According to a new report by WSB Atlanta, several U.S. cities are sinking along the east coast, and one of them on the list: Savannah, GA.
Of course, Savannah is a bit of a drive from good ol’ ATL, but it’s a popular tourist destination for Atlantans heading to the beach. And it might be underwater sometime soon, according to climate scientists. WSB reports that these areas along the east coast, including Savannah, GA, might be more “susceptible to devastating flooding from sea level rise than previously thought.”
What’s causing the sinking?
WSB reports, “The sinking is primarily due to excessive extraction of resources like groundwater, oil and gas… Other contributing factors include seismic activity and soil compaction — which can occur naturally or come from the weight of heavy buildings.”
This causes more flooding in low elevation areas, especially places at sea-level, on the ocean’s front.
Why is this important?
It might seem like an obvious answer: flooding causes damages and puts lives in danger. Property damage is only part of the problem. Some places in the U.S., like southern Louisiana and Miami could sink right into the ocean, creating a literal loss of land.
According to Live Science, “if nothing is done to mitigate this [flooding] risk, the deluges could cause $107 billion in damages by 2050.”
Live Science also reports that, “coastal cities have begun sinking by as much as 0.2 inch (5 mm) a year, tripling the changes to relative sea levels around affected areas.”
In order to save our favorite towns and cities, like Savannah, Georgia, from sinking into the water, there needs to be more attention paid to the environment and climate science in general.
It’s not too late to save Savannah from sinking!