Study finds dozens of Miami area high-rises are sinking, raising concerns

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Jack Aylmer Energy Correspondent

By Jack Aylmer (Energy Correspondent), Jake Larsen (Video Editor), Heath Cary (Motion Graphics Designer)

New research published in the journal Earth and Space Science reveals that dozens of luxury high-rises in Miami are sinking. Researchers said some parts of the city’s metropolitan area are experiencing subsidence, or sinking, in nearly 70% of their buildings.

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Researchers conducted the study using data collected at the University of Miami between 2016 and 2023. They identified 35 buildings in Miami that have sunk by as much as three inches.

“The discovery of the extent of subsidence hotspots along the South Florida coastline was unexpected,” Farzaneh Aziz Zanjani, the study’s lead author, said in a statement.

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Among the affected structures are high-end condominiums and hotels, including the Porsche Design Tower, the Ritz-Carlton Residences and Trump Tower III. Researchers also detected evidence of early sinking along the coasts of Broward and Palm Beach counties.

Researchers attribute the subsidence to various factors, including construction activity, the compression of sandy soil layers, and South Florida’s limestone foundation. Scientists say limestone is vulnerable to erosion due to its porous nature.

Scientists also cited climate change as a potential accelerant. Researchers said rising sea levels, heavier rainfall and stronger wave activity could make the situation worse.

“The subsidence is probably a combination of several mechanisms,” study co-author Gregor Eberli said. “These findings raise additional questions which require further investigation.”

After this phenomenon was uncovered, researchers revisited the 2021 collapse of the Champlain Towers South condominium that killed 98 people in nearby Surfside, Florida, to examine any potential connections. However, they concluded that subsidence was not a contributing factor in that tragedy.

Researchers didn’t find evidence the sinking is causing structural damage. However, they emphasized the need for continued monitoring and onsite inspections. Scientist said this will help get a “deeper understanding of the long-term implications for these structures.”

“Our hope is that officials in Florida will recognize the value for continued research on this issue across the state,” the study’s senior author Falk Amelung said.

Local officials have assured residents all city inspections for the affected buildings are up-to-date and structurally sound. However, they said continued safety remains a priority. Authorities indicated they intend to review the study’s findings.

Tags: Climate Change, Donald Trump, Florida, Miami, Palm Beach, Trump Organization

THE LARGEST URBAN ECONOMY IN FLORIDA – COULD BE AT RISK OF SLIPPING INTO THE OCEAN.

NEW RESEARCH OUT THIS WEEK SHOWS THAT DOZENS OF LUXURY HIGH RISES IN MIAMI ARE SINKING INTO THE GROUND-

WITH NO SIGNS OF STOPPING.

SOME NEIGHBORHOODS OF THE CITY’S METROPOLITAN AREA HAVE SEEN NEARLY 70 PERCENT OF THEIR BUILDINGS IMPACTED.

THIS IS ALL ACCORDING TO A STUDY PUBLISHED IN THE JOURNAL EARTH AND SPACE SCIENCE BY SCIENTISTS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI.

RESEARCHERS EXAMINED DATA COLLECTED BETWEEN 2016 AND 2023, IDENTIFYING 35 BUILDINGS AROUND MIAMI THAT HAVE SUNK BY UP TO THREE INCHES.

THESE STRUCTURES INCLUDE HIGH-END CONDOS AND HOTELS, SUCH AS THE PORSCHE DESIGN TOWER, THE RITZ-CARLTON RESIDENCES, AND TRUMP TOWER III.

EARLY SIGNS OF SINKING WERE ALSO DETECTED ALONG THE COASTS OF BROWARD AND PALM BEACH COUNTIES.

EXPERTS SUGGEST THE SUBSIDENCE COULD BE LINKED TO FACTORS SUCH AS CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY AND THE COMPRESSION OF SANDY SOIL LAYERS.

WHILE OTHERS ARE POINTING TO CLIMATE CHANGE AS A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR-

WITH RISING SEA LEVELS, HEAVIER RAINFALL, AND STRONGER WAVE ACTIVITY POTENTIALLY ACCELERATING THE SITUATION.

SOUTH FLORIDA’S LIMESTONE FOUNDATION—RIDDLED WITH HOLES AND AIR POCKETS—IS ALSO VULNERABLE TO EROSION.

AFTER THIS PHENOMENON WAS DISCOVERED-

THOSE INVOLVED IN THE STUDY REEXAIMED THE 2021 COLLAPSE OF THE CHAMPLAIN TOWERS SOUTH CONDOMINIUM THAT KILLED 98 PEOPLE IN NEARBY SURFSIDE, FLORIDA TO SEE IF THAT INCIDENT WAS CONNECTED TO THE SINKING-

HOWEVER, IT WAS ULTIMATELY DETERMINED NOT TO HAVE BEEN THE CAUSE.

THE STUDY DID NOT CONCLUDE THAT THE SINKING IS CAUSING STRUCTURAL DAMAGE-

BUT, RESEARCHERS HAVE STILL STRESSED THE NEED FOR MORE IN-DEPTH INVESTIGATIONS INTO WHAT’S HAPPENING.

THEY ARE CALLING FOR CONTINUED MONITORING AND ONSITE INSPECTIONS TO DETERMINE THE LONG-TERM IMPLICATIONS.

LOCAL OFFICIALS SAY RESIDENT SAFETY IS THE PRIORITY HERE AND THAT ALL CITY INSPECTIONS ON THE EFFECTED BUILDINGS ARE CURRENTLY UP TO DATE-

THOUGH THEY INTEND TO REVIEW THE RESULTS OF THIS STUDY.

FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS – I’M JACK AYLMER.