Venice’s lagoon often rises to 40 inches above its normal level during 'acqua alta’ or high tides, particularly in autumn and winter.
But anything above 50 inches risks flooding the city and causing chaos for its 60,000 permanent residents and the tens of thousands of tourists who descend on it each day.
The worst flood in modern times was in 1966, when the lagoon rose more than six feet and caused widespread damage.
Experts say the severity and frequency of floods is becoming worse due to silt deposits raising the floor of the lagoon and a rise in sea levels caused by global warming
Flood control barriers under construction are not expected to be operational until 2012. Link -Thanks, Freshome!
This post and the article really made me want to cry.
they are claiming what was an outlier in 1966, isn't as much of an outlier in 2008's environment
http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2002/venice-1106.html
While the article also talks about rising sea levels, it doesn't glibly attribute them to global warming. Here's the money quote:
"The increased flooding is caused by two things: the city is sinking and sea level is rising.
After World War II, water needed by new industry was obtained by pumping groundwater from nearby areas. As the water table decreased, the islands began sinking. The practice of pumping groundwater was stopped shortly after the devastating flood of 1966, and the city is now sinking at the much lower rate of 0.4mm per year.
At the same time, the Adriatic Sea and other ocean waters have been rising at the rate of 1.6mm per year, PERHAPS DUE TO NATURAL CAUSES [emphasis added]. "It could be the ubiquitous sea level rise that occurs around the world and has been going on fairly consistently since the last glacial period," said Bras. "You can debate whether it is accelerating or not, but so far I see no evidence of acceleration."
I don't say is nothing, but it is not such a devastating event that journals and media are trying to make people belive!
A venetian
Gracias