New NASA-ISRO Satellite Data Reveals Mexico City Sinking at Accelerated Rate of Half an Inch Per Month

New NISAR satellite data reveals Mexico City is sinking by over half an inch per month due to groundwater extraction and urban weight on fragile soil.

By: AXL Media

Published: May 1, 2026, 11:34 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Earth.com

The Precision of Orbital Subsidence Monitoring

For over a century, the architectural stability of Mexico City has been compromised by a slow, downward migration of the earth. While the phenomenon is not new, the deployment of the NISAR satellite in July 2025 has provided scientists with an unprecedented level of observational precision. Between October 2025 and January 2026, the satellite’s early data collection phase generated a detailed motion map of the region. The findings indicate that the sinking is not uniform across the metropolitan area, with specific districts experiencing a drop of more than half an inch every thirty days, a pace that presents an existential threat to the city's long-term infrastructure.

Geological Vulnerability of the Ancient Lakebed

The primary driver of this structural instability is the city’s unique geological foundation. Mexico City was constructed upon the soft, water-saturated sediments of an ancient lakebed which are highly susceptible to compression. As the regional population has surged to approximately 20 million people, the demand for potable water has forced massive groundwater pumping from subterranean aquifers. According to researchers, this extraction leaves empty voids within the soil, causing the fragile sediments above to compact under the immense weight of skyscrapers, highways, and dense residential housing.

The Legacy of a Century-Long Collapse

Engineering records indicate that subsidence was first identified as a major urban concern as early as 1925. By the late 20th century, some sections of the city were recorded as sinking by as much as 14 inches annually. This ongoing movement has wreaked havoc on the Metro transit system, where tracks frequently shift and tunnels undergo significant deformation. The Angel of Independence monument serves as a visual record of this history; originally built at ground level in 1910, the monument now requires 14 steps at its base because the city around it has plummeted while the structure itself remained anchored.