Story perspectives

NISAR Maps Mexico City Subsidence Over 2 cm Monthly

5/5/2026

Summary

Story summary

NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) mapped Mexico City’s sinking in near-real time, showing zones dropping more than 2 cm each month.
NASA’s measurements from October 2025 to January 2026 recorded subsidence up to 2 cm per month, about 9.5 inches per year.
The sinking has warped the Angel of Independence and threatens the metro, airport and drainage systems.
Scientists say NISAR will eventually deliver building-by-building measurements, while officials have begun funding research for mitigation.

History

Historical Context

In the 1970s Mexico launched a tripartite National Water Plan with the World Bank and UNDP, prompting the 1988 creation of the National Water Commission (CONAGUA) to curb uncontrolled groundwater pumping that was sinking Mexico City. Today the Valley of Mexico draws about 120 % of its renewable water, so federal agencies continue intensive monitoring to prevent further land subsidence.

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Story summary

NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) mapped Mexico City’s sinking in near-real time, showing zones dropping more than 2 cm each month.
NASA’s measurements from October 2025 to January 2026 recorded subsidence up to 2 cm per month, about 9.5 inches per year.
The sinking has warped the Angel of Independence and threatens the metro, airport and drainage systems.
Scientists say NISAR will eventually deliver building-by-building measurements, while officials have begun funding research for mitigation.

1 / 2