Miami’s barrier island is home to many high-rise luxury buildings, and a recent study published in Earth and Space Science found that about 30 of them are sinking.
Thirty-five luxury condominiums and hotels in Sunny Isles Beach, Surfside, Miami Beach and Bal Harbor have faced subsidence over the past few years, a study found.
The book was written by researchers from the University of Miami, Florida Atlantic University, the University of Houston, the University of Hannover in Germany, the GFZ German Geoscience Research Center, and the California Institute of Technology.
This includes a review of interferometric synthetic aperture radar data.
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According to researchers, the skyscrapers subsided by 2 to 8 centimeters in multiple years from 2016 to 2023.
The University of Miami Rosenstiel School said in a post on its website Friday that high-rise buildings are expected to experience subsidence of “up to tens of centimeters” “during and immediately after construction.”
The study found that builders had built “the majority” of the affected condos and hotels since 2014.
“We found that the subsidence of most tall buildings slows down over time, but in some cases it continues at a constant rate, suggesting that subsidence may continue for a long time.” said lead author Falk Amelung.
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Based on their research, the study authors developed several theories about what’s behind land subsidence.
This subsidence is primarily due to “gradual rearrangement of sand particles into denser masses within sand layers intercalated by limestone” in the area, the study said.
According to the study, researchers hypothesized a link between construction-related vibrations, groundwater flow, and subsidence. Other factors, such as daily tidal currents and rainwater injection, may also be contributing to this phenomenon.
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“The discovery of the extent of subsidence hotspots along South Florida’s coastline was unexpected. This study highlights the need for continued monitoring and a deeper understanding of the long-term effects on these structures. ” said lead author Farzaneh Aziz Zanjani.
The population of broader Miami-Dade County is approximately 2.7 million people as of July 2023, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
More than 27.2 million people visited the area last year, according to the Greater Miami Tourism Authority.