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Have you heard the rumors? Is Chicago really sinking? We took a deep dive into the science to find out if there’s any truth to the claims.
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What is the evidence that Chicago is sinking?
There are a few key pieces of evidence that suggest that Chicago is sinking. First, there is the issue of the city’s elevated train tracks. In 2016, it was reported that some of the city’s ‘L’ tracks were sagging as much as four inches in places. Second, there have been a number of sinkholes appearing in the city in recent years, some of which have been large enough to swallow cars. Finally, there is the matter of the Chicago River. Due to changes in the river’s flow, it has been slowly but steadily eroding away at the foundations of the city’s buildings since it was first built.
While there is evidence to suggest that Chicago is sinking, it is important to note that this is a natural process that has been happening for centuries. The city is not sinking at an accelerated rate and there is no cause for alarm.
How did scientists come to this conclusion?
In order to study whether or not Chicago is sinking, scientists used GPS to measure changes in the city’s elevation over time. They found that, on average, the city is sinking at a rate of about 2 mm per year. While this may not seem like much, it is actually enough to cause problems for some of the city’s buildings and infrastructure.
Scientists believe that the cause of this sinking is the combination of two factors: the natural settling of the land that the city is built on, and the extraction of groundwater from beneath the city. Both of these activities cause the land to compress, which leads to a decrease in elevation.
The effects of this sinking are already being felt by some parts of Chicago. For example, the Millennium Park garage has been closed due to concerns that it is sinking too much and might collapse. In addition, scientists are concerned that if the city continues to sink at its current rate, it could lead to flooding during heavy rainstorms.
There are some steps that Chicago can take to mitigate the effects of its sinking, such as increasing its groundwater pumping capacity and carefully monitoring landfills and other areas where water can collect. However, it is unclear if these measures will be enough to prevent further damage to the city.
What are the consequences of Chicago sinking?
If Chicago continues to sink at its current rate, the city could see a number of devastating consequences, including an increased risk of flooding, infrastructure damage, and disruptions to city life. The effects of sinking cities are not limited to the United States; in fact, numerous cities around the world are struggling with the same problem.
Some of the most immediate consequences of sinking cities are related to flooding. As the land sinks, it becomes increasingly vulnerable to flooding from both rainwater and seawater. This is because the land sinks lower than the surrounding water bodies, making it easier for water to inundate the area. In addition, as the land sinks, it puts additional stress on levees and other flood-control infrastructure. If this infrastructure fails, it can lead to even more severe flooding.
In addition to the risk of flooding, sinking cities also face a number of other consequences. For example, as the ground subsides, buildings and other structures begin to sink as well. This can cause extensive damage to buildings and make them unsafe for occupation. In addition, subsidence can also disrupt utilities such as water and sewer lines, leading to service disruptions for city residents.
Sinking cities are a global problem that is only expected to become more widespread in the coming years. Unless something is done to halt or reverse the process of subsidence, many more cities will be at risk of experiencing the devastating consequences outlined above.
What can be done to prevent or stop Chicago from sinking?
There is no easy answer to this question. In order to prevent or stop Chicago from sinking, we would need to better understand the reasons why it is sinking in the first place. There are many possible causes of Chicago’s sinkage, including natural causes such as the compaction of the soil over time, and man-made causes such as the construction of large buildings and the extraction of groundwater.
If we can identify the primary cause or causes of Chicago’s sinkage, we can then develop a plan to prevent or stop it. For example, if we determine that the construction of large buildings is causing the sinkage, we could limit the construction of new buildings or require that they be built on sturdier foundations. If we determine that the extraction of groundwater is causing the sinkage, we could limit or stop the extraction of groundwater.
Ultimately, preventing or stopping Chicago from sinking will require a multi-faceted approach that considers all possible causes of sinkage.
