Dozens of Luxury Buildings in Southeast Florida Are Sinking at an Alarming Rate
A recent study led by scientists at the University of Miami has found that numerous luxury condos, hotels, and other buildings in southeast Florida are sinking at an unexpected rate. The research, which analyzed data from 2016 to 2023, discovered that 35 buildings along the coast from Golden Beach to Miami Beach have sunk by as much as three inches, including iconic structures like the Ritz-Carlton Residences and Trump Tower III.
The study attributed the sinking to vibrations from construction, which can cause soil particles to compact and settle, resulting in subsidence, or the gradual sinking of land. This phenomenon is like shaking ground coffee to create more room, according to lead researcher Falk Amelung.
The study began as a response to the collapse of the Champlain Towers in Surfside, Florida, in 2021. Researchers used satellite images to track the tiny movements of the Earth’s surface and measured how specific points on the buildings, such as balconies and rooftop air conditioning units, moved over time.
The findings showed that nearly 70% of buildings in northern and central Sunny Isles Beach are sinking, with around 23% of these structures built in the past decade. Daily tides, seismic activity, and soil compaction can also contribute to the sinking, particularly in areas where new coastal land has been created through backfilling with sediment.
The researchers emphasized that the findings raise additional questions that require further investigation. The study highlights Miami’s vulnerability to coastal flooding, storm surge, and erosion, which is exacerbated by land subsidence and rising sea levels.
Land subsidence and sea level rise can cause severe flooding, according to Manoochehr Shirzaei, a geophysicist at Virginia Tech, who was not involved in the study. “Any change in relative elevation of the sea level – whether the land goes down or the sea goes up – would cause significant flooding in the region,” he said.
The researchers suggest that their satellite method can proactively monitor the stability of coastal high-rises, allowing for proactive measures to be taken before catastrophic events occur. Shirzaei and Amelung caution against panic, noting that while the situation is concerning, local actions can be taken to mitigate the effects of land subsidence.
