Sinking cities, rising seas

Land subsidence adds to the problem of climate-driven sea-level rise in coastal regions. A recent publication in Nature Sustainability has quantified the relative rates of local land subsidence of 48 major coastal cities worldwide. The study found that relative local land subsidence is more spatially variable than IPCC estimates previously suggested, with cities in Asia suffering the most. The findings could refine predictions of relative sea level rise and better guide actions for planning, designing and implementing protection strategies for coastal cities.