Venice: Mud, Marshes, and Survival

August 2023
MIT Technology Review

Introduction

Dive into the riveting tale of Venice's fight against the rising tides in MIT Technology Review's Why salt marshes could help save Venice. Discover how environmental engineer Alessandro Gasparotto's mud-splattered research and the ambitious We Are Here Venice project aim to turn the tide on the city's future. With €2 million and a host of ecological strategies, they're battling to transform artificial mudflats back into life-saving salt marshes. It's a story of science, survival, and samphire – can Venice be saved?

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Why It Matters

Discover how this topic shapes your world and future

Marshes to the Rescue

Venice, a city famed for its intricate waterways and historic architecture, is facing a dire future. With the city slowly sinking and sea levels rising, the specter of Venice disappearing beneath the waves by 2100 is a real possibility. But there's hope in the form of salt marshes, which could play a pivotal role in saving this iconic city. These marshes are not just about preserving a tourist destination; they're about safeguarding a living, breathing ecosystem that supports fishing, absorbs carbon, and protects against erosion. For you, this topic is a gateway to understanding how nature-based solutions can tackle some of our planet's most pressing challenges. It shows that every effort to save a city, a marsh, or an ecosystem can have ripple effects felt around the globe, highlighting the interconnectedness of our world.

Speak like a Scholar

Subsidence

The gradual sinking of land. Imagine a cake slowly deflating after you've taken it out of the oven; that's similar to what's happening to Venice, but on a much slower scale.

Piezometer

A tool used to measure the pressure of liquids in the ground. Think of it as a doctor's stethoscope, but for the earth, checking the 'blood pressure' of groundwater.

Sediment

Tiny particles of rock, sand, and soil carried by water. Picture a snow globe after you've shaken it; the flakes swirling around are like sediment in water.

Ecosystem

A community of living organisms and their physical environment interacting as a system. Imagine your school as an ecosystem, with students, teachers, and the school building all playing different roles.

Carbon sink

A natural environment that absorbs more carbon dioxide than it releases. Visualize a sponge soaking up water, but in this case, the sponge is a marsh, and the water is carbon dioxide.

Natural capital

The world's stocks of natural assets, including geology, soil, air, water, and all living things. Think of it as nature's bank account, offering us valuable resources and services.

Independent Research Ideas

The role of salt marshes in coastal protection

Dive into how these ecosystems can buffer the impact of waves and storms, protecting cities like Venice and others around the world.

Comparative analysis of carbon sequestration

Study how different ecosystems, like forests, oceans, and marshes, stack up against each other in their ability to trap carbon. This could shed light on where conservation efforts might be best directed.

The impact of human infrastructure on natural ecosystems

Explore the consequences of projects like Venice's MOSE system on surrounding ecosystems, offering insights into how future projects can minimize ecological damage.

Economic valuation of ecosystem services

Investigate how the benefits provided by ecosystems, such as flood protection, carbon storage, and habitat provision, can be quantified and incorporated into economic decision-making.

Revitalizing ecosystems through engineering

Examine case studies where engineering projects have successfully restored or enhanced natural ecosystems, potentially offering templates for future conservation efforts.

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