Recommendations Report

  SNC2D3/0-B1 GR 10 SCIENCE  VENICE, ITALY  RECOMMENDATIONS REPORT      Introduction  Venice is a very popular city located in Northeastern Italy, and is the capital of the Veneto region. It is built on more than 100 individual islands. Venice does not have many main roads and streets, however includes about 170 canals with small bridges and narrow paths to cross them. This gives the city a rich cultural scene and makes it very unique architecturally compared to other main cities in Europe.      

    Venice’s Climate 50 Years Ago vs. Today  The annual average temperature of Venice has increased slightly over the past 50 years by about 1 to 2 °C. It has fallen from about 12 °C to 14 °C from 1974 to 2019. Likewise, the annual average precipitation increased by around 12.54% over the past 50 years, from 799.82 mm in 1974 to 900.14 mm in 2019. The annual average temperature is 14.7 °C with an average precipitation of 900.14 mm. Compared to the present, flood damage has occurred much more frequently than in the past. On November 4, 1966, the Venice flood occurred, where the waters were reaching 194 cm high. The Venice flood is considered the worst flood in the city's history and is among the 10 largest floods in world history. Another example of an incident would be September 11, 1970, where one or more tornadoes hitting Venice killing 50 people. Climate-Related Changes Right Now    Venice continues to be directly affected by climate change, and the worst climate hazards may be yet to come. The city has experienced twelve floodings in only the last 20 years. The most recent flooding was on November 12, 2019 with the second highest recorded water level reaching 1.87 m. This is the worst flood Venice has experienced in 53 years, killing 2 people. A strong gust of wind had blown the Adriatic Sea at 100 km/h.  

    The city’s floodgates could not hold back the water since it can only handle up to 170 cm. The flood was made even worse by the high water levels of the city’s lagoon caused by recurring precipitation periods from early November 2019. Recurring periods of intense short-term precipitation is actually something that is caused by climate change. Since more water is evaporated from the Earth’s surface, the volume of precipitation increases, making the downpour more intense.   Climate-Related Impacts in the Next 100 Years  Climate change plays a big role in where we see the world 100 years from now. It could completely change the way we live unrecognizably, forcing us to adapt to new lifestyles. The Venetian Lagoon is a bay in Venice surrounded by the Adriatic Sea. UNESCO organized a workshop that envisioned changes that could be caused by climate change in the region over the next 100 years. The increase in precipitation is an important part of the changes that climate change will bring to water-surrounded cities such as Venice. This  

    includes flash floods and less soil infiltration into groundwater. It is estimated that the waters of the bay will rise by 60 or maybe 100 cm. The ecological balance in ecosystems and food webs can also change because climate change can affect the concentration of nitrogen, phosphorus and silicon in the soil. Recent climate change studies have shown that Venice could sink completely by 2100 if climate change remains a problem. Global sea level is rising due to climate change, Venice can become an underwater city in 100 years. The Mediterranean is expected to rise by 140 cm in the next 100 years, which will affect Italy and other countries in Southern Europe.   What Can Venice Do?  The world must begin to prepare itself for the effects of climate change. Venice’s main focus is how to prepare for frequent flooding and heavy rainfall. The floodgates that Venice has currently, only block waters that are 170 cm high. As seen in the above list from the Scientific American magazine, all of the floods that have occurred in Venice in the past and present are very close or more than 170 cm. Upgrading to floodgates that can handle more than the highest recorded water level would be a good solution for the city to be extra precautionary, in case an even larger flood occurs.