Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Venice has that sinking feeling again

Michael Day
Saturday 24 March 2012 01:00 GMT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

The end of Venice may come sooner that we thought as scientists warn that the lagoon city has begun sinking again.

Despite previous indications the subsistence had levelled off, new research shows Venice to be sinking an average of one to two millimetres a year.

The study, which will appear in the journal Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, also found that Venice is listing slightly eastward, meaning the western side is higher than the rest. This, combined with rising sea levels, might mean that even the ambitious new multi-billion euro MOSE flood protection system will not be enough to save the city from the sea.

The report adds that Venice's 117 islands are also sinking, with those in the north dropping two to three millimetres per year and those in the south sinking three to four. According to the scientists the reasons for Venice's renewed descent are both natural and man-made.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in