Vulnerability of Venice's coastland to relative sea-level rise

Venice's coastland, a significant low-lying area in Italy, faces severe threats from relative sea-level rise (RSLR), which combines climate-induced sea-level changes with land subsidence. This study reveals that even minor land subsidence rates of a few millimeters per year can critically impact the region, home to valuable ecosystems, historical heritage, and economic activities. The research employs an index-based model at a regional scale, integrating high-resolution satellite data on land subsidence, ongoing and projected sea-level rise trends, and the morpho-physiographic characteristics of the coastland. This approach highlights the uneven distribution of subsidence across Venice's diverse environments—including farmlands, estuaries, deltas, lagoons, and urban areas—underscoring the urgent need for targeted mitigation strategies to address RSLR vulnerabilities.

Tosi, L., Da Lio, C., Donnici, S., Strozzi, T., & Teatini, P. (2020). Vulnerability of Venice’s coastland to relative sea-level rise. Proceedings of the International Association of Hydrological Sciences, 382, 689–695. https://doi.org/10.5194/piahs-382-689-2020