Arid areas of the world increasingly require more water for population growth and agriculture. In the San Joaquin Valley of the United States, pumping groundwater for crops has been done for generations. This has caused the entire valley to sink in an extraordinary way, as shown in the figure.[7]​.

This has not happened without consequences. Any large-scale topographic change, no matter how slight, has the potential to dramatically change the hydrology of surface waters. This has occurred in the San Joaquin Valley and in other regions of the world, such as New Orleans and Bangkok. These areas are now subject to severe flooding due to subsidence associated with groundwater extraction.[8][9]​.

Total subsidence can usually be determined by ground surface elevation studies and GPS measurements. The potential impact on aquifers and other resulting geological hazards, such as rifting, can be assessed through long-term hydrological studies and models.

Subsidence related to overexploitation of aquifers often causes significant damage in urban areas. In Mexico City, buildings interact with the settlement of the land and cause cracks, inclinations and other notable effects.[10]​ In many places, large sinkholes (Dolina (geology)") and cavities on the surface (cavities) open up. The damage caused by Hurricane Katrina was exacerbated by coastal subsidence, associated with groundwater extraction.

Major affected areas include the San Joaquin Valley in California,[11]​ central Arizona,[4]​ Mexico City,[12]​ coastal China,[13]​ and Jakarta, Indonesia.[14]​.

Arid areas of the world increasingly require more water for population growth and agriculture. In the San Joaquin Valley of the United States, pumping groundwater for crops has been done for generations. This has caused the entire valley to sink in an extraordinary way, as shown in the figure.[7]​.

This has not happened without consequences. Any large-scale topographic change, no matter how slight, has the potential to dramatically change the hydrology of surface waters. This has occurred in the San Joaquin Valley and in other regions of the world, such as New Orleans and Bangkok. These areas are now subject to severe flooding due to subsidence associated with groundwater extraction.[8][9]​.

Total subsidence can usually be determined by ground surface elevation studies and GPS measurements. The potential impact on aquifers and other resulting geological hazards, such as rifting, can be assessed through long-term hydrological studies and models.

Subsidence related to overexploitation of aquifers often causes significant damage in urban areas. In Mexico City, buildings interact with the settlement of the land and cause cracks, inclinations and other notable effects.[10]​ In many places, large sinkholes (Dolina (geology)") and cavities on the surface (cavities) open up. The damage caused by Hurricane Katrina was exacerbated by coastal subsidence, associated with groundwater extraction.

Major affected areas include the San Joaquin Valley in California,[11]​ central Arizona,[4]​ Mexico City,[12]​ coastal China,[13]​ and Jakarta, Indonesia.[14]​.