Climatic oscillations influence the flooding of Venice

• Published in: Geophysical Research Letters
• Main Authors: FAGHERAZZI S., FOSSER G., D'ODORICO P., D'ALPAOS, LUIGI
• Other Authors: Fagherazzi, S., Fosser, G., D'Alpaos, Luigi, D'Odorico, P.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2005
• Subjects: climatic oscillation; Venice lagoon; Arctic; North Atlantic; North Atlantic oscillation
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/11577/1422285; https://doi.org/10.1029/2005GL023758

A detailed analysis of the tidal regime in Venice, Italy, 7 during the last century shows that the frequency and 8 magnitude of high tides are correlated to interdecadal 9 climatic oscillations. The monthly high tide maxima and 10 the average elevation of all high tides are negatively 11 correlated to the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), to the 12 Arctic Oscillation (AO), to the East Atlantic – West Russian 13 oscillation (EA-WR), and to the Polar Eurasia 14 teleconnection (POL). The correlation is high during 15 winter months for all four indices, whereas in the fall, 16 when most of the city floods occur, the AO and the EA-WR 17 exert a stronger influence on the tidal regime. During 18 negative phases of the climate indices both the average 19 elevation of high tides and the frequency of flooding 20 increase consistently, with negative effects on the city and its 21 monuments.