Land Subsidence: The Silent Earthquake | Golden Age

Land subsidence, the sinking or settling of the Earth's surface, is a growing concern globally, with over 150 million people affected by its consequences. The primary causes of land subsidence include the over-extraction of groundwater, oil, and gas, as well as the collapse of underground mines and tunnels. According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), land subsidence has caused over $400 million in damages in the United States alone since the 1970s. The city of Venice, Italy, is a prime example, with its subsidence rate of 1-2 mm per year, threatening its very existence. Researchers like Dr. Zhong Lu, a geophysicist at the USGS, are working to develop new technologies to monitor and mitigate land subsidence. As the global population continues to urbanize, the need to address land subsidence becomes increasingly urgent, with the World Bank estimating that the economic impact of land subsidence could reach $1 trillion by 2050.