A geological crisis is taking place in the capital of Mexico, which threatens the safety of almost 20 million residents of the metropolis. Satellite, developed jointly by NASA and ISRO, provided evidence of an acceleration of this destructive trend, by making a map of the subsidence of Mexico City.
NISAR apparatus (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar) was able to record the evolution of soil subsidence with unprecedented detail. The researchers analyzed satellite data, collected during the dry season - from October 2025 year to January of this year. Based on the results of the study, a map of deformations of the earth's surface was developed. Critical zones with subsidence intensity exceeding 2 cm per month. Yellow and red areas are currently classified as background interference, which will be eliminated in the process of further data accumulation and processing. The area of Benito Juarez International Airport is of particular concern, which was at the epicenter of rapid subsidence. Deputy director of the project Craig Ferguson noted, that these first images fully met expectations and confirmed the high accuracy of NISAR measurements.
The root of the problem lies in the region's unique geology and rampant urbanization. Mexico City is built on soft clay soils. NASA scientists explain, that more than a century of intensive groundwater pumping combined with the colossal weight of urban development has led to critical soil compaction. This process has been observed since 1925 year. The greatest danger lies in uneven subsidence of the soil. Research 2024 year, conducted by Earth remote sensing specialist Dario Solano-Rojas of the National Autonomous University of Mexico, revealed the phenomenon of "differential subsidence". Analysis of the data over the decade showed a striking contrast: while some areas are stable, others fail at 50 cm every year. This asymmetry is manifested not only at the level of neighborhoods, and on a scale of several meters. If one end of a building or railroad track sags faster than the other, the structure loses stability. NASA's findings confirm this disappointing picture: uneven changes in height accumulated over the years, slowly rupturing the water pipes, roads and foundations of buildings.
In order to prevent emergency situations and develop effective response strategies, authorities need to implement a continuous monitoring system. NASA technologies are making a real revolution in this direction. Launched in July 2025 year, the satellite is able to track changes in the terrain almost in real time. Unlike optical sensors, radars work as during cloudy weather, as well as in the presence of dense vegetation. This is the world's first space vehicle, equipped with two synthetic aperture radars at once (SAR), which operate at different wavelengths. Thanks to the large 12-meter cylindrical reflector antenna, the satellite scans the entire surface of the Earth's land and glaciers twice each 12 days.
Source: https://universemagazine.com