CO2 will probably not help to save Venice from the sea

It has been proposed to rise Venice by injecting CO2 into an aquifer lying 600-800 m below its lagoon. It is shown that because of the prevailing ambient conditions in the aquifer phase change of CO2 cannot be avoided. The ensuing change of specific volume and compressibility will inhibit a uniform uplift pattern which is needed to avoid cracks in historical buildings. Further, both liquid and gaseous CO2 produce capillary effects at the contact surface with water in the voids of the reservoir rock and this affects its mechanical response. Hence further non homogeneity in the uplift pattern will be produced. This prevents the use of CO2 in the proposed conditions. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.