Groundwater depletion causes global land subsidence

Global cities are experiencing land subsidence, a gradual sinking of the ground surface caused by the excessive extraction of groundwater from underlying aquifers. This phenomenon is particularly critical in coastal regions, where sinking land exacerbates the impact of rising sea levels caused by climate change.

Major hotspots include Jakarta, Indonesia, where parts of the capital sink by more than ten centimeters annually, and Tianjin, China, where projections suggest 15% of the population could be underwater by 2120 if subsidence continues. Other affected areas include San Diego in the United States, various cities in Iran, and parts of New Zealand, where studies indicate approximately 80% of the urban coastline is sinking.

Research suggests that this process is reversible. When groundwater is replenished, land can rise. Additionally, fault lines have been identified as key factors in determining the locations of the fastest groundwater recovery and subsequent land uplift.