by Matteo Cavallito<\/p>\n
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Subsidence<\/strong>, or the lowering of the land surface due to the removal of material from underground, is an increasingly common phenomenon on a global scale. To the point of potentially impacting 25 percent of the Planet’s population<\/strong>. That is roughly two billion people. This is supported by a study<\/a> published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters.<\/p>\n Behind the phenomenon there could be several factors, a statement<\/a> by the researchers points out. The list includes natural causes, such as earthquakes, volcanic activity and compaction of unconsolidated fine-grained sediments. But also human interventions such as, for example, mining and groundwater extraction<\/strong>. Progressive ground sinking, in particular, is “a major issue in urban zones where it can cause building collapse.”<\/p>\n