Dear MEL Topic Readers,
One of the planet’s biggest cities is sinking so rapidly it's visible
from space
Built in 1910 to commemorate the centennial of the War of Independence,
El Ángel, The Angel of Independence, is the most popular monument in Mexico
City. Originally, nine steps led to the base, but fourteen more steps have been
added in later years due to the sinking of the ground. Indeed, Mexico City is one
of the fastest-sinking capitals, at more than a centimeter a month. The metropolis
of over 22 million residents sits atop an ancient aquifer, which has been so over-extracted
that it’s no longer able to provide drinking water or sustain the weight of the
city. The sinking is so fast that it is even visible from a space radar system.
Indonesia is now relocating its capital, Jakarta, the world’s fastest-sinking
capital at only several meters above sea level, due to sinking and flooding.
Mexico City is safe from sea level rise because it sits at over 2,200 meters
above sea level, but its water supply and ground foundation rely on the depleting
aquifer. Groundwater extraction, heavy buildings and infrastructure, and rising
sea levels are all human-caused problems that contribute to urban sinking. We
can monitor what is happening on the ground, ice, and sea from space. Then,
what should we do with the data?
Read the article and learn about the sinking capital of Mexico.
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