NASA-ISRO’s NISAR satellite maps ongoing land subsidence in Mexico City

NASA’s NISAR satellite mapped land movement beneath Mexico City and was used to measure subsidence in the metropolitan area.
NASA reported that some parts of Mexico City sank by more than 2 centimeters per month between October 2025 and January 2026.
NISAR is a joint mission developed by NASA and India’s ISRO.
Mexico City’s subsidence has been documented for decades or longer, and the new satellite data adds more precise monitoring rather than identifying a new phenomenon.
Reports attribute the subsidence mainly to extensive groundwater extraction and the compaction of the former lakebed beneath the city, with urban development also contributing.
The issue affects a densely populated metropolitan area; NASA says the Mexico City area is home to about 20 million people.
Multiple reports say NISAR’s radar allows these ground changes to be tracked from orbit nearly in real time, which could support urban planning and risk management.
The published reports describe the current findings as preliminary measurements from a limited observation window, leaving open how the rates may vary over longer periods or across additional parts of the city.

NASA’s NISAR satellite mapped land movement beneath Mexico City and was used to measure subsidence in the metropolitan area.
NASA reported that some parts of Mexico City sank by more than 2 centimeters per month between October 2025 and January 2026.
NISAR is a joint mission developed by NASA and India’s ISRO.
Mexico City’s subsidence has been documented for decades or longer, and the new satellite data adds more precise monitoring rather than identifying a new phenomenon.
Reports attribute the subsidence mainly to extensive groundwater extraction and the compaction of the former lakebed beneath the city, with urban development also contributing.
The issue affects a densely populated metropolitan area; NASA says the Mexico City area is home to about 20 million people.
Multiple reports say NISAR’s radar allows these ground changes to be tracked from orbit nearly in real time, which could support urban planning and risk management.
The published reports describe the current findings as preliminary measurements from a limited observation window, leaving open how the rates may vary over longer periods or across additional parts of the city.