Earth fissure are large cracks in unconsolidated sediments that form as a result of basin subsidence caused by groundwater withdrawal. Fissure and giant desiccation cracks (GDC) are easily confused. This feature spotted from an airplane and pinpointed by yellow arrows may be a GDC.
Fissure appear in basins in five Arizona counties: Cochise, La Paz, Maricopa, Pima and Pinal counties. For additional information, visit our Earth Fissure section of the Center for Natural Hazards (http://azgs.arizona.edu/center-natural-hazards/earth-fissures-ground-sub...) or the Natural Hazards in Arizona Viewer (http://uagis.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=98729f76e46...).
