650,000 Iranians at Risk as Subsidence Threatens Water and Food Security
An alarming study reveals that subsidence, the gradual sinking of the Earth's surface, is exposing approximately 650,000 people in Iran to heightened risks of water scarcity and food insecurity. This pressing issue has been brought to light by Iranian officials, including President Masoud Pezeshkian, who briefed the supreme leader on the severity of the problem in Tehran.
The research, using radar data from the European Space Agency's Sentinel-1 satellite, has identified 106 regions of subsidence covering a vast area of 12,120 square miles (31,400 square kilometers), equivalent to about 2% of the country. In the city of Rafsanjan, the ground level has plummeted by over a foot (34 cm) per year. Iran is not alone in facing this challenge; other nations such as central Mexico, the U.S., China, and Italy are also grappling with significant subsidence issues.
Subsidence is a largely irreversible process, posing severe threats to infrastructure and water supplies. In Iran, the depletion of underwater aquifers is driving rapid ground sinking. Over 12,120 square miles (31,400 square kilometers) are sinking at rates exceeding 0.39 inches (10 millimeters) per year, with 100 sites surpassing 0.4 inches (10 millimeters) annually. The consequences are stark: subsidence contributed to a metro line collapse in Mexico in 2021, resulting in 26 fatalities and numerous injuries.
With around 60% of Iran's water supply reliant on underground aquifers, the subsidence crisis is exacerbating water scarcity and food insecurity, putting 650,000 people at risk. Urgent action is needed to address this pressing global challenge and mitigate its devastating impacts.
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