Iran's Subsidence Crisis: 2% of Country Sinking, Threatening Lives and Infrastructure
Alarming research reveals that Iran is facing a severe subsidence crisis. Over 12,120 square miles, roughly 2% of the country, is sinking at an alarming rate, threatening lives and infrastructure.
Scientists have identified 106 regions of subsidence, with many areas sinking more than 0.39 inches (10 millimeters) per year. This is not an isolated issue; other countries like Mexico, the U.S., China, and Italy also grapple with significant subsidence.
The consequences are grave. Steep gradients from subsidence can cause fissures and structural instability, damaging buildings and infrastructure. In Rafsanjan, central Iran, the ground level has dropped by over a foot (34 cm) per year. Subsidence is largely irreversible, as compacted aquifers cannot recover their original shape.
Iran's water supply is particularly vulnerable. About 60% comes from underground aquifers, which are being depleted rapidly. This depletion is causing ground sinking throughout the country, exposing an estimated 650,000 people to higher risks of water scarcity and food insecurity.
The subsidence crisis in Iran is escalating, with rapid ground sinking threatening lives and infrastructure. Urgent action is needed to address the depletion of underground aquifers and mitigate the risks of water scarcity and food insecurity.
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