NISAR Mission Reveals Alarming Land
Subsidence in Mexico City
¨
The joint Earth
observation mission “NISAR” by India and the United States has revealed serious
land subsidence in Mexico City.
¨ The mission can monitor
subtle changes on Earth’s surface with very high accuracy.
¨
The “NISAR” satellite was
launched in July 2025.
¨
It has been jointly
developed by NASA and Indian Space Research Organisation.
¨ The satellite is equipped
with a dual-frequency radar system and one of the largest spaceborne antennas
ever deployed.
¨
It can capture
high-resolution data regardless of clouds or vegetation cover.
¨ Data shows that some
areas of Mexico City are sinking by more than 2 centimeters per month.
¨
The main cause of
subsidence is excessive groundwater extraction.
¨ The city is built on an
ancient lakebed and aquifer system, making it more vulnerable.
¨ Rapid urbanization and continuous water pumping have intensified soil compression.
¨ This poses serious risks to infrastructure and the safety of residents.
