Is Venice Really Sinking

Venice has battled rising water levels since the fifth century.

Is venice really sinking. In the case of venice a major factor is subsidence dropping in elevation. Not only is it sinking but it is also tilting to the east and battling against flooding and rising sea levels. Venice italy is sinking at the alarming rate of 1 millimeter per year. The patches of land in venice s lagoon 117 islands in all are also sinking with northern sections of the lagoon dropping at a rate of 2 to 3 mm 0 08 to 0 12 inches per year and the southern lagoon subsiding at 3 to 4 mm 0 12 to 0 16 inches per year.

But today the water seems to be winning. Is venice italy really sinking. Venice might be sinking at an infinitesimal rate but that s dwarfed by the accelerating rates at which global water levels are rising. It s true that venice is sinking historically about seven centimeters each century for the past 1 000 years.

Several factors both natural and man made cause venice to flood about 100 times a year usually from october until late winter a phenomenon called the acqua alta. Over the last 1 000 years it has sunk by around 2 75 inches 7 centimeters for every century but recent reports have stated that in the last century alone the city of venice has lowered by around 9 44 inches 24 cm. Scientists tracked the elevation of venice and its surrounding lagoons over a ten year period and have said that on average the city is sinking up to two millimetres every year. Between ice melt and thermal expansion nasa scientist james hansen is foreseeing several meters of sea rise in this century.

Venice has been sinking since its very beginning. I recently asked a venetian how much the city is sinking.