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Satellite observations from the NASA-ISRO mission show that parts of Mexico City are sinking by about an inch every month.
News18
One of the world’s largest cities is sinking so quickly that its movement can now be tracked from space.
New observations from the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) show that parts of Mexico City are subsiding at a dramatic pace, with some areas sinking by about 0.8 inches each month, adding up to more than 9.5 inches per year.
These results come from NISAR, a joint Earth observation mission developed by NASA and the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), designed to monitor subtle changes on the Earth’s surface. During the dry season between October 2025 and January 2026, the satellite mapped the ground shifts beneath the city and revealed the scale of the problem.
According to NASA, the problem is largely related to over-extraction of groundwater.
Mexico City was built on what was once a raised lake bed. Underneath the city lies an ancient aquifer that provides about 60% of drinking water for its population, which is estimated at about 22 million people. But decades of overuse have gradually depleted the groundwater source, causing the soft, clay-heavy ground above it to collapse.
Rapid urbanization has exacerbated the situation.
As more buildings are constructed in the city, more pressure is exerted on the already unstable soil beneath the city’s surface, damaging parts of the capital with cracked sidewalks and tilted buildings.
Subsidence was first observed in Mexico City in the 1920s, although today’s satellite technology has provided scientists with more details about the scale of the problem.
One of the most affected locations identified in the report is Benito Juarez International Airport. Another famous landmark affected by the sinking is the Angel of Independence Monument, a 114-foot-tall structure built in 1910 to commemorate Mexican independence. According to the report, 14 additional steps were added to the base of the monument over time because the surrounding land continued to sink.
NASA officials say the images are just the beginning of what the NISAR mission could reveal globally.
“Mexico City is a known hotspot when it comes to landings, and images like this are just the beginning for NISAR,” NASA quoted David Bekaert, project manager at the Flemish Institute for Technological Research and a member of the NISAR science team, as saying.
“We will see an influx of new discoveries from all over the world,” he added.
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