The sightlines at Wrigley Field, the panorama from Navy Pier, the vantage points at the Adler Planetarium observatory—all structures built more than 100 years ago—are at least 4 inches lower now.
In the northern United States and Canada, areas that once were depressed under the tremendous weight of a massive ice sheet are springing back up while others are sinking. The Chicago area and parts of southern Lake Michigan, where glaciers disappeared 10,000 years ago, are sinking about 4 to 8 inches each century.
One or 2 millimeters a year might not seem like a lot, but "over a decade that's a centimeter. Over 50 years, now, you're talking several inches," said Daniel Roman, chief geodesist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. "It's a slow process, but it's a persistent one."
While Chicago's dipping is gradual, this dynamic could eventually redefine flood plains and work against household sewer pipes that slope downward to the sewer main.
The subsidance could be after-effects of the disappearance of the ice sheet that once covered the area, or because the city is the location of the Hellmouth.
(Score: 2) by bob_super on Monday March 04 2019, @09:28PM (12 children)
Sinking ? That ain't sinking, that's merely a drift.
Honsu moved by 2.4m in about 6 minutes in 2011.
Top that or stop talking like it's a big deal !
If the river starts going the other way again, you can call that news...
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday March 04 2019, @09:52PM
Considering a good portion of the city are up on stilts...
(Score: 3, Informative) by PartTimeZombie on Monday March 04 2019, @09:54PM (8 children)
Yeah, the problem with earthquakes is that they don't move the whole island. [stuff.co.nz]
Bits of the South Island moved 5 metres in about 90 seconds during 2016. The bits that didn't want to come all fell over.
There is also the statement that
No, centimetres don't turn into inches if you leave them lying about the place long enough.
(Score: 4, Funny) by krishnoid on Monday March 04 2019, @09:57PM (2 children)
They do if they thrust-fault their way from Canada into the US, eh.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday March 04 2019, @10:30PM (1 child)
Build a wall to keep them out!
(Score: 2) by bob_super on Monday March 04 2019, @11:17PM
Except in CA, the wall will go South, a few mm per year.
(Score: 2) by hemocyanin on Monday March 04 2019, @10:22PM (2 children)
They also don't get longer. 5 cm is a smidge less than two inches, not "several".
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday March 04 2019, @10:55PM (1 child)
All you have to do, if you have the right ruler or measuring tape, is lay it down and approach it from the other side! :)
(Score: 2) by PartTimeZombie on Tuesday March 05 2019, @12:26AM
Woooaaahhh! Dude! Did you ever notice how weird your hands look? Maaannn! That is so weird.
(Score: 2) by Nuke on Tuesday March 05 2019, @10:07AM (1 child)
That's quite a prediction : in 50 years time we will abandon metric measurements and go back to Imperial. Even bigger news than Chicago vanishing into the swamp.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday March 05 2019, @12:13PM
America doesn't use Imperial units.
A US gallon is not equal to an Imperial gallon, a US ounce is different, etc.
Our units of measure are officially known as customary units.
Imperial units are for those countries that didn't break free from Mother Britain until 150 years later.
(Score: 2, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Monday March 04 2019, @10:53PM (1 child)
Didn't they in-fill / raise the whole city by 6 ft back about 100 years ago? Just rinse and repeat.. oh, more $ today, yes...
(Score: 2) by realDonaldTrump on Tuesday March 05 2019, @12:24PM
More money for our busy Builders! And by the way, they raised Seattle too. American enginuity in action!!
(Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Monday March 04 2019, @09:33PM
Not enough sand.
(Score: 4, Funny) by Entropy on Monday March 04 2019, @10:18PM (5 children)
I suppose eventually it'll sink to the center of the earth as long as the people stay with it that'll solve the problem. ;)
(Score: -1, Flamebait) by Azuma Hazuki on Monday March 04 2019, @10:50PM (4 children)
There are laws against public masturbation you know. Go whack off your crime fantasies somewhere else.
I am "that girl" your mother warned you about...
(Score: 2, Touché) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday March 05 2019, @01:08AM (1 child)
Speaking of "the Hellmouth"... or hello Azuma, we've been expecting you.
(Score: 1, Troll) by Azuma Hazuki on Tuesday March 05 2019, @11:31PM
Always glad to be of service! I'm flattered you're so intimidated and beaten down by plain old words-on-a-screen from some woman you don't know from Eve you're willing to call me "the Hellmouth." My sister is much worse, and she doesn't do any research beforehand either; consider yourself lucky you got me, not her. Luckily for you, she's an Apple cultist, which means she's as technical as a concussed squirrel with hypoglycaemia.
I am "that girl" your mother warned you about...
(Score: 0, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday March 05 2019, @08:55PM (1 child)
Well damn! Look who's calling the kettle black! Trolling people right out of the blue. I never did that to you, sweetie, and look at the poo you fling! Where's a "Spam" mod when ya need one, right?
Your shtick is getting stale, needs fresh material
(Score: 0, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday March 05 2019, @11:47PM
And once again we are witness to more moderation abuse. She finds the truth that repulsive, yet she can't look away, instead feigning anger in her self loathing. She tries so hard to curse and break the mirror! Sure is fun to watch!
(Score: 2, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Monday March 04 2019, @10:57PM
See this interesting video [youtube.com] about the last time they had to raise the city.
(Score: 2) by MichaelDavidCrawford on Tuesday March 05 2019, @12:12AM
You say that like Prohibition was a bad thing.
Yes I Have No Bananas. [gofundme.com]
(Score: 2) by The Mighty Buzzard on Tuesday March 05 2019, @02:05AM
Cleveland has the other hellmouth that was referenced multiple times not Chicago.
My rights don't end where your fear begins.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by ElizabethGreene on Tuesday March 05 2019, @02:32AM (4 children)
No "Chicago is going downhill" puns? I'm saddened.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday March 05 2019, @07:53AM
I guess that's due to no hill around to go down on
(Score: 2) by Hartree on Tuesday March 05 2019, @05:34PM (2 children)
I wouldn't lower myself to "downhill" puns. I'm just watching it with a sinking feeling.
(Score: 2) by ElizabethGreene on Tuesday March 05 2019, @11:13PM (1 child)
Either way, it's the pits. A new low, if you will.
On a completely unrelated note, I wish they'd hurry up and build the Barack Obama Library. I'd like a chance to visit it.
(Score: 2) by Hartree on Wednesday March 06 2019, @01:28AM
"I wish they'd hurry up and build the Barack Obama Library."
This is Illinois. When have they ever done anything fast other than make money disappear?
;)