If you ever get a sinking feeling while out and about in Taipei, it might be more than just your emotions that is the problem.
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A recent study released by the University of Rhode Island found 99 coastal cities around the world are sinking faster than the rise of sea levels, a problem that could eventually affect more than 200 million people worldwide.
Subsidence, which is the gradual sinking of an area of land, is likely caused by the excessive extraction of groundwater and has become a concern in densely populated residential and industrial areas as this increases the likelihood of flooding.
According to the researchers, the cities most affected are in Bangladesh, China, the Philippines, and Pakistan as they are experiencing sinking rates of about 4 cm per year. The combined population of just the cities in these four countries amounts to nearly 60 million people.
Less alarmingly though still noteworthy, the study cited that Taipei is sinking at an annual rate of about 0.2 cm. Professor Li Hsi-ti (李錫堤) of Taiwan’s Central University Graduate Institute of Applied Geology reassures the public that the sinking of Taipei City has slowed down as regulations controlling groundwater extraction have already been put in place by the government.
While it is not news that sea levels are rising due to climate change, this study highlights the impact of human activity on the environment as well. We all need to be more aware of how we affect the world we live in lest we ourselves become a victim of our own actions. Let us all remember to let this thought, sink in.