Global Subsidence Susceptibility Raster (GMSR-SUB) v2.0

Raster File

GMSR_Subsidence_Susceptibility_v2_0_100.tif

Public Dataset URL

https://secure.engineeringdirector.com/public/map/GMSR_Subsidence_Susceptibility_v2_0_100

Product Overview

The Global Subsidence Susceptibility Raster (GMSR-SUB) is a global geospatial dataset representing relative susceptibility to long-term ground subsidence resulting from consolidation, compaction, settlement, and deformation of soils and sediments.

Subsidence is commonly associated with lowland environments, wetlands, floodplains, organic-rich soils, soft unconsolidated sediments, and hydrogeologic conditions favorable for long-term settlement and compression.

The dataset identifies landscapes exhibiting environmental, hydrologic, soil, and geological conditions favorable for subsidence processes and provides a continuous susceptibility score ranging from 0–100.

The product serves as a major component within the Global Ground Movement Susceptibility Raster (GMSR) framework.

Applications include:

• Infrastructure planning
• Transportation corridor assessment
• Utility route planning
• Pipeline risk assessment
• Asset management
• Engineering screening
• Geotechnical investigations
• Floodplain management
• Climate adaptation planning
• Long-term ground deformation assessment

Product Family

The Global Subsidence Susceptibility Raster (GMSR-SUB) is one of five component products comprising the Global Ground Movement Susceptibility Raster (GMSR) framework.

Component products include:

• Landslide Susceptibility
• Soil Creep Potential
• Shrink-Swell Potential
• Subsidence Susceptibility
• Seismic Amplification

These component rasters may be used independently or within the integrated GMSR framework.

Product Status

Dataset Information

Raster Statistics

Spatial Distribution Characteristics

The Global Subsidence Susceptibility Raster exhibits a spatially concentrated distribution pattern compared to some other GMSR component products.

Unlike hazards that may occur across broad regional landscapes, subsidence susceptibility is primarily associated with specific environmental settings including:

• Wetlands
• Floodplains
• Delta systems
• Coastal lowlands
• Organic-rich soils
• Saturated landscapes
• Soft sedimentary basins

As a result, extensive areas of the global land surface may display very low susceptibility values while elevated susceptibility is concentrated within geographically distinct zones.

This pattern reflects the underlying environmental controls governing subsidence processes and should not be interpreted as incomplete spatial coverage, missing data, or deficiencies in the modeling framework. Areas exhibiting low susceptibility scores represent locations where the environmental conditions associated with long-term settlement and consolidation are comparatively limited.

The spatial concentration of elevated susceptibility values is consistent with the known geographic distribution of wetlands, floodplains, deltaic environments, peatlands, and other subsidence-prone landscapes documented in the scientific literature.

Score Interpretation

Scores represent relative susceptibility and should not be interpreted as measured subsidence rates.

Visualization Standard

The official GMSR product family visualization standard is used.

The GMSR product family utilizes a standardized 0–100 visualization scale to ensure consistent interpretation across all component and composite products.

Individual raster datasets may not occupy the full 0–100 range; however, the visualization standard remains fixed to support cross-product comparison and portfolio-level analysis.

Display legends are standardized across the GMSR product family and may extend beyond the observed minimum and maximum raster values. Actual raster statistics are reported within the Dataset Information and Raster Statistics sections.

Methodology Summary

The Global Subsidence Susceptibility Raster evaluates long-term susceptibility to gradual land-surface lowering using hydrologic, geomorphic, soil, wetland, and hydrogeologic controls known to influence settlement and consolidation processes.

Primary factors include:

• Lowland Terrain Position (HAND)
• Wetlands
• Soft Soil Distribution
• Saturation Potential
• River Influence
• Drainage Position
• Hydrogeologic Susceptibility

Areas exhibiting persistent saturation, soft or organic-rich soils, low-relief terrain, floodplain environments, and favorable hydrogeologic conditions receive higher subsidence susceptibility scores.

Input Variables

HAND (Height Above Nearest Drainage)

Represents terrain position relative to drainage networks.

Low HAND values identify:

• Floodplains
• River valleys
• Deltaic environments
• Coastal lowlands

These settings are commonly associated with long-term settlement and subsidence processes.

Wetlands

Derived from the Global Lakes and Wetlands Database (GLWD).

Wetland environments often contain:

• Organic soils
• Peat deposits
• Saturated sediments
• Compressible materials

These characteristics contribute to elevated subsidence susceptibility.

Soft Soil Distribution

Derived from global soil classification datasets including WRB and SoilGrids.

Highly compressible soils receive elevated susceptibility scores.

Representative soil groups include:

• Histosols
• Gleysols
• Fluvisols

Saturation Potential

Represents persistent wetness conditions and long-term soil saturation.

Prolonged saturation promotes consolidation and settlement of susceptible materials.

River Influence

Represents proximity to river systems and active depositional environments.

River corridors commonly contain unconsolidated sediments susceptible to settlement and compaction.

Drainage Position

Represents relative landscape position within drainage systems.

Lower drainage positions generally exhibit greater susceptibility to saturation and sediment accumulation.

Hydrogeologic Susceptibility

Derived from the GLHYMPS hydrogeology framework.

Hydrogeologic properties including porosity, hydraulic conductivity, and transmissivity contribute to overall subsidence susceptibility.

Relationship to GMSR

The Subsidence Susceptibility Raster serves as a major component of the Global Ground Movement Susceptibility Raster (GMSR).

Product Lineage

This dataset is a component product within the Global Ground Movement Susceptibility Raster (GMSR) framework and contributes 15% of the final composite GMSR score.

GMSR Weighting

Validation

Validation Approach

Validation was performed through expert review of known wetland systems, peatland regions, floodplains, deltaic environments, coastal lowlands, and sedimentary basins commonly associated with long-term settlement and subsidence processes.

High-scoring regions were compared against known geographic settings where subsidence-prone conditions are well documented.

Validation Summary

The raster demonstrates strong agreement with known environments susceptible to long-term settlement and consolidation including:

• Scandinavia
• Western Siberia
• Eastern China
• Northern India
• Major River Deltas
• Coastal Lowlands
• North American Wetland Complexes

These regions exhibit environmental conditions commonly associated with elevated subsidence susceptibility.

Source Datasets

• GEBCO Global Bathymetry and Elevation

• Global Lakes and Wetlands Database (GLWD)

• GLHYMPS Global Hydrogeology Dataset

• ISRIC SoilGrids

• World Reference Base for Soil Resources (WRB)

Related Products

Primary GMSR Products

• GMSR v1 Ground Movement Susceptibility (0–100)

• GMSR v1 Ground Movement Susceptibility Class 1–7

GMSR Component Products

• Landslide Susceptibility

• Soil Creep Potential

• Shrink-Swell Potential

• Subsidence Susceptibility

• Seismic Amplification

Limitations

• Intended for screening and planning purposes.
• Not a substitute for site-specific geotechnical investigation.
• Does not predict subsidence rates.
• Does not estimate future ground lowering magnitude.
• Does not account for local groundwater extraction.
• Does not incorporate mining-related subsidence.
• Does not incorporate local monitoring data.
• Does not represent real-time conditions.

Revision History

Source Citations

GEBCO

GEBCO Compilation Group.

The General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans (GEBCO).

International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) and Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC).

GLWD

Lehner, B., & Döll, P. (2004).

Development and validation of a global database of lakes, reservoirs, and wetlands.

Journal of Hydrology.

GLHYMPS

Gleeson, T., Moosdorf, N., Hartmann, J., & van Beek, L.

A global hydrogeological data set for groundwater and Earth system modeling.

Geophysical Research Letters.

SoilGrids

Poggio, L., de Sousa, L., Batjes, N., et al.

SoilGrids 2.0: Producing soil information for the globe.

SOIL.

WRB

IUSS Working Group WRB.

World Reference Base for Soil Resources.

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

Attribution

Joseph Mazzella

Nicole Mazzella

AtmosphericIQ LLC

Engineering Director, Inc.

Dataset Citation

Mazzella, J., Mazzella, N. (2026).

Global Subsidence Susceptibility Raster (GMSR-SUB) v2.0.

AtmosphericIQ LLC / Engineering Director, Inc.

Version Information