The Treatise on Waters by Cornaro (1560) and a quantitative assessment of the historical sea surges “Acqua Alta” in Venice

Abstract In the sixteenth century, Cornaro wrote a Treatise on Waters with personal observations and conclusions regarding Lagoon of Venice, e.g., sea level rise over centuries, difference between normal tides for astronomical forces storm surges driven by meteorological factors, water exchanges Sea. He witnessed continuous since Middle Ages listed some public works made to adapt this challenge, i.e., raising city paving floors, rebuilding bridges that had become too low. dealt mark left algae walls was kept as an official (zero) reference level. Using key measure flooding depths, knowing relationship front mean level, revision historical floods (from 1240 1867) is assess precise depths. During deepest floods, it possible reach San Marco square gondola float square. The draught past types has been another interpret flood From 1200 1500, most extreme depths were higher than 1966, highest in instrumental record 1871; from 1500 1799, they have quite homogeneous, close value observed 1966; nineteenth returned be 1966. Over eight exceeded 7 times 40 cm 1966 depth. should prepared face risk.