Mexico City Is Sinking. A Powerful NASA Satellite Just Revealed How Fast

Mexico City is sinking rapidly, posing a threat to nearly 20 million residents. NASA’s NISAR satellite, developed with the Indian Space Research Organization, has provided detailed data on this issue, revealing areas of the city sinking more than 2 centimeters per month. The city is built on the clay and lake bed of ancient Lake Texcoco, and excessive groundwater pumping and urban development have compacted the soil over the past century. This has led to uneven subsidence, damaging infrastructure like the Metro. A study by Dario Solano-Rojas found that subsidence rates vary widely across the city, with some areas sinking up to 50 centimeters annually. This uneven sinking, known as “differential subsidence,” can destabilize buildings and roads. 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?