Overview of Ground Subsidence in Japan in FY 2005

The Ministry of the Environment issued a report about the ground subsidence in Japan, putting together the results of leveling surveys conducted by the national and local governments in FY 2005.
In FY 2005, no region (compared to 2 regions in FY 2004) recorded an annual ground subsidence of 4cm or more. Seven regions recorded an annual ground subsidence of 2cm or more (compared to 9 regions in FY 2004,) with the subsided area totaling 4 square kilometers (176 square kilometers in FY 2004.) The greatest level of ground subsidence in FY 2005 was the 3.7cm that took place in Minami-uonuma City, Niigata Prefecture (See Figs.1 & 2 of the attached).

For Japanese

Attached File:

• Fig.1 State of Ground Subsidence in Japan in FY 2005 [PDF 31 KB]
• Fig.2 Changes in Total Area of Ground Subsidence in Japan [PDF 11 KB]