NASA-ISRO Satellite Maps Mexico City's Ground Movement
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The NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite has provided new data showing ground subsidence in the Mexico City area of up to a few centimeters per month. The data, collected between October 2025 and January 2026, offers a detailed view of a long-standing issue affecting the city's infrastructure. The joint mission is designed to monitor Earth's surface changes with unprecedented detail.
Facts First
- NISAR satellite data shows Mexico City subsiding by up to a few centimeters per month.
- The area is home to approximately 20 million people and is built atop an aquifer.
- Subsidence has damaged infrastructure including the Metro rapid transit system.
- NISAR is a joint NASA-ISRO mission launched in July 2025 to track land movement.
- The satellite monitors Earth's surface twice every 12 days with the largest radar antenna reflector sent into space by NASA.
What Happened
The NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite has mapped ground movement in Mexico City. New data from NISAR shows the city and its environs subsided by up to a few centimeters per month between October 25, 2025, and January 17, 2026. In the analysis, areas subsiding by more than half an inch per month are indicated in dark blue, while yellow and red areas are identified as likely residual noise signals. The Benito Juarez International Airport is located near the center of the analyzed image, and Lake Nabor Carrillo appears as a dark green oblong northeast of the airport.
Why this Matters to You
This data provides a new, detailed measurement of a process that directly affects the safety and stability of infrastructure for millions of people. If you live in or travel to Mexico City, subsidence could impact the roads, buildings, and transit systems you use. The Angel of Independence monument, for example, has had 14 steps added to its base due to land subsidence. For residents, continued monitoring may help inform urban planning and water management decisions that could mitigate future damage.
What's Next
The NISAR satellite will continue to monitor Earth's land and ice surfaces twice every 12 days, which could provide more precise data over time. The yellow and red areas in the current analysis, identified as likely residual noise, are expected to decrease with more data collection. This ongoing mission may offer city planners and engineers a powerful tool to track subsidence trends and assess the effectiveness of mitigation strategies.