Major Cities Worldwide Are Sinking, Satellite Data Reveal
Researchers found land subsidence in 465 cities across 107 countries, with groundwater pumping and uneven sinking putting buildings, roads and flood defenses at risk.
- On Monday, researchers Shengli Tao and Xie Hu of Peking University published a study in Nature Cities analyzing land movement across 465 cities in 107 countries using satellite data collected between 2014 and 2023.
- Land subsidence, the gradual sinking of ground, often stems from human activities like pumping groundwater or natural soil compaction, which contributes to shifting urban landscapes.
- Parts of Mexico City are sinking by approximately 8.5 inches annually, while Medan, Indonesia, recorded the highest citywide median sinking rate at approximately 33 millimeters, or 1.3 inches, per year.
- Sinking ground threatens infrastructure including buildings, roads, and drainage systems, while potentially increasing flood risks in affected urban areas.
- Researchers state that continued satellite monitoring is "better assisting policymakers in evaluating the effectiveness of interventions," while informing targeted mitigation strategies and identifying early warning signs of emerging threats.
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24 Articles
DEXYPTAGE - From Mexico City to Jakarta, a new mapping reveals the extent of soil erosion in major cities, which weakens infrastructure and increases the risk of flooding.
There is a silent phenomenon, almost imperceptible under our feet, which is gradually redefining the urban geography of the planet: the subsidity. It is the slow sinking of the ground, an underground movement able in time to undermine the foundations of the palaces, damage the sewage systems and drainage and multiply the risks of flooding by millions [...] L'articolo The cities that sink, on Nature the global map. Where the soil yields and why N…
A study led by the University of Beijing has analyzed satellite images taken between 2014 and 2023 to measure the sinking of land under 465 cities in 107 countries. The result is that a large part of them are affected by this phenomenon known as subsidence, which can cause damage to buildings, infrastructure and drainage systems. Read
The Independent
The Independent (US)The major cities found sinking across the world
Most severe sinking rates were found in Asia
Satellite monitoring in 465 metropolises measures the speed of land sinking and identifies areas of greatest risk in the subsoil.
Major cities worldwide are sinking, satellite data reveal
Land subsidence is the gradual sinking of the ground, which can damage buildings, foundations, and drainage and sewage systems, and may increase flood risks. However, information on land subsidence dynamics remains limited, which makes it difficult for policymakers to identify where risks are intensifying and where urgent intervention may be needed. Previous assessments have often used different methods or time periods, or focused only on small …
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