CNN —Dozens of cities along the US coastline are sinking at alarming rates, leaving them far more exposed to devastating flooding from sea level rise than previously thought, scientists reported Wednesday. Cities on the East Coast where sinking land is exacerbating sea level rise include New York City and Atlantic City; Virginia Beach; Charleston, South Carolina; and Savannah, Georgia. As much as a third of sea level rise in this region over the next three decades could come from the sinking effect, the report found. This is a particular problem in areas where new coastal land has been created over the years by backfilling with sediment. Additionally, researchers say most sea level rise studies make projections for the end of the century, which “is viewed as too far (away) to begin planning,” Shirzaei said.

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Persons: ”, Manoochehr Shirzaei, Leonard Ohenhen, Ophelia, Bing Guan, Kristina Hill, you’ll, ” Ohenhen, Joe Raedle, ” Shirzaei Organizations: CNN, Virginia Tech, Cities, Seaboard, Corpus Christi, Reuters, University of California, Getty Locations: East, New York City, Atlantic City, Virginia Beach, Charleston , South Carolina, Savannah , Georgia, Gulf, East Coast, Louisiana, Texas, Galveston, Freeport, Corpus, Northeast, Hamilton Beach, Queens, Berkeley, New Orleans, Port, Miami