Unveiling the driving factors of urban land subsidence in Beijing, China

Land subsidence, an insidious and gradual geological phenomenon, presents a latent threat to future urban development and socio-economic progress. Beijing City, renowned for its high population density, has encountered significant challenges associated with land subsidence. In this study, we leverage time-series interferometric synthetic aperture radar (time-series InSAR) method to analyze the spatio-temporal patterns of land subsidence in Beijing. Furthermore, we quantify the contributions of natural and anthropogenic factors to land subsidence. Our findings reveal that land subsidence primarily occurs in the plain area of Beijing, exhibiting an average rate of −5.6 mm/year (Positive values indicate uplift, while negative values indicate subsidence.). Notably, several large-scale subsidence centers are identified, with the maximum subsidence rate reaching an alarming −232.7 mm/year. The assessments indicate that geological factors, specifically fault activity, account for 33 % of the observed land subsidence, while human activities contribute to the remaining 67 %, with groundwater overexploitation playing a prominent role. The insights gained from this study provide a foundation for understanding the causative factors behind urban land subsidence and can aid in the formulation of effective intervention policies targeting this critical issue. [Display omitted] •Land subsidence in Beijing mainly occurs in the plain area.•The average subsidence rate is −5.6 mm/year, with a minimum of −232.7 mm/year.•Geological and human factors cause the 33 % and 67 % of land subsidence, respectively.•Groundwater overexploitation is the primary human factor leading to land subsidence.