Mexico City is sinking so quickly, it can be seen from space
Mexico City is sinking at a rate of nearly 10 inches per year, according to NASA satellite imagery, making it one of the world's fastest-subsiding metropolises. The city's subsidence is caused by extensive groundwater pumping and urban development, which has shrunk the aquifer beneath the city.
Mexico City is sinking at a rate of nearly 10 inches per year, according to new satellite imagery released by NASA. The city's subsidence is caused by extensive groundwater pumping and urban development, which has shrunk the aquifer beneath the city. The Mexican capital, built atop an ancient lake bed, has been sinking for over a century, leaving many monuments and older buildings visibly tilted. NASA's NISAR satellite, a joint initiative with the Indian Space Research Organization, tracked the subsidence between October 2025 and January 2026. The data will help scientists and officials plan to address the problem. Researchers hope to apply the technology worldwide to track natural disasters and climate change effects.
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