Progression and mitigation of land subsidence in China

Land subsidence was first observed in Shanghai nearly a century ago, in 1921. Land subsidence attributed to groundwater extraction has been severe in China and is still occurring. Recent subsidence and associated earth fissures occurring since 2000 in three principal regions—the North China Plain, Fenwei Basin and Yangtze Delta—are introduced, and historical subsidence in these areas is briefly summarized. The subsidence-affected area in these regions with cumulative subsidence greater than or equal to 200 mm is more than 90,000 km² and covers 22 provinces (cities), which include intensively developed and densely populated areas. Earth fissures accompanying the subsidence create significant geohazards; more than 1,000 earth fissures have been identified in the North China Plain, Fenwei Basin and Yangtze Delta. Effective land-subsidence-monitoring networks, that include continuous global positioning system (GPS) stations, repeat GPS and leveling surveys of geodetic benchmarks, InSAR, borehole extensometers, and groundwater observation wells, have been established in these three subsidence-affected areas. Mitigation measures and administrative means have been implemented in some areas, with good results in the Yangtze Delta area.