A pilot project using seawater to uplift Venice anthropogenically
M. Ferronato, G. Gambolati, M. Putti, P. Teatini
Dept. Mathematical Methods and Models for Scientific
Applications, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
ABSTRACT
Recent field measurements based on
satellite technology provide evidence that
pumping fluid underground may cause land
to rise by 20-30 centimeters over a few months
to a few years, depending on a number of
factors. For example, an anthropogenic
uplift of 29 centimeters due to steam injection
was recorded at Cold Lake, Alberta, Canada,
over approximately 3 months [Stancliffe and
van der Kooij, 2001].
Such evidence supports the results of
new modeling studies that rely on updated
information from the northern Adriatic
basin, which suggests that injecting seawater
into a 600- to 800-meter-deep brackish
aquifer underlying the Venice Lagoon might
induce a city upheaval of 25–30 centimeters
over 10 years [Comerlati et al., 2003, 2004].
Our project to raise Venice by pumping
seawater underground has aroused great
interest and has been commented upon
worldwide, including in articles in Nature
[Abbott, 2004] and Science [Chin, 2004].
Recently, the design of a pilot project was
completed, and its major technical details
are discussed by Castelletto et al. [2008].
It is unfortunate that because of the
opposition of the MOSE lobby, nearly 5
years after first advancement of an idea that
attempts to constructively and innovatively
provide a contribution to the solution of the
Venice acqua alta, the pilot experiment -
essential for answering the crucial question
of whether the anthropogenic uplift of Venice
is indeed practically feasible - is still far
from initiation.
