Which of the following is a major cause of subsidence?

Which of the following is a major cause of subsidence?

• A. Rainfall increase
• B. Excessive sedimentation
• C. Over pumping of water
• D. Climate change

Answer: (C)

Over pumping of water is a significant cause of subsidence because it leads to the removal of water from aquifers, which can cause the ground above to sink. Aquifers are layers of saturated soil or rock that store water; when water is extracted at a rate faster than it is replenished, the support that the water provides to the surrounding soil or rock diminishes. This can cause the empty spaces in the aquifer to collapse, resulting in a lowering of the land surface above it. In many areas, subsidence can be exacerbated by other factors, but the direct impact of over pumping is especially pronounced in regions where groundwater is heavily relied upon for irrigation, drinking water, and industrial uses. The extent of subsidence can vary based on geology, the rate of water withdrawal, and local land usage practices. The alternative choices, while they can influence ground conditions in various ways, do not specifically represent a direct mechanism for subsidence as clearly as over pumping does. For example, increased rainfall may lead to aquifer recharge, helping to maintain ground levels, while excessive sedimentation typically relates more to surface changes and can create stability rather than cause sinking. Climate change can impact water availability and related issues but is not a direct cause of subsidence in

Over pumping of water is a significant cause of subsidence because it leads to the removal of water from aquifers, which can cause the ground above to sink. Aquifers are layers of saturated soil or rock that store water; when water is extracted at a rate faster than it is replenished, the support that the water provides to the surrounding soil or rock diminishes. This can cause the empty spaces in the aquifer to collapse, resulting in a lowering of the land surface above it.

In many areas, subsidence can be exacerbated by other factors, but the direct impact of over pumping is especially pronounced in regions where groundwater is heavily relied upon for irrigation, drinking water, and industrial uses. The extent of subsidence can vary based on geology, the rate of water withdrawal, and local land usage practices.

The alternative choices, while they can influence ground conditions in various ways, do not specifically represent a direct mechanism for subsidence as clearly as over pumping does. For example, increased rainfall may lead to aquifer recharge, helping to maintain ground levels, while excessive sedimentation typically relates more to surface changes and can create stability rather than cause sinking. Climate change can impact water availability and related issues but is not a direct cause of subsidence in