More Proof of Sea Level Rise? Venice Hit by Worst Flood for 20 Years
Flooding has been a fact of life in Venice, Italy for over 700 years. However, the frequency and severity of the floods is increasing steadily.
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Floods have been recorded in Venice since the 13th Century. However they are becoming more frequent and more severe as global sea levels begin to rise. The highest flooding event recorded in Venice was in 1966 when waters rose to 193cm (76 inches). Yesterday the waters rose to 156cm (61 inches). They are also becoming more frequent. In 1900 Saint Marks Square, the lowest point in the city, flooded approximately 10 times per year. Today however this has risen to more than 60 times per year. Usually the city forecasts these events and installs wooden walkways to enable people to get around. Yesterdays flood however was so high that it would have swamped these temporary boardwalks.
Venice has been suffering a dual attack. Not only has the water been rising but the city has been sinking by about 10cm (4 inches) a year. Saving the city has been a priority of the Italian Government since they passed laws in 1973 to try and safeguard the lagoon and the city. They have been investing in a 4.1 billion euro flood defence system but this will not be ready until 2011. The city is built upon a series of islands within a lagoon with three openings to the Adriatic Sea. The flood defence plan entails building gates that are to be raised into place when a flood event is forecast.
With so much culture Venice attracts around 16 million tourists a year. If you decide to visit this historic city then do it soon - and don’t forget your rubber boots.
Video credit: Z0RR0977 at YouTube
If you haven’t been there yet, do it soon. Away from the Grand Canal, it is eerily quiet, just the sound of continuous foot traffic and the sloshing of the occasional Gondola. So, the irony of this is that a city which you could argue, emits the least of all major cities is suffering the effects of climate change more dramatically than most. But it is the case that those that suffer these effects the most are all probably the least at fault.
Venice is sinking. It is built on wooden piles in a swamp. Sea level rise is not the problem. Enough of the alarmism already.
Yes, Venice is sinking. Well done.
But sea levels are also rising, exacerbating the sinking problem. Where is the alarmism here? Seems that these days one can’t point out obvious, yet serious facts about our environmental issues without conservatives shouting about alarmism.
It’s unfortunate that many shifts in the environment can only be seen in the rear view mirror, after decades of change, but there is a high likelihood that what we’re seeing in Venice is part of a long term trend in changing sea levels.
“PROOF” is the wrong word; “evidence” is the correct word. Please be more careful in your choice of words.
To the commenter who says “Venice is sinking” - how fast is it sinking (got data)? Just saying it doesn’t make it so. If it is, the combination of sea level rise (about 3 mm per year, by some measurements) and sinking, like along the US Gulf of Mexico coast, makes matters worse.
Geno’s comment is particular poignant. The ARTICLE says Venice is sinking & it gives the data. At 4 inches per year, and with the highest flood being 1966, that means it has sunk almost 14 feet since. And yet this year’s “dreadful” flood still did not top 1966. My, my my, these sea levels are rising sooo much.
If you Kool-Aid drinkers would stop and carefully read the data presented, you would quickly realize that the global warming claims aren’t substantiated.
Look at this quote of sinking 4 inches per year. If that were really the case, Venice would have been off the tourist list a long time ago. It really can’t be true, but here we have a so called professional journalist quoting it as gospel.
Tsk, Tsk!