Disentangling subsidence

Subsidence, a significant global issue, is accelerating faster than sea-level rise in many regions, exacerbating climate and societal challenges. This study reveals that human activities, such as urban development, groundwater extraction, and oil/gas/salt mining, are the primary drivers of subsidence, particularly in coastal areas like the Netherlands and Northern Italy. The research introduces a holistic modeling approach using satellite imagery to quantify the contributions of various processes—such as clay shrinkage, organic matter oxidation, and compaction—to total subsidence. Applied across multiple Dutch sites (e.g., Beemster Polder, Almere) and Ravenna’s coastline, this method improves mitigation strategies by disentangling complex subsurface dynamics, highlighting the need for integrated solutions to address both natural and human-induced subsidence.

Verberne, M. A. M. Disentangling subsidence. https://doi.org/10.33540/3008