pumping, oil and gas extraction, and drought.
According to the USGS, the state has lost an average of two inches (5 centimeters) of elevation since 2006. The loss of elevation is most pronounced in the Central Valley, where some areas have sunk more than a foot (30 centimeters) over the past century.
The USGS says that the sinking of California’s landmass could have serious implications for the state’s infrastructure, including its roads, bridges, and pipelines. The report warns that if steps are not taken to mitigate the problem, California could see ” catastrophic consequences.”
The state of California is no stranger to seismic activity, and the USGS says that the sinking landmass could make earthquakes more damaging. In its report, the USGS called on Californians to “prepare for a larger earthquake than what has been historical.”
The implications
A new report released by the California Geological Survey (CGS) has brought to light the startling revelation that California is literally sinking. The report states that the land in some parts of the state is sinking as much as two inches per year. This is due to a number of factors, including groundwater pumping, oil and gas extraction, and climate change. Let’s take a closer look at this report and what it means for the state of California.
For California
A new report by the US Geological Survey (USGS) has found that California is sinking at an alarming rate. The study, which was published in the journal Science, found that the state has sunk more than three feet in some areas over the past 150 years.
The findings are especially troubling in light of the fact that California is currently experiencing its worst drought in recorded history. As the state sinks, it becomes increasingly vulnerable to flooding and other natural disasters.
The USGS study is based on data from GPS stations that have been tracking the movements of the Earth’s surface over time. The data shows that, since 2006, California has been sinking at a rate of 0.08 inches per year. This may not seem like much, but it adds up over time.
The report’s authors say that the state’s sinking is likely to continue as long as climate change continues to cause sea levels to rise. As sea levels rise, they place additional stress on the land, causing it to sink even further.
The implications of this study are far-reaching and potentially devastating for California. If the state continues to sink at its current rate, it could be completely submerged by the end of the century. This would displace millions of people and have a catastrophic effect on the economy.
The good news is that there are things that can be done to slow down or even stop California’s sinking. One possibility is to pump water from aquifers into the ocean instead of using it for agriculture or other purposes. This would provide a temporary fix while we work on more long-term solutions.
We need to act now if we want to save California from this looming disaster. The stakes could not be higher.
For the rest of the world
A new report has shed light on the potential implications of California’s shifting landscape.
The report, published in the journal Science, found that the state is sinking at an alarming rate – up to four times faster than previously thought.
The research has highlighted the potential risks to California’s infrastructure, including its roads, bridges and levees. It also raises concerns about the impact of rising sea levels on the state’s coastal communities.
California is home to some of the world’s most iconic landmarks, and its coastline is a popular tourist destination. If the state continues to sink at its current rate, these landmarks and communities could be at risk.
This research is a wake-up call for California and the rest of the world. We need to better understand and prepare for the impacts of climate change, including those that could result from rising sea levels and land subsidence.
