Topic analysis

Up to 2cm a month: Nasa keeps track as Mexico City sinks into the ground

NASA and the Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) NISAR satellite is tracking Mexico City’s rapid subsidence in real time, with some areas including the main airport sinking up to 2cm a month—one of the fastest rates globally. The subsidence, driven by excessive groundwater extraction from the city’s ancient lake bed aquifer, damages urban infrastructure like historic buildings, roads, and water pipes, while NISAR’s data also highlights its broader capabilities for monitoring geohazards, climate change, and other Earth systems.