Monitoring of hydrological parameters related to peat oxidation in a
subsiding coastal basin south of Venice, Italy
A. Fornasiero, M. Putti, P. Teatini
Dept. Mathematical Methods and Models for Scientific
Applications, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
S. Ferraris
Dip. Economia e Ingegneria Agraria, Forestale e Ambientale,
Universita' di Torino, Torino, Italy
F. Rizzetto, L. Tosi
Istituto per lo Studio della Dinamica delle Grandi Masse, CNR, Venezia,
Italy
ABSTRACT
The Zennare Basin is part of the south catchment of the Lagoon of Venice,
Italy, reclaimed during the 1930's for agricultural purposes. It is an area
that lies almost completely below sea level and is characterized by the
presence of peat deposits. Histosol drainage for agricultural practices
has enhanced the loss of mass due to oxidation of organic matter leading to
an increase of the land subsidence rate which is currently estimated to be
roughly 2-3 cm/year. This subsidence causes the rise of the pumping and
drainage costs and thus has an adverse effect on the sustainable development
of the area. Within a research project aimed at studying the phenomenon by
an experimental and a numerical approach, a site has been selected in the
area of interest for the in situ monitoring of basic hydrogeological and
meteorological parameters controlling the process. The first few months of
data acquisition have shown that vertical movements of the peat surface is
strongly related to the depth of the water table, soil moisture and
temperature.
