Utilizing satellite-based radar measurements, the study provides high-resolution mapping of subsidence, identifying groundwater extraction as a primary cause due to urban centers demanding more freshwater than aquifers can replenish.

Associate Professor Manoochehr Shirzaei emphasizes that subsidence can silently compromise infrastructure, with severe damage only becoming apparent when it reaches a critical level.

In Houston, subsidence management districts have been established to reduce groundwater usage, successfully slowing down sinking in the city center, although new developments often revert to groundwater due to cost.

The research aims to equip experts and policymakers with a framework to monitor subsidence and develop effective mitigation strategies.

Despite the alarming findings, researchers assert that solutions are feasible, including raising land, enhancing drainage systems, creating artificial wetlands, and enforcing stricter building codes to safeguard infrastructure.

The study highlights specific hotspots of risk, allowing for targeted interventions to strengthen infrastructure and enforce necessary building regulations.

A recent study published in the journal Nature reveals that nearly two-thirds of the land in 25 out of 28 U.S. cities is affected by subsidence, with major urban centers like Houston and New York already experiencing infrastructure vulnerabilities and heightened flood risks.

Geophysicist Leonard Ohenhen points out that subsidence is a significant yet often overlooked issue that contributes to rising water levels in parts of the eastern United States.

Shirzaei concludes that subsidence is largely driven by human activities and is a solvable issue, advocating for improved monitoring and responsible urban development to protect cities for future generations.

The cumulative effects of subsidence are already visible, impacting runways, stadiums, buildings, and drainage systems, raising concerns about long-term structural integrity.

The authors stress the necessity for enhanced groundwater management and immediate action to address identified risk areas to mitigate the sinking problem.

Inconsistent land motion can lead to structural instability, with Professor Shirzaei warning that such fluctuations may result in cracks and destabilization of buildings and roads.