Sinking land threatens U.S. airports

Runways are sinking – and sinking unevenly – at major airports across the U.S., according to new Virginia Tech research. As a result, airports are facing increased safety risks and maintenance costs.

A Virginia Tech study published in Earth and Space Science used radar satellite technology to track the vertical land motion at 15 of the nation’s busiest airports.

While most runway areas remain at low risk, about 3.9 percent face medium to high damage risk from sinking land, or subsidence.

San Francisco International Airport showed the fastest rates of sinking at 9.2 millimeters per year, while Miami and Philadelphia airports have the largest proportion of their total runway areas affected. Los Angeles International Airport is sinking slowest at 2 millimeters per year.

“Even small, uneven changes in runway elevation can compromise aircraft performance and safety,” said Oluwaseyi Dasho, a graduate student in the Department of Geosciences and the study’s lead author. “Our research highlights the importance of continuous monitoring so that maintenance can be targeted before problems escalate.”

The study emphasizes how the satellite technology Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar offers a cost-effective, near real-time way to detect and manage infrastructure vulnerabilities without disrupting operations.

“Proactive monitoring lets us detect risks early — saving time, money, and potentially lives,” said Manoochehr Shirzaei, co-author of the study and professor of geosciences.

With U.S. airports facing growing challenges from extreme weather and aging infrastructure, these findings provide a runway to strengthen transportation resilience.

In other recent work, Shirzai’s team has provided a comprehensive look at how major U.S. cities are sinking, categorized the flood risks for 32 cities on three coasts by 2050, and revealed regions of the Atlantic coast to be sinking by as much as 5 millimeters per year.

Orginal study: doi.org/10.1029/2025EA004433