Author(s)

A. Bixio, M. Putti, L. Tosi, L. Carbognin & G. Gambolati

Abstract

The Venice aquifer system is threatened by the intrusion of seawater from the overlying lagoon and of fossil saltwater from the deeper formations be- neath the sea. A fully coupled flow and salt transport finite element model of the Venice system for the prediction of the expected maximum extent of saltwater intrusion in a vertical section of the system is presented. We obtain a steady state solution of the coupled flow and transport problem, which provides the potential largest extent of saltwater intrusion on condi- tion that the present piezometry does not significantly change in the future. The results show that the salt intrusion concerns a restricted area extend- ing few km inland from the coastline. In the upper part of this zone, down to a depth of 200 m, the p

Keywords