NASA has launched a satellite that can detect and track movements beneath the Earth’s surface. It’s even being used to measure how quickly Mexico City is sinking.
Covering 7,800 square kilometers (3,000 square miles) and with a population of around 22 million, this city has been gradually sinking for more than a hundred years. This is largely due to the continuous removal of groundwater, combined with a lot of building and construction, which has reduced the water supply underneath the city and caused the land to lower.
NASA and the Indian Space Research Organization have teamed up to launch NISAR, a satellite that can monitor changes happening on Earth in real-time. For example, it can track how land is sinking in places like Mexico City.
NASA’s findings explained
Recent images from NASA satellites show Mexico City is sinking about 10 inches (25 centimeters) each year.
According to Enrique Cabral, a researcher at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, data from the NISAR satellite and related research will help scientists and authorities tackle the issue and lessen its impact.
As a huge space enthusiast, I was really fascinated to hear Paul Rosen, one of the scientists working on the NISAR mission, explain that the data they’re getting isn’t just showing us what’s on the Earth’s surface, but actually gives us clues about what’s going on underneath it too. It’s like having a secret window into what’s happening below!
As a longtime observer of our city, what struck me about this project is how it really lays out all the changes happening around us. It’s not just small stuff – it truly shows you the scale of the issues we’re facing. It’s eye-opening to see it all documented like this.
In the future, researchers hope to use this technology to monitor a wider range of problems, like volcanic eruptions and the impacts of climate change in different areas. Rosen believes it could also improve emergency alert systems in cities, helping governments evacuate people when needed.
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2026-05-02 19:18