A new scientific study has revealed that 28 major U.S. cities are gradually sinking—a trend that could pose significant threats to infrastructure, public safety, and climate resilience.
Published in the journal Nature Cities, the research identifies subsidence— the gradual sinking of land—as a growing urban crisis across the country. Among the most concerning findings are nine high-population cities, including New York, Chicago, Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth, Columbus, Seattle, Denver, and Detroit. In these cities, the average rate of land subsidence exceeds 2 millimeters per year.
The study points to a range of contributing factors, from excessive groundwater extraction to geological instability and the weight of urban development itself. Experts warn that even modest rates of sinking, when combined with rising sea levels and more extreme weather events, could intensify the risks of flooding, infrastructure failure, and long-term damage to essential city systems.
Researchers are calling for urgent monitoring, improved land-use planning, and sustainable groundwater management to slow the trend and reduce future impacts.
In Houston alone, nearly 42% of the area is subsiding at a rate of 5 mm/year, while 12% is sinking even faster, over 10 mm per year. Similarly, the cities of Fort Worth and Dallas are experiencing subsidence rates exceeding 4 mm annually.
Experts say that the increased risk of flooding caused by rising sea levels and sinking ground could have serious implications for both residential safety and national economic stability.
According to the study, land subsidence is not confined to isolated areas — it’s a nationwide issue, and government officials and city planners must treat it with urgency.
The key causes of this widespread urban subsidence include overextraction of groundwater, which leads to the collapse of empty underground cavities. Extraction of oil and gas, which disrupts the geological structure. The weight of massive buildings, exerting pressure that pushes land downward. Extreme weather events, such as heavy rainfall and storms, which further erode and destabilise the soil.
The report also notes that uneven subsidence—where different parts of a city sink at varying rates—can tilt buildings, damage roads, and cause structural failures in urban infrastructure.
Environmental scientists warn that if left unaddressed, the ongoing land subsidence could have long-term, irreversible consequences for some of America’s most iconic cities.
