Is New York City’s Manhattan Island sinking with its skyscrapers bringing it down, according to the findings of a new scientific study?

The model indicates the geology beneath the island was compared to satellite data showing its footprint is collapsing into Earth.

NOAA calls it subsidence, with a gradual settling or sudden sinking of Earth's surface that occurs when soft sediments shift or loads bearing down on the ground push it deeper. There are multiple causes, but the weight of cities is rarely studied.

Does that mean everyone in Manhattan must immediately go on a crash diet or get out of this concrete jungle, pronto?
Manhattan is sinking at a rate of 1-2 millimeters per year, the researchers learned, under the weight of its skyscrapers.

A few millimeters might not sound like much, but some parts of the city are subsiding much faster, on par with the fastest observed rates at which tectonic plates rebound when glaciers melt.

Manhattan Island is one of the world’s top cities with the most skyscrapers 

As you can see, NYC is third on the list, boasting an impressive tally of 421 skyscrapers. Although it may have relinquished its title to Chinese cities, the city’s skyline endures as a globally renowned symbol, prominently featuring the iconic Empire State Building. 

Cities vs. Rising Seas

Around the world, tens of millions could lose their homes in the coming decades. Planning is the key to protecting them.

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/19/climate/climate-rising-seas-big-citi…

NOOA https://www.noaa.gov/