Venice, Oct. 20 (BUS): After Venice suffered the second worst flood in its history in November 2019, it was inundated by four more extraordinary tsunamis in the space of six weeks, shocking Venetians and raising concerns about the worsening impact of climate change.
The repeated invasion of brackish lake water in St Mark’s Cathedral this summer is a quiet reminder that the threat has not abated, the Associated Press said.
Venice’s unique topography, built on wooden piles between canals, has made it particularly vulnerable to climate change. Rising sea levels are increasing the frequency of the high tide that engulfs the 1,600-year-old Italian city, which is also gradually sinking.
The worst-case scenario in Venice for sea level rise by the end of the century is 120 centimeters (3 feet 11 inches), according to a new study published by the European Geosciences Union.
This is 50% higher than the average global sea level rise of 80 cm (2 ft, 7 1/2 in) projected by the United Nations Science Committee.
The city’s interaction between canals and architecture, between natural habitats and human ingenuity, has also earned it recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its outstanding universal value, a designation that has recently been compromised by the impact of excessive tourism and cruise ship traffic.
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