The Lagoon of Venice: geological setting, evolution and land subsidence
A. Brambati, T. Quaia
Dip. Scienze Geologiche, Ambientali e Marine, Universita' di Trieste,
Trieste, Italy
L. Carbognin, L. Tosi
Istituto per lo Studio della Dinamica delle Grandi Masse, CNR, Venezia,
Italy
P. Teatini
Dept. Mathematical Methods and Models for Scientific
Applications, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
ABSTRACT
The paper deals with the geological setting, history and
subsidence of the Venetian Plain. Major attention is paid
to the Pleistocene-Holocene stratigraphic sequence in
the Lagoon of Venice, in relation to its origin that dates
back to 6 7 kyr BP. Geological land subsidence, which
played an important role in the origin and the evolution
of the lagoon, and anthropogenic subsidence, that has
recently assumed a major importance for the Venetian
environment, are discussed. Considering also the sea
level rise, 23 cm loss in land elevation has occurred in
the last century, leading to increased flooding events
and environmental problems that require protective works.
