In the last few years drought in the southwestern United States has been associated with sinking land and development of cracks in the Earth's surface. Some of the mile-long cracks are over 12 feet deep and 20 feet in width. Soil scientists have suggested that the cracks and sinking land are due to the lowering of the water table and old water table levels. Describe how sediments above and below the water table have changed and how the changes could account for the sinking land and the formation of surface cracks.
