Subsidence

Subsidence is a general term for downward vertical movement of the Earth's surface, which can be caused by both natural processes and human activities. Subsidence involves little or no horizontal movement,^[1]^[2] which distinguishes it from slope movement.^[3]

Processes that lead to subsidence include dissolution of underlying carbonate rock by groundwater; gradual compaction of sediments; withdrawal of fluid lava from beneath a solidified crust of rock; mining; pumping of subsurface fluids, such as groundwater or petroleum; or warping of the Earth's crust by tectonic forces. Subsidence resulting from tectonic deformation of the crust is known as tectonic subsidence^[1] and can create accommodation for sediments to accumulate and eventually lithify into sedimentary rock.^[2]

Ground subsidence is of global concern to geologists, geotechnical engineers, surveyors, engineers, urban planners, landowners, and the public in general.^[4] Pumping of groundwater or petroleum has led to subsidence of as much as 9 meters (30 ft) in many locations around the world and incurring costs measured in hundreds of millions of US dollars.^[5]

^ ^a ^b Jackson, Julia A., ed. (1997). "subsidence". Glossary of geology (Fourth ed.). Alexandria, Virginia: American Geological Institute. ISBN 0922152349.
^ ^a ^b Allaby, Michael (2013). "subsidence". A dictionary of geology and earth sciences (Fourth ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780199653065.
^ Fleming, Robert W.; Varnes, David J. (1991). "Slope movements". The Heritage of Engineering Geology; the First Hundred Years: 201–218. doi:10.1130/DNAG-CENT-v3.201. ISBN 0813753031.
^ National Research Council, 1991. Mitigating losses from land subsidence in the United States. National Academies Press. 58 p.
^ Monroe, James S. (1992). Physical geology : exploring the Earth. St. Paul: West Pub. Co. pp. 502–503. ISBN 0314921958.

[Jackson1997-1] Jackson, Julia A., ed. (1997). "subsidence". Glossary of geology (Fourth ed.). Alexandria, Virginia: American Geological Institute. ISBN 0922152349.

[Allaby2013-2] Allaby, Michael (2013). "subsidence". A dictionary of geology and earth sciences (Fourth ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780199653065.

[3] Fleming, Robert W.; Varnes, David J. (1991). "Slope movements". The Heritage of Engineering Geology; the First Hundred Years: 201–218. doi:10.1130/DNAG-CENT-v3.201. ISBN 0813753031.

[NationalResearchCouncil1991a-4] National Research Council, 1991. Mitigating losses from land subsidence in the United States. National Academies Press. 58 p.

[Monroe1992-5] Monroe, James S. (1992). Physical geology : exploring the Earth. St. Paul: West Pub. Co. pp. 502–503. ISBN 0314921958.

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