Mexico City is sinking so rapidly that the phenomenon can be observed from space, according to newly released satellite images from NASA. The metropolis, home to approximately 22 million people, is subsiding by up to 10 inches (25 centimeters) per year, driven by extensive groundwater pumping and urban development on an ancient lakebed.
Centuries of Subsidence
The sinking has been occurring for over a century, with engineers first documenting the issue in 1925. By the 1990s and 2000s, parts of the city were sinking by around 14 inches (35 centimeters) annually. Today, the average subsidence rate is about 0.78 inches (2 centimeters) per month in areas such as the main airport and the Angel of Independence monument, leading to a yearly sinking rate of roughly 9.5 inches (24 centimeters). Over 100 years, this has accumulated to over 39 feet (12 meters).
Infrastructure at Risk
Enrique Cabral, a geophysics researcher at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, described the situation as a very big problem. “It damages part of the critical infrastructure of Mexico City, such as the subway, the drainage system, the water, the potable water system, housing and streets,” he said. Many historic monuments and older buildings, including the Metropolitan Cathedral, have become visibly tilted due to uneven sinking.
NASA's NISAR Satellite
The NASA estimates are based on measurements taken between October 2025 and January 2026 by the NISAR satellite, which can track real-time changes on the Earth's surface. NISAR scientist Paul Rosen noted that capturing details from space reveals what is happening below the surface. “It's basically documentation of all of these changes within a city. You can see the full magnitude of the problem,” he said.
Water Crisis Worsens
The subsidence is exacerbating a chronic water crisis that is expected to worsen. The Angel of Independence landmark, built in 1910, has had 14 steps added to its base as the surrounding land gradually sinks. For decades, the government largely ignored the problem beyond stabilizing foundations under key monuments, but recent flare-ups of the water crisis have prompted officials to fund more research.
Future Applications
Researchers hope to apply NISAR technology worldwide to track natural disasters, fault line changes, and climate effects in regions like Antarctica. David Bekaert, a project manager at the Flemish Institute for Technological Research, said, “Mexico City is a well-known hot spot when it comes to subsidence, and images like this are just the beginning for NISAR.” The satellite, equipped with a 39-foot (12-meter) radar antenna reflector, monitors Earth's land and ice surfaces twice every 12 days, working day or night, rain or shine.
Global Implications
The technology could bolster alert systems for volcanic eruptions and other hazards. Craig Ferguson, deputy project manager at NASA Headquarters, highlighted that NISAR's long-wavelength L-band radar can detect land subsidence in densely vegetated coastal regions, where subsidence compounds with sea level rise. Scientists warn that sea level rises could submerge major cities globally, with the Thwaites Glacier collapse potentially raising levels by 10 feet (3 meters).
