This presentation is about drowning of Venice. Is answers several questions - "What is the main cause of drowning and what is going to be in the future?"

1. VeniceVenice
What is the main
cause of drowning and
what is going to be in
the future?
Done by Alexandra Shevchenko

2. PlanPlan
• ProblemProblem
• Why Venice is so important?Why Venice is so important?
• Acqua AltaAcqua Alta
• Causes. Man or nature?Causes. Man or nature?
• Explanation of causesExplanation of causes
• Explanation of causesExplanation of causes
• Saving the city. MOSESaving the city. MOSE
• PredictionsPredictions

3. ProblemProblem
"The rate at which Venice is going is about that of a lump of
sugar in hot tea.” - John Ruskin
Venice is drowning and there is a risk, that in the close
future Venice would disappear.

4. Why Venice is soWhy Venice is so
important?important?
• Beauty
• Architecture
• Rich history
• A lot of people live there - 270,660 (60,000 on historic
Venice)

5. Acqua altaAcqua alta
• a major threat to Venice
• extremely high tides
• the water level at high tide is over 90mm above normal
• more than 60 days a year
• In 1966 – 2 m !

6. Causes. Man or nature?Causes. Man or nature?
MANMAN NATURENATURE
Global warming => sea level rise Earth Subsidence
Boat traffic
Tourists and inhabitants
Earth Subsidence Tides

7. Explanation of causesExplanation of causes
• Global warming => sea level riseGlobal warming => sea level rise
If sea level rises, the Venice can be covered by water.If sea level rises, the Venice can be covered by water.
Today the reason why sea level rises is global warming.Today the reason why sea level rises is global warming.
And global warming is caused by people, because ofAnd global warming is caused by people, because of
pollution, greenhouse effect etc.pollution, greenhouse effect etc.
• Earth subsidence (nature fault)Earth subsidence (nature fault)
We donWe don’’t have to forget, that Venice stands on water. Watert have to forget, that Venice stands on water. Water
not literally, of course. It stands on the sand, which keepsnot literally, of course. It stands on the sand, which keeps
slowly sinking all the time. Also there is a big tectonicslowly sinking all the time. Also there is a big tectonic
plate, which presses on the surface and increases theplate, which presses on the surface and increases the
rate at which Venice is going down.rate at which Venice is going down.

8. Explanation of causesExplanation of causes
• Earth subsidence (manEarth subsidence (man’’s fault)s fault)
One of the main causes is that people take the water from the soil forOne of the main causes is that people take the water from the soil for
industrial aims.industrial aims.
• TidesTides
Tides, which come from the Adriatic sea, cause acqua alta, whichTides, which come from the Adriatic sea, cause acqua alta, which
damages a lot this citydamages a lot this city
• Boat trafficBoat traffic
Boats are also a reason why Venice is being damaged. They causeBoats are also a reason why Venice is being damaged. They cause
tiny waves, which hit the basis of houses and slowly destroy it.tiny waves, which hit the basis of houses and slowly destroy it.
• Tourists and inhabitantsTourists and inhabitants
In 2011 Venice was visited by over 10 millions of tourists! It is quiteIn 2011 Venice was visited by over 10 millions of tourists! It is quite
heavy weight, so it impairs the situation.heavy weight, so it impairs the situation.

9. Saving the city. MOSESaving the city. MOSE
• MOSE - Modulo Sperimentale ElettromeccanicoMOSE - Modulo Sperimentale Elettromeccanico
• has been planned since the 1980's and is scheduled forhas been planned since the 1980's and is scheduled for
completion in 2012completion in 2012
• adjustable barriers, which will stop the tides from Adriaticadjustable barriers, which will stop the tides from Adriatic
seasea

10. PredictionsPredictions
• average rate at the moment – 4 mm by year
• By 2038 – 80 mm down
• by 2100 – 50 cm
If something wouldn’t be done, Venice might disappear
in the closest future…