NASA Reveals Mexico City's Rapid Sinking Due to Groundwater Depletion
Mexico City is experiencing significant subsidence, sinking nearly 25 centimeters annually, as revealed by new satellite imagery from NASA. This phenomenon is attributed to the relentless pumping of groundwater and extensive urban development, which have severely depleted the underlying aquifer. The city, originally built on an ancient lake bed, is home to approximately 22 million people. The subsidence has caused noticeable tilts in historic monuments and older structures, such as the Metropolitan Cathedral. The shrinking aquifer also exacerbates a persistent water crisis, which experts predict will worsen. Enrique Cabral, a geophysics researcher at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, highlights the damage to critical infrastructure, including the subway, drainage, and potable water systems.