NASA Satellite Data Shows Uneven Subsidence Rates Across Mexico City

Thu, 07 May 2026 00:25:00 +0200

Mexico City is experiencing significant land subsidence, and new data from NASA’s NISAR satellite provides a clearer picture of how quickly and unevenly the ground is sinking. The satellite, developed jointly by NASA and the Indian Space Research Organization, captured detailed measurements between October 2025 and January 2026. These observations reveal that some areas of the city are sinking by more than 2 centimeters per month, with particularly affected zones highlighted on a high-resolution map.

The phenomenon is largely driven by long-term groundwater extraction and the weight of urban development. Mexico City is built on the soft clay of the former Lake Texcoco, making it especially vulnerable to soil compaction. This process has been documented for over a century, with some areas historically sinking as much as 35 centimeters per year. More recent studies confirm that subsidence is highly uneven, with some locations experiencing rapid drops while others remain relatively stabl