(Image source from: Historical city Venice is sinking???})

Modern satellites are helping scientists monitor how rapidly Venice the floating city of romance  is sinking characterized by an extraordinary level of resolution.  

The results show the city is naturally subsiding at a rate of about 0.8 to 1 millimetre per year, while human activities contribute sinking of about 0.08 to 2 to 10 mm per year. Researchers explained the sinking gave ominous indications of increasing flooding in Venice, which already occurs due to high tides about four times per year. The satellite data has exposed the amount that Venice is sinking, allowing scientists to compare the influence of natural causes of the sinking, due to compression of the organic matter deposited by water, air on which the city is built, and to man-made ones, such as building restoration. On the basis of apprehension how the land is sinking is particularly important in the face of rising sea levels.

Researcher Pietro Teatini from the University of Padua in Italy expressed that Venice is in a situation so critical accompanying respect to the sea that continuous monitoring of the city's movement is of paramount importance. Scientists first recognised the problem decades ago when they noticed that pumping of groundwater from beneath Venice was causing the city to settle into the earth.  Further, 'LiveScience' reported that the  pumping and its impact have long since stopped, yet the city continues to sink. The report said that the Researchers used two sets of satellite measurements of Venice's historical city center and the surrounding area. The first dataset came from first-generation satellite sensors that have inferior resolution and collect data about once a month. Afterward, the second one came from a newer satellite characterized by sensors that have much better resolution and take measurements every 10 days.  

That's undoubtedly highly critical as far as the life of Venice is concerned, that's because it's completely surrounded with water. Moreover, the development taking place in the city is also making it more serious! There must be immediate action in order to safeguard the heritage of the historical city and it's survival.

(AW:SB)