EGE4372 GEOMORPHOLOGY

Lecture 6 – Land Subsidence

 What is Land Subsidence?
• Subsidence – sinking of the ground because of underground material
movement; is most often caused by the removal of water, oil, natural
gas, or mineral resources out of the ground by pumping, fracking, or
mining activities.
• Deformation of land surface due to compaction, consolidation, or
collapse of the subsurface https://prd-wret.s3.us-west-
2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/productio
n/s3fs-public/subsidence.mp4
Land subsidence in California’s Central Valley. Courtesy of California Department of Water Resources. From left:
Joseph Poland by a telephone pole comparing land surface elevation from 1925 to 1977; buckling of the Delta-
Mendota Canal due to sinking ground; a land-subsidence fissure at the Fort Irwin National Training Center;
hydrologist Michelle Sneed at signs indicating Central Valley land surface elevation in 1965 compared to 2013.
 What is Land Subsidence?
• Pumping reduces fluid pressure in pore
spaces between sediment grains in
unconsolidated materials
• Results in reduction in support for
“skeleton” of aquifer system
• Weight of over-burden causes collapse,
particularly in fine-grained layers
What is Actually Occurring in the Aquifer?
 Causes of Subsidence

1. Tectonic Activity
• Easily recognized in coastal areas - gradual inundation Vertical offset in Owens
Valley 1872 Earthquake was 23 feet
• Tectonic subsidence is generally slow compared to other causes
 What about Earth Fissures?

• Caused by differential settling

• Can show up suddenly and bewidened/deepen during rain storms
• Can be miles long, >10 feet wide, and 100s of feet deep

Where do Earth Fissures Occur?

• Most occur along basin margins
 What are the Impacts of Subsidence and Earth Fissures?

• Largely permanent loss in aquifer storage

• Damage to surface and subsurface infrastructure
• Surface – buildings, roads, bridges, pipelines, canals, recharge &
wastewater basins
• Subsurface – pipelines, foundations, underground tanks
 What are the Impacts of Subsidence and Earth Fissures?

• Largely permanent loss in aquifer storage

• Damage to surface and subsurface infrastructure
• Surface – buildings, roads, bridges, pipelines, canals, recharge &
wastewater basins
• Subsurface – pipelines, foundations, underground tanks
 What are the Impacts of Subsidence and Earth Fissures?

• Problems with gravity conveyance systems

• Sewer systems, CAP canal, irrigation ditches
• Fissures can provide avenues for contaminants to enter aquifers
 What Can be Done?

• Characterize aquifer, focusing on identifying fine-

grained layers
• Analyze and project maximum anticipated
drawdown
• Design well fields and pumping strategies to
minimize well interference and drawdown
• Identify signs of existing subsidence and/or fissures
 What Can be Done?

• Monitor changes over time

– Track pumping and water level
data
– Geologic reconnaissance
– InSAR, if available
– Fissure mapping, if available
– Aerial photography
– Geophysics
Case Study in Mexico : Geological Context
Case Study in Mexico : Geological Context
 ~ End Lecture ~

Photos : Aerial view of beautiful Bimmah Sinkhole, Oman.