New NASA data reveals parts of Mexico City sinking at an alarming speed

Mexico City keeps sinking

Mexico City is famous for crowded streets, colorful neighborhoods, and rich history, but another story is unfolding below the surface today. New NASA satellite data is giving scientists a sharper look at how quickly parts of the massive city are still sinking.

NASA’s NISAR measurements showed that some areas dropped by more than two centimeters per month between late October 2025 and mid-January 2026. While that number sounds small at first, uneven sinking has damaged homes, streets, buildings, water lines, drainage systems, and other critical infrastructure over time.

NASA sees changes from space

NASA and the Indian Space Research Organization teamed up on NISAR, a powerful satellite mission that uses synthetic aperture radar to measure small changes in Earth’s surface. The system can detect subtle ground movement from orbit, even through clouds or vegetation that can limit optical sensors.

NISAR data captured between Oct. 25, 2025, and Jan. 17, 2026, showed parts of Mexico City and nearby areas sinking by more than two centimeters per month. The fastest-sinking zones include areas near the city’s main airport, while scientific research has also identified severe subsidence around Chalco.

Mexico City began on a lake

Long before modern Mexico City existed, the Aztecs, or Mexica, built their capital city, Tenochtitlán, on islands in Lake Texcoco. According to legend, they chose the site after seeing an eagle perched on a cactus and eating a snake near the water.

After the Spanish conquest of Tenochtitlán in 1521, colonial authorities later used major drainage works to expand Mexico City beyond its island setting and into the lakebed. Modern Mexico City eventually spread across soft lake sediments, creating unstable ground conditions that still affect millions of residents and countless buildings.

Water pumping causes trouble

The main reason Mexico City keeps sinking is that enormous amounts of groundwater are pumped out every single day there. Millions of residents rely on underground aquifers for drinking water, cooking, bathing, and daily activities, placing heavy pressure on the city’s fragile underground water supply systems constantly.

As more water disappears underground, the soft clay beneath the city begins shrinking and collapsing over time. Scientists compare the process to a sponge drying out after repeated squeezing, because once the soil compresses deeply, the land usually cannot return to its original height again afterward.

Historic buildings show the damage

Many older neighborhoods across Mexico City already display visible signs of sinking caused by decades of ground movement underneath. Visitors can spot cracked sidewalks, uneven streets, and famous buildings leaning slightly sideways after years of slow subsidence.

The Metropolitan Cathedral is one important landmark that has required major repair work and stabilization efforts over many decades. Engineers continue strengthening historic structures throughout the city, but uneven sinking beneath the surface creates constant challenges for architects, construction crews, and preservation experts.

Little-known fact: A 2025 study in ScienceDirect says groundwater extraction is the main driver of land subsidence in the city, which is why the ground keeps compressing as demand for water stays high.

The airport keeps shifting

Benito Juárez International Airport remains Mexico’s busiest airport and one of Latin America’s busiest, serving 44.6 million passengers in 2025. NASA’s NISAR data identified the airport area among parts of Mexico City sinking by more than two centimeters per month.

That uneven movement can place added pressure on runways, terminals, drainage, and nearby transportation infrastructure. Continued monitoring helps engineers and officials better understand where maintenance and long-term planning may be most urgent.

Millions rely on underground water

More than twenty million people live across the greater Mexico City metropolitan area today, making it one of the world’s largest urban regions. Supplying enough water for such a huge population depends heavily on groundwater and other stressed water sources.

That ongoing demand keeps pressure on aquifers already affected by long-term pumping and land compaction. In the city’s worst spots, the ground has dropped more than 39 feet, or about 12 meters, in less than a century.

Little-known fact: In the city’s worst spots, the ground has dropped more than 39 feet, or about 12 meters, in less than a century.

Roads and pipes crack apart

Ordinary residents deal with cracked roads, broken sidewalks, damaged homes, leaking water pipes, and drainage systems that struggle during strong rainstorms because the ground beneath them keeps shifting slowly over time.

Broken underground pipes create another serious issue because valuable drinking water often leaks before reaching local residents nearby. In some areas, uneven streets and poor drainage increase flooding risks during storms.

Satellites track tiny movements

Scientists believe satellite technology like NISAR could completely change how cities monitor dangerous land movement problems worldwide today. Instead of relying only on inspections from the ground, researchers can now study entire urban areas from space.

The technology may eventually allow experts to measure movement around individual buildings and streets with incredible precision, someday worldwide. Researchers hope these detailed observations will help cities identify dangerous zones earlier and improve construction planning.

The city has sunk for decades

Mexico City’s sinking problem is not new because scientists first documented signs of subsidence nearly one hundred years ago there. Historical records from the early twentieth century already showed certain neighborhoods slowly dropping as groundwater pumping increased to support the growing population.

During the 1990s and early 2000s, some areas reportedly sank more than thirty centimeters each year around the city. Even after decades of scientific studies and engineering projects, officials still face enormous challenges in controlling subsidence.

Climate pressures may worsen things

Scientists warn that climate change could place even more pressure on cities already struggling with serious water shortages today globally. Hotter temperatures and changing rainfall patterns may reduce natural water supplies.

Experts say long-term planning, improved water management systems, and conservation efforts will become increasingly important as population growth and environmental pressures continue affecting the city’s future stability and public safety concerns.

New technology could save lives

The same radar technology tracking Mexico City’s sinking could also help scientists monitor earthquakes, volcanoes, and glacier movement worldwide today. Experts believe these advanced satellite systems may improve disaster preparation efforts by identifying dangerous changes in Earth’s surface.

Researchers say early detection could help governments respond faster during natural disasters and protect vulnerable populations more effectively everywhere. Better satellite monitoring may improve evacuation planning, strengthen warning systems, and give emergency teams more time to prepare before destructive events.

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A city adapting to sinking land

Officials are exploring improved water systems, stronger construction methods, and long-term urban planning strategies designed to reduce damage caused by sinking ground beneath crowded neighborhoods and busy transportation routes.

NASA’s satellite images serve as a powerful reminder that even large modern cities depend on stable land beneath them every day. Millions of residents continue to live, work, travel, and build their futures across Mexico City.

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Have you ever visited a city built on an ancient lake? Share your thoughts on Mexico City’s sinking problem in the comments, and leave a like if these space discoveries surprised you.

This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.

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