Major deltas worldwide sinking faster than sea levels are rising, risking lives of millions: Study
The world’s major river deltas, including the Ganga-Brahmaputra, are sinking faster than sea levels are rising, heightening flood risk in surrounding areas and potentially impacting the lives of 236 million people, a study has found.
Major causes for delta subsidence are groundwater withdrawal, a reduced river sediment supply, and urban expansion, researchers, including those from the US’s Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, said.
Using satellite data gathered during 2014-2023, the team created a map of surface elevation change across 40 river deltas in five continents. Some portion of nearly every delta was found to be sinking faster than the sea is rising
Loading ...