Mexico City is sinking at a rate of nearly 10 inches per year due to extensive groundwater pumping and urban development, according to new satellite data from NASA. Built on an ancient lake bed, the city is experiencing one of the fastest subsidence rates globally, affecting infrastructure like the subway, drainage, and water systems. The sinking has caused visible tilting in historic buildings, such as the Metropolitan Cathedral. NASA’s NISAR satellite, in collaboration with the Indian Space Research Organization, has been tracking these changes, providing crucial data that could help address the city’s chronic water crisis and infrastructure damage. This technology could also be applied worldwide to monitor natural disasters and climate change effects.
QUESTION: How might the sinking of Mexico City impact the daily lives of its residents, and what steps could be taken to address this issue?
Mexico City is sinking so quickly, it can be seen from space
