Brussels – Land subsidence is the gradual sinking of the ground caused by natural processes but, in most cases, also by human activity, such as excessive groundwater extraction. In some parts of Europe, the phenomenon is becoming an increasingly pressing issue, with significant consequences for both the environment and local communities. In coastal areas, for example, subsidence contributes to a relative rise in sea level, increasing exposure to flooding and saltwater intrusion. Depending on the characteristics of the geological system and the scale and variability of ground movements, it can also damage buildings and undermine the functionality of infrastructure and utility networks. In a new article published today in the scientific journal Nature Sustainability, an international group of researchers highlights that land subsidence is not merely a scientific phenomenon to be monitored, but an issue closely linked to decisions concerning land and subsurface use and management. A European research team explains why more effective monitoring, data sharing and a deeper understanding of the subsurface are essential to assessing and managing the impacts of land subsidence. Professor Pietro Teatini and Dr Claudia Zoccarato of the Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering at the University of Padua are among the co-authors of the study. (9colonne)