A coupled model of anthropogenic Venice uplift

A coupled (Biot) three-dimensional finite element model is developed to predict the anthropogenic Venice uplift induced by seawater injection into a 600-800 m deep brackish aquifer underlying the VeniceLagoon. After 10 years of water pumping an uplift of about 30cm is predicted with an injection rate of about 17 Mm3/year and a maximum overpressure of 18 bars. The results turn out to be very similar to those obtained with an uncoupled formulation after a few years from the beginning of the injection. At the end of thesimulationthe uncoupled approach estimates the uplift 2% and 3% in excess relative to the coupled one at Venice and over the injection wells, respectively, i.e. a small amount on consideration of the influence exerted by the typical uncertainties that characterize the geological reconstruction and the parameter values of any real subsurface basin