Rising sea levels make groundwater saltier and corrode buried infrastructure in coastal cities.

Rising sea levels cause coastal groundwater to approach the surface, becoming saltier and corrosive. A study by the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa reveals that this affects cities with complex buried infrastructure, exacerbating corrosion and failure of critical systems like sewer lines, roads, and building foundations. The threat is less understood but can cause problems decades before chronic flooding occurs due to groundwater interacting with buried infrastructure.

April 15, 2024
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