Published in Nature · View the paper (DOI)
New research reveals that land subsidence caused by humans is the main culprit behind delta sinking, posing increased flooding risk to 236 million people. The study identifies groundwater extraction as the dominant cause of subsidence, highlighting the need for urgent local interventions.
Coverage from 2 institutions
- Scientists discover how fast the world’s deltas are sinking University of East Anglia · Jan 14, 2026 · first to report
- Major river deltas are sinking faster than sea-level rise Virginia Tech · Jan 14, 2026