The MOSE mobile dams were raised five times last week to reduce high flooding in Venice. But work on the dams is still incomplete and two locks are not functioning, placing limits on shipping and affecting the lagoon.

It is great that the MOSE mobile dams in Venice were raised five times last week to reduce high flooding. This means the dams have been deployed 25 times since 3 October 2020 against flooding. While most of the talk at the ongoing COP26 conference on climate change is focusing on mitigating against climate warming, … Continue reading

High floods in Venice blocked for the second time by the MOSE mobile dams

Today, on 15 October 2020, the MOSE mobile dams blocked Venice from flooding for the second time. At 9.10 am, the tide was at 140 cm at the Malamocco dam outside the lagoon, but it was 54 cm at the Punta della Salute tide gauge inside the lagoon. So the MOSE dams kept Venice dry … Continue reading

Venice raises all ‘MOSE’ mobile dams to block its lagoon from the sea for the first time, despite protests and problems

On 10 July 2020, for the first time ever, Venice’s lagoon effectively became an artificial lake temporarily. This great feat of engineering was achieved by raising all 78 mobile floodgates at the three inlets between the lagoon and the Adriatic Sea. These had all previously been raised during past tests, but this was the first … Continue reading

June floods in #Venice, but these follow the first closing of two inlets with mobile dams

Venice is experiencing rare June flooding after heavy rain and strong winds, which are unusual in the Veneto region at this time of year. On the evening of 4 June 2020, the water level reached 116 cm on the city tide gauge and people waded around a flooded St. Mark’s Square as can be seen … Continue reading

Venice’s floods are not signs of a ‘climate apocalypse’. My article on the problems faced by #Venice and the nearby area published by @spikedonline.

While Venice and the surrounding area have suffered badly from flooding over the last two weeks, there has not been apocalyptic devastation. Moreover, although climate change has been a cause of rising sea levels and contributed to the flooding, subsidence has been a major cause too. As I set out in the article published on … Continue reading

Doomsday in #Venice|If we built it today. My comments and others in TV programme on Discovery Science, SKY Vision. After the recent high floods, a timely reflection on different responses.

  This programme examines how Venice was built, its unique environment, problems with flooding and sinking and some possible responses. In addition to the MOSE mobile dam project, there are discussions about replicating, moving and pumping Venice up or a combination of these measures. It was broadcast on the Discovery Science channel in the USA … Continue reading

Venice suffers its worst floods for 53 years. My assessment, an update on the MOSE mobile dams and comments about the causes and responses on Euronews

On the night of 12 November 2019, over 80 per cent of Venice was flooded. The reading on the city’s tide gauge reached 187 cm, which was the highest level recorded since November 1966 when 100 per cent of the city was flooded and a level of 194 cm was recorded on the tide gauge. … Continue reading

The mobile dam system in Venice is delayed by four years, but claimed as being six months late.

After an agreement on Wednesday 29 March 2017, an article in the newspaper Corriere Del Veneto claimed on 30 March 2017 that the delivery of Venice’s MOSE mobile dam system had slipped by six months. Yet the very same newspaper published an article on 28 April 2015 in which it was stated that the same … Continue reading

Inside Venice’s bid to hold back the tide – article on the city’s MOSE dams in The Guardian

This article by journalist Antonia Windsor was published by The Guardian (UK) in its resilient cities series on 16 June 2015. The article is a perceptive insight into the discussion about Venice sinking and especially protecting the city with the MOSE flood barriers, which are nearing completion. There are numerous quotes from key figures involved … Continue reading

Venice’s MOSE dams delayed with added costs of €150 million

This week revealing reports have explained that work on the MOSE dam project has been on hold for the last eight months at an estimated cost of €150 million. Promised tranches of funds to continue the project from the CIPE committee charged with releasing them have not been forthcoming. It is estimated it takes approximately … Continue reading

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