Climate change has been an issue that is becoming more and more evident. Venice is among the many places in the world that are showing signs of it as its tourist attraction canals have dried up, despite it having issues with an overflow of water before.
The Venice Canals Running Dry
What was once a flowing canal filled with gondolas and water taxis now appears to be just muddy grounds with puddles of water. The Venice canals attracted tourists from all over the world for what people claim to be a magical and romantic ride.
This is an especially unusual phenomenon seeing as the famed canals are known to be prone to overflow during flooding occurrences. In fact, the area experiences annual flooding which the locals called "acqua alta."
The flooding would cause the canal's water levels to rise to the point that it reaches the parts of the city that has a lower ground level, such as Saint Mark's Square. With the world seeing sea levels rise up, the canal drying up seems more like a surprise.
Reports say that the drought stems from a snow deficit in the Alps, which is one of Italy's most important sources of water supply during summer and spring. The snow deficit is now at 53% compared to the last decade's average, as mentioned in Interesting Engineering.
This has led to the Po River basin holding 61% less water than it normally did at that particular time of the year. Climate expert Massimiliano Pasqui says that needs 500 millimeters of rain in the north-western regions over 50 days to recover from the deficit.
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The Possibility of Venice Sinking Underwater
Even though Venice is experiencing an unusual drought, a climate change study has also warned that Venice is at risk of sinking underwater by 2100. The city is comprised of 120 islands, 177 canals, and 391 bridges.
The buildings in Venice are already sinking, and some of them are being damaged by boats. Back in November 2019, the city experienced its second-worst flooding where the tide reached its peak of 6.1ft above sea level.
This led to more than 80% of the city being submerged in water, prompting officials to declare a state of emergency. Mayor of Venice Luigi Brugnaro stated that the estimated damages were worth €1 billion, according to BBC.
Given that Venice is a city surrounded by water, rising sea levels are an even bigger threat to them than other cities. University of Leeds professor Natasha Barlow said that it is certain that sea levels will continue to rise over the decades due to ice melting of ice sheets and glaciers.
Barlow also mentioned that even a small increase in sea levels can intensify coastal flooding. The rise of sea levels will result in a higher baseline water level for storms, tides, as well as waves, which do not bode well for a city surrounded by water.
Related: Flood Maps are Now Outdated Thanks to Climate Change, Says FEMA Director
