Apparently, there is growing concern about subsidence（地盤沈下） in Europe, especially in London.
Subsidence is a phenomenon in which the ground gradually sinks.
I came across this news on CNN's website, and what impressed me in this article was the mechanism behind it.
When it comes to the mechanism of subsidence, movement of the earth's crust（地殻変動） and excessive groundwater extraction（地下水の過剰な汲み上げ） are usually well known as the main causes.
But in this case, what do you think is the cause?
It seems to be considered related to this year's heat wave.
The article says when the temperature rises and the clay layer（粘度層） beneath the ground dries out, it increasingly shrinks, causing the ground to change.
Especially in London, there are wide areas of soil abundant in clay.
Moreover, trees nearby also worsen this phenomenon, because when the soil is dried by the temperature rise, the roots of the trees start extending deeper and further in search of water, absorbing moisture from the soil.
This dries out the clay layer even more, making subsidence more likely.
It was surprising for me that there was such an impact of temperature rise on changes in the ground.
I wonder if this trend of rising temperatures may, in the future, cause the same phenomenon in Japan.
