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Subsurface water that is pumped or drains away from an area can trigger land subsidence, which is the sinking or lowering of the elevation of land above it. In the United States, 80% of identified land subsidence stems from groundwater use. One of the most prominent examples is in California’s San Joaquin Valley where agricultural groundwater use caused the region to drop approximately 30 feet in 50 years. Land subsidence can lead to sink holes and infrastructure damage, aquifer-system compaction, subsequent reduced groundwater availability, and other issues.

Land subsidence can be difficult to detect from the ground because it often occurs gradually over a wide area. NASA’s flying platforms are uniquely suited for identifying and measuring land subsidence due to their aerial vantage point from space or in the air.

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