They don't call it the swamp for nothing...
Now a study recently published in Earth and Space Science confirms that about "three dozen" luxury high rise buildings in South Florida are "sinking", according to a new report from Fox News.
The study was conducted by researchers from the University of Miami, Florida Atlantic University, University of Houston, University of Hanover, GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, and Caltech.
It found that 35 luxury condos and hotels in Florida's Sunny Isles Beach, Surfside, Miami Beach, and Bal Harbour have experienced subsidence in recent years.
The study analyzed Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar data and found affected high-rises sank 2-8 centimeters from 2016 to 2023. The University of Miami noted such settlement is common during and after construction. Most impacted buildings were constructed after 2014.
"We found that subsidence in most high-rises slows down over time, but in some cases, it continues at a steady rate. This suggests that subsidence could persist for an extended period," the study says.
The Fox News report says that study authors attributed the sinking to sand grains settling more densely in limestone layers, possibly influenced by construction vibrations, groundwater flow, tidal movements, or stormwater injection.
"The discovery of the extent of subsidence hotspots along the South Florida coastline was unexpected. The study underscores the need for ongoing monitoring and a deeper understanding of the long-term implications for these structures," one study author commented.
