Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Aquifer compaction and land subsidence

By Virginia and West Virginia Water Science Center August 2022 (approx.)
An animated infographic showing how groundwater depletion in a confined aquifer can lead to aquifer compaction and subsidence
Original

Detailed Description

This animated infographic shows how aquifer compaction can lead to land subsidence. When water is pumped from a confined aquifer faster than it can recharge, the water pressure in the aquifer begins to decrease. As water pressure decreases, both the confining layers and the aquifers themselves can start to compact under the weight of the overlying sediments. This causes subsidence at the surface.

Sources/Usage

Public Domain.

Related

Five methods of monitoring subsidence and sea level rise: extensometers, InSAR, wells, GPS surveying, and tidal stations.

Land Subsidence on the Virginia Coastal Plain

Land subsidence is a loss of ground elevation, often experienced as the ground slowly sinking over the course of years. In eastern Virginia, high rates of groundwater use is a major factor in the land subsidence affecting the area. The Virginia-West Virginia Water Science Center, with the help of our partners, has been monitoring land subsidence in the Virginia Coastal Plain since 1979 using a...
By
Virginia and West Virginia Water Science Center
Land Subsidence on the Virginia Coastal Plain

Land Subsidence on the Virginia Coastal Plain

Land subsidence is a loss of ground elevation, often experienced as the ground slowly sinking over the course of years. In eastern Virginia, high rates of groundwater use is a major factor in the land subsidence affecting the area. The Virginia-West Virginia Water Science Center, with the help of our partners, has been monitoring land subsidence in the Virginia Coastal Plain since 1979 using a...
Learn More
Well casing protruding above the ground as a result of land subsidence.

Aquifer Compaction due to Groundwater Pumping

Although land subsidence caused by groundwater pumping has caused many negative effects on human civil works for centuries, especially in the highly developed urban or industrialized areas of Europe, the relation between subsidence and groundwater pumpage was not understood or recognized for a long time. Recognition began in 1928 when pioneer researcher O.E. Meinzer of the U.S. Geological Survey...
By
California Water Science Center, Land Subsidence in California, Drought
Aquifer Compaction due to Groundwater Pumping

Aquifer Compaction due to Groundwater Pumping

Although land subsidence caused by groundwater pumping has caused many negative effects on human civil works for centuries, especially in the highly developed urban or industrialized areas of Europe, the relation between subsidence and groundwater pumpage was not understood or recognized for a long time. Recognition began in 1928 when pioneer researcher O.E. Meinzer of the U.S. Geological Survey...
Learn More

Subsidence Infographics

Comparison of the depths of four Virginia extensometers to the heights of some of the USA's tallest buildings.
Virginia Extensometers Depth Comparison
Virginia Extensometers Depth Comparison
Methods of Measuring Land Motion, including extensometers, Monitoring wells, InSAR, and GNSS Surveys
Methods of Measuring Land Motion
Methods of Measuring Land Motion
Illustration of the geology of the Virginia Coastal Plain
Virginia Coastal Plain Aquifer Geology
Virginia Coastal Plain Aquifer Geology
2d and 3d representations of the aquifers of the Virginia Coastal Plain
Virginia Coastal Plain Aquifer systems
Virginia Coastal Plain Aquifer systems
A borehole extensometer. A pipe extends through an aquifer (subject to compaction) down to bedrock (subject to isostacy).
Borehole Extensometer
Borehole Extensometer
An extensometer measures aquifer compaction. Reduction in aquifer thickness causes more of the steel pipe to protrude.
Extensometer - Aquifer Compaction
Extensometer - Aquifer Compaction
Infographic showing parts of an extensometer, including fulcrum arm, counterweight, instruments, instrument table, & borehole
Borehole Extensometer
Borehole Extensometer
An infographic showing how the weight of ice sheets deforms the underlying crust and can lead to isostatic adjustment.
Glacial Isostatic Adjustment
Glacial Isostatic Adjustment
An animated infographic showing how groundwater depletion in a confined aquifer can lead to aquifer compaction and subsidence
Aquifer compaction and land subsidence
Aquifer compaction and land subsidence

Geonarrative: Land Motion and Subsidence on the Virginia Coastal Plain Geonarrative: Land Motion and Subsidence on the Virginia Coastal Plain

Along the coast of Virginia, the USGS and our partners are constantly monitoring our land and waters in new and innovative ways. In Virginia, scientists at the Virginia and West Virginia Water Sciences Center are drilling deep into the Earth to assess the impacts of groundwater use. By studying the impacts of groundwater use, scientists can determine associated risks, such as land subsidence.
By
Virginia and West Virginia Water Science Center
USGS Science is Supporting Efforts to Reduce Vulnerability to Sea-Level Rise in Virginia

USGS Science is Supporting Efforts to Reduce Vulnerability to Sea-Level Rise in Virginia

As the climate changes and sea levels rise, there is concern that sinking coastlines could exacerbate risks to infrastructure, as well as human and...

Read Article

Related

Five methods of monitoring subsidence and sea level rise: extensometers, InSAR, wells, GPS surveying, and tidal stations.

Land Subsidence on the Virginia Coastal Plain

Land subsidence is a loss of ground elevation, often experienced as the ground slowly sinking over the course of years. In eastern Virginia, high rates of groundwater use is a major factor in the land subsidence affecting the area. The Virginia-West Virginia Water Science Center, with the help of our partners, has been monitoring land subsidence in the Virginia Coastal Plain since 1979 using a...
By
Virginia and West Virginia Water Science Center
Land Subsidence on the Virginia Coastal Plain

Land Subsidence on the Virginia Coastal Plain

Land subsidence is a loss of ground elevation, often experienced as the ground slowly sinking over the course of years. In eastern Virginia, high rates of groundwater use is a major factor in the land subsidence affecting the area. The Virginia-West Virginia Water Science Center, with the help of our partners, has been monitoring land subsidence in the Virginia Coastal Plain since 1979 using a...
Learn More
Well casing protruding above the ground as a result of land subsidence.

Aquifer Compaction due to Groundwater Pumping

Although land subsidence caused by groundwater pumping has caused many negative effects on human civil works for centuries, especially in the highly developed urban or industrialized areas of Europe, the relation between subsidence and groundwater pumpage was not understood or recognized for a long time. Recognition began in 1928 when pioneer researcher O.E. Meinzer of the U.S. Geological Survey...
By
California Water Science Center, Land Subsidence in California, Drought
Aquifer Compaction due to Groundwater Pumping

Aquifer Compaction due to Groundwater Pumping

Although land subsidence caused by groundwater pumping has caused many negative effects on human civil works for centuries, especially in the highly developed urban or industrialized areas of Europe, the relation between subsidence and groundwater pumpage was not understood or recognized for a long time. Recognition began in 1928 when pioneer researcher O.E. Meinzer of the U.S. Geological Survey...
Learn More

Subsidence Infographics

Comparison of the depths of four Virginia extensometers to the heights of some of the USA's tallest buildings.
Virginia Extensometers Depth Comparison
Virginia Extensometers Depth Comparison
Methods of Measuring Land Motion, including extensometers, Monitoring wells, InSAR, and GNSS Surveys
Methods of Measuring Land Motion
Methods of Measuring Land Motion
Illustration of the geology of the Virginia Coastal Plain
Virginia Coastal Plain Aquifer Geology
Virginia Coastal Plain Aquifer Geology
2d and 3d representations of the aquifers of the Virginia Coastal Plain
Virginia Coastal Plain Aquifer systems
Virginia Coastal Plain Aquifer systems
A borehole extensometer. A pipe extends through an aquifer (subject to compaction) down to bedrock (subject to isostacy).
Borehole Extensometer
Borehole Extensometer
An extensometer measures aquifer compaction. Reduction in aquifer thickness causes more of the steel pipe to protrude.
Extensometer - Aquifer Compaction
Extensometer - Aquifer Compaction
Infographic showing parts of an extensometer, including fulcrum arm, counterweight, instruments, instrument table, & borehole
Borehole Extensometer
Borehole Extensometer
An infographic showing how the weight of ice sheets deforms the underlying crust and can lead to isostatic adjustment.
Glacial Isostatic Adjustment
Glacial Isostatic Adjustment
An animated infographic showing how groundwater depletion in a confined aquifer can lead to aquifer compaction and subsidence
Aquifer compaction and land subsidence
Aquifer compaction and land subsidence

Geonarrative: Land Motion and Subsidence on the Virginia Coastal Plain Geonarrative: Land Motion and Subsidence on the Virginia Coastal Plain

Along the coast of Virginia, the USGS and our partners are constantly monitoring our land and waters in new and innovative ways. In Virginia, scientists at the Virginia and West Virginia Water Sciences Center are drilling deep into the Earth to assess the impacts of groundwater use. By studying the impacts of groundwater use, scientists can determine associated risks, such as land subsidence.
By
Virginia and West Virginia Water Science Center
USGS Science is Supporting Efforts to Reduce Vulnerability to Sea-Level Rise in Virginia

USGS Science is Supporting Efforts to Reduce Vulnerability to Sea-Level Rise in Virginia

As the climate changes and sea levels rise, there is concern that sinking coastlines could exacerbate risks to infrastructure, as well as human and...

Read Article
Was this page helpful?