Mexico City is sinking so quickly, it can be seen from space

Key Points:

• Mexico City is sinking at an alarming rate of nearly 10 inches (about 25 centimeters) per year, making it one of the fastest-subsiding cities globally, due to extensive groundwater pumping and urban development on an ancient lake bed.
• The subsidence has caused visible damage to critical infrastructure, including the subway, drainage, water systems, housing, and historic buildings like the Metropolitan Cathedral, which has been tilting since its construction began in 1573.
• NASA's NISAR satellite, a collaboration with the Indian Space Research Organization, has provided real-time measurements of the sinking, revealing rates of up to 0.78 inches (2 centimeters) per month in key areas such as the airport and Angel of Independence monument.
• The satellite data is crucial for understanding and mitigating the subsidence problem, enabling scientists to monitor changes with increasing precision and helping officials plan long-term solutions amid a worsening water crisis.
• Beyond Mexico City, the NISAR technology offers potential applications in tracking natural disasters, fault line changes, and climate impacts globally, with hopes to enhance early warning systems for events like volcanic eruptions.