US-Indian space mission maps extreme subsidence in Mexico City
Phys.org • • world
Key Points:
- NASA-ISRO's NISAR satellite has successfully mapped ground subsidence in Mexico City, demonstrating its ability to monitor real-time surface changes from space regardless of weather or vegetation.
- Mexico City, built on an aquifer, has experienced significant land sinking due to groundwater pumping and urban development, with subsidence rates reaching up to 14 inches per year in past decades, damaging infrastructure like the Metro system.
- Launched in July 2025, NISAR uses L-band synthetic aperture radar to detect subtle land movements, providing improved monitoring of challenging and densely vegetated areas prone to subsidence and other environmental changes.
- Preliminary data from October 2025 to January 2026 show parts of Mexico City subsiding more than 2 centimeters per month, with landmarks like the Angel of Independence visibly affected by the sinking ground.
- Experts anticipate that NISAR's unique sensing capabilities and frequent global coverage will lead to numerous new discoveries about land subsidence and other surface changes worldwide.
