Analysis of Climate Change s Effect on Flood Risk. Case Study of Reinosa in the Ebro River Basin

[EN] Floods are one of the natural hazards that could be most affected by climate change, causing great economic damage and casualties in the world. On December 2019 in Reinosa (Cantabria, Spain), took place one of the worst floods in memory. Implementation of DIRECTIVE 2007/60/EC for the assessment and management of flood risks in Spain enabled the detection of this river basin with a potential significant flood risk via a preliminary flood risk assessment, and flood hazard and flood risk maps were developed. The main objective of this paper is to present a methodology to estimate climate change¿s effects on flood hazard and flood risk, with Reinosa as the case study. This river basin is affected by the snow phenomenon, even more sensitive to climate change. Using different climate models, regarding a scenario of comparatively high greenhouse gas emissions (RCP8.5), with daily temperature and precipitation data from years 2007¿2070, and comparing results in relative terms, flow rate and flood risk variation due to climate change are estimated. In the specific case of Reinosa, the MRI-CGCM3 model shows that climate change will cause a significant increase of potential affected inhabitants and economic damage due to flood risk. This evaluation enables us to define mitigation actions in terms of cost¿benefit analysis and prioritize the ones that should be included in flood risk management plans.Lastrada Marcén, JE.; Cobos Campos, G.; Torrijo, F. (2020). Analysis of Climate Change s Effect on Flood Risk. Case Study of Reinosa in the Ebro River Basin. Water. 12(4):1-14. https://doi.org/10.3390/w12041114S114124Flood Risk Management: A Strategic Approach https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000220870Doroszkiewicz, J., Romanowicz, R., & Kiczko, A. (2018). The Influence of Flow Projection Errors on Flood Hazard Estimates in Future Climate Conditions. Water, 11(1), 49. doi:10.3390/w11010049Zhu, T., Lund, J. R., Jenkins, M. W., Marques, G. F., & Ritzema, R. S. (2007). Climate change, urbanization, and optimal long-term floodplain protection. Water Resources Research, 43(6). doi:10.1029/2004wr003516Nyaupane, N., Thakur, B., Kalra, A., & Ahmad, S. (2018). Evaluating Future Flood Scenarios Using CMIP5 Climate Projections. Water, 10(12), 1866. doi:10.3390/w10121866Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change https://archive.ipcc.ch/European Flood Awareness System (EFAS) https://www.efas.eu/en/news/summary-efas-notifications-2019Garijo, C., & Mediero, L. (2018). Influence of climate change on flood magnitude and seasonality in the Arga River catchment in Spain. Acta Geophysica, 66(4), 769-790. doi:10.1007/s11600-018-0143-0Garijo, C., Mediero, L., & Garrote, L. (2018). Utilidad de las proyecciones climáticas generadas por AEMET para estudios de impacto del cambio climático sobre avenidas a escala nacional. Ingeniería del agua, 22(3), 153. doi:10.4995/ia.2018.9312ASTER. Modelo Hidrológico De Simulación Y Previsión Aplicado A Cuencas Donde El Fenómeno Nival Es Relevante http://www.spesa.es/paginas/basededatos/ASTER_Manual_Usuario.pdfPolicy-Relevant Assessment of Socio-Economic Effects of Droughts and Floods, To Establish a Damage-Water Depth Relationship http://www.feem-project.net/preempt/Cobos, G., Francés, M., & Arenillas, M. (2010). Le programme ERHIN. Modélisation nivo-hydrologique pour la gestion de l’eau du bassin de l’Ebre. La Houille Blanche, (3), 58-64. doi:10.1051/lhb/2010035Anderson, E. A. (1968). Development and testing of snow pack energy balance equations. Water Resources Research, 4(1), 19-37. doi:10.1029/wr004i001p0001

A Decrease in the Regulatory Effect of Snow-Related Phenomena in Spanish Mountain Areas Due to Climate Change

[EN] Climate change undoubtedly will affect snow events as temperature and precipitation are expected to change in the future. Spanish mountains are especially affected by that situation, since snow storage is there focussed on very specific periods of the hydrological year and plays a very important role in the management of water resources. In this study, an analysis of the behaviour of the complex snow-related phenomena in the four main mountain regions of Spain in the next 50 years is conducted. The ASTER hydrological model is applied using temperature and precipitation data as basic input, estimated under a climate change scenario. Results show different changes in the maximum and average expected flows, depending on the very different magnitude and sign of changes in precipitation. An increase of flooding episodes may occur as a result of a complex relation between changes in precipitation and an increase in maximum snowmelt intensities that range from 2.1% in the Pyrenees to 7.4% in the Cantabrian Mountains. However, common patterns are shown in a shorter duration of the snow bulk reserves, expected to occur 45 days earlier for the Cantabrian Mountains, and about 30 days for the rest of the studied mountain regions. Changes observed also lead to a concerning decrease in the regulatory effect of the snow-related phenomena in the Spanish rivers, with a decrease in the average snow accumulation that ranges from about 28% for the Pyrenees and Sierra Nevada to 42% for the Central System and the Cantabrian Mountains. A decrease in average flow is expected, fluctuating from 2.4% in the Pyrenees to 7.3% in Cantabrian Mountains, only increasing in the Central System by 4.0%, making all necessary to develop new adaptation measures to climate change.The authors acknowledge F. J. Sanchez, M. Aparicio and F. Pastor (Spanish Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge), Tragsatec and ASTER model developer J. A. Collado (SPESA Ingenieria). The authors fully acknowledge the financial support provided by the Department of Geological and Geotechnical Engineering of the UPV.Lastrada, E.; Garzón-Roca, J.; Cobos Campos, G.; Torrijo, F. (2021). A Decrease in the Regulatory Effect of Snow-Related Phenomena in Spanish Mountain Areas Due to Climate Change. Water. 13(11):1-20. https://doi.org/10.3390/w13111550S120131

Seasonal variability of snow density in the Spanish Pyrenees

[EN] Spanish latitudes and meteorological conditions cause the snow phenomena to mainly take place in mountainous areas, playing a key role in water resource management, with the Pyrenees as one of the most important and best monitored areas. Based on the most significant dataset of snow density (SDEN) in the Spanish Pyrenees for on-site manual samples and automatic measurements, in this study, single and multiple linear regression models are evaluated that relate SDEN with intra-annual time dependence and other drivers such as the seasonal accumulated precipitation, 7-day average temperatures, snow depth (SD) and elevation. The seasonal accumulated precipitation presented a more dominant influence than daily precipitation, usually being the second most dominant SDEN driver, followed by temperature. Average temperatures showed the best fitting to SDEN. The results showed similar densification rates ranging widely from 0.7 x 10(3) kg/L/day to 2 x 10(3) kg/L/day without showing a spatial pattern. The densification rate for the set of manual samples was set to 1.2 kg/L/day, very similar to the set of automatic measurements (1.3 kg/L/day). The results increase knowledge on SDEN in the Pyrenees. The SDEN regression models that are given in this work may allow us, in the future, to estimate SDEN, and consequently Snow Water Equivalent (SWE), using an economical and extensive SD and meteorological network, although the high spatial variability that has been found must be regarded. Estimating a relationship between SDEN and several climate drivers enables us to take into account the impact of climate variability on SDEN.The authors acknowledge F. Pastor and F. J. Sanchez (Spanish Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge); M. L. Moreno (EbroWater Authority); the Ebro Water Authority and field engineers A. Pedrero-Munoz and M. Motes (SPESA Ingenieria). The authors fully acknowledge the financial support provided by the Department of Geological and Geotechnical Engineering of the UPV.Lastrada, E.; Cobos Campos, G.; Garzón-Roca, J.; Torrijo, F. (2021). Seasonal variability of snow density in the Spanish Pyrenees. Water. 13(11):1-17. https://doi.org/10.3390/w13111598117131

El programa ERHIN y la gestión de embalses en áreas con alta precipitación nival = The ERHIN programme and reservoir management in areas of high nival precipitation

El programa de Evaluación Recursos Hídricos procedentes de la Innivación (ERHIN) ha desarrollado un modelo hidrológico con subrutinas que contemplan el proceso de acumulación/fusión de nieve que permite el seguimiento del manto de nieve y su fusión , esencial para la previsión de avenidas en embalses cuyas cuencas vertientes recogen altos porcentajes de precipitación solida. En determinados sectores del territorio español (Pirineos, Cordilleras Cantábrica e Ibérica, Sistema Central y Sierra Nevada) la precipitación nival alcanza valores significativos durante el invierno, que conducen a espesores de nieve persistentes en las cuencas alimentadoras de numerosos embalses y a la fusión rápida de esta nieve en períodos cortos de tiempo, directamente relacionados con la elevación de la isoterma de cero grados en primavera. Estos procesos condicionan la gestión de los mencionados embalses

Geomechanical characterization and analysis of the Upper Cretaceous flysch materials found in the Basque Arc Alpine region

[EN] Flysch materials are one of the most challenging geological materials and often give rise to slope instability problems. Due to its natural heterogeneity, geomechanical characterization of flysch materials is somewhat difficult. The Spanish Basque Arc Alpine region is a very well-known location for flysch materials. In this paper, an area of approximately 100 km(2) in the region is intensively studied and their flysch materials geomechanically characterized. A total of 33 locations are investigated by a broad geological-geotechnical investigation, involving petrographic analyses, geomechanical stations, boreholes, and mechanical laboratory tests. In addition, a slope inventory was carried out to assess the situation in the existing slopes in the area. Characterization of materials is carried out in terms of RQD, RMR, and GSI as well as using the Hoek-Brown failure criterion. Different correlations are assessed, establishing their appropriateness for estimating the mechanical parameters of a flysch material rock mass.Financial support was provided by the Department of Geological and Geotechnical Engineering of the UPV.Garzón-Roca, J.; Torrijo, F.; Company Rodríguez, J.; Cobos Campos, G. (2021). Geomechanical characterization and analysis of the Upper Cretaceous flysch materials found in the Basque Arc Alpine region. Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment. 80(10):7831-7846. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-021-02383-378317846801

Estimation of cerchar abrasivity index of andesitic rocks in Ecuador from chemical compounds and petrographical properties using regression analyses

[EN] An important issue in any rock engineering project is the adequate prediction of tool consumption. Excavation tools are subjected to wear, and repair/replacement of those tools is usually an important expense on any excavation budget. The key factor that affects wear of excavation tools is rock abrasivity. In mining and civil engineering, rock abrasivity is typically measured by the Cerchar abrasivity index (CAI), which is obtained in laboratory from a Cerchar abrasivity test. This paper studied the relation between CAI and the chemical compounds and petrographical properties of andesitic rocks from the central area of Ecuador. A series of regression analyses are performed to study the influence of the different chemical compounds and petrographical properties on the CAI value. Results show that it is possible to make a good estimation of CAI from the plagioclase grain size and/or the content of SiO2, FeO, MgO, CaO, Na2O and K2O compounds.Torrijo, F.; Garzón-Roca, J.; Company Rodríguez, J.; Cobos Campos, G. (2018). Estimation of cerchar abrasivity index of andesitic rocks in Ecuador from chemical compounds and petrographical properties using regression analyses. Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment. 1-14. doi:10.1007/s10064-018-1306-6S114Al-Ameen SL, Waller MD (1994) The influence of rock strength and abrasive mineral content on the CERCHAR abrasive index. Eng Geol 36:293–301Alber M (2007) Stress dependency of the Cerchar Abrasivity index (CAI) and its effects on wear of selected rock cutting tools. Tunn Undergr Space Technol 9:351–539Alber M (2008) Stress dependency of the Cerchar abrasivity index (CAI) and its effects on wear of selected rock cutting tools. Tunn Undergr Space Technol 23:351–359Alber M, Yaralı O, Dahl F, Bruland A, Käsling H, Michalakopoulos TN, Cardu M, Hagan P, Aydın H, Özarslan A (2014) ISRM suggested method for determining the abrasivity of rock by the CERCHAR abrasivity test. Rock Mech Rock Eng 47:261–266ASTM D3967 (2001) Standard test method for splitting tensile strength of intact rock core specimens. American Society for Testing and Materials, West ConshohockenASTM D7012 (2010) Standard test method for compressive strength and elastic module of intact rock core specimens under varying states of stress and temperatures. American Society for Testing and Materials, West ConshohockenASTM D7625 (2010) Standard test method for laboratory determination of abrasiveness of rock using the CERCHAR method. American Society for Testing and Materials, West ConshohockenAtkinson T, Cassapi VB, Singh RN (1986a) Assessment of abrasive wear resistance potential in rock excavation machinery. Int J Min Geol Eng 3:151–163Atkinson T, Denby B, Cassapi VB (1986b) Problems associated with rock material properties in surface mining equipment selection. Trans Inst Min Metall Section A Miner Ind 95:A80–A86Boland MP, Pilatasig LF, Ibandango CE, McCourt WJ, Aspden JA, Hughes RA, Beate B (2000) Geology of the western cordillera between 0°-1°N, mining development and environmental control project, map and geological information program, report no. 10, (Proyecto de Desarrollo Minero y control Ambiental, Programa de Informacion cartografica y Geológica, Informe no. 10), CODIGEM-BGS, Quito, Ecuador, p 72 (In Spanish)CERCHAR (1986) The CERCHAR abrasiveness index. Centre d’Etudes et des Recherches des Charbonages de France, Verneuil, FranceDeliormanlı A (2011) Cerchar abrasivitiy index (CAI) and its relation to strength and abrasion test methods for marble stones. Constr Build Mat 30:16–21Deliormanlı AH (2012) Cerchar abrasivity index (CAI) and its relation to strength and abrasion test methods for marble stones. Constr Build Mater 30:16–21Er S, Tugrul A (2016a) Correlation of physico-mechanical properties of granitic rocks with Cerchar Abrasivity index in Turkey. Measurement 91:114–123Er S, Tugrul A (2016b) Estimation of Cerchar abrasivity index of granitic rocks in Turkey by geological properties using regression analysis. B Eng Geol Environ 75(3):1325–1339Fowell RJ, Abu Bakar MZ (2007) A review of the Cerchar and LCPC rock abrasivity measurement methods. Proceeding of the 11th congress of the International Society for Rock Mechanics 155–160Hamzaban MT, Memarian H, Rostami J (2014a) Continuous monitoring of pin tip wear and penetration into rock surface using a new Cerchar abrasivity testing device. Rock Mech Rock Eng 47(2):689–701Hamzaban MT, Memarian H, Rostami J, Ghasemi-Monfared H (2014b) Study of rock-pin interaction in Cerchar abrasivity test. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 72:100–108ISRM (2007) The complete ISRM suggested methods for rock characterization, testing and monitoring: 1974–2006. International Society for Rock Mechanics, LisbonKahraman S, Alber M, Fener M, Gunaydin O (2010) The usability of Cerchar abrasivity index for the prediction of UCS and E of Misis fault breccia: regression and artificial neural networks analysis. Expert Syst Appl 37:8750–8756Käsling H, Thuro K (2010) Determining abrasivity of rock in the laboratory. European Rock Mechanics Symposium. EUROCK 2010, Laussane, SwitzerlandLassnig K, Latal C, Klima K (2008) Impact of grain size on the Cerchar abrasiveness test. Ernst and Sohn Verlag für Architektur und technische Wissenschaften GmbH and Co. KG. Berlin Geomechanik und Tunnelbau 1, Heft 1Majeed Y, Abu Bakar MZ (2016) Statistical evaluation of CERCHAR Abrasivity index (CAI) measurement methods and dependence on petrographic and mechanical properties of selected rocks of Pakistan. Bull Eng Geol Environ 75:1341–1360Michalakopoulos TN, Anagnostou VG, Bassanou ME, Panagiotou GN (2005) The influence of steel styli hardness on the Cerchar abrasiveness index value. Inter J Rock Mech Mining Sci Geomechan Abstracts 43:321–327Moradizadeh M, Ghafoori M, Lashkaripour GR, Tarigh Azali S (2013) Utilizing geological properties for predicting cerchar abrasiveness index (CAI) in sandstones. Int J Emerg Technol Advan Eng 3(9):99–109NF P 94–430-1 (2000) Determination du pouvoir abrasif d’une roche— Partie 1: Essai de rayure avec une pointe. Association française de Normalisation (AFNOR), ParisPlinninger R, Kasling H, Thuro K, Spaun G (2003) Testing conditions and geomechanical properties in influencing the CERCHAR abrasiveness index (CAI) value. J Rock Mech Mining Sci 40:159–263Rostami J, Ghasemi A, Gharahbagh AE, Dogruoz C, Dahl F (2014) Study of dominant factors affecting cerchar abrasivity index. Mech Rock Eng 47:1905–1919StatPoint Technologies, Inc (2009) STATGRAPHICS centurion XVI user manual. StatPoint Technologies Inc, The PlainsSuana M, Peters T (1982) The CERCHAR abrasivity index and its relation to rock mineralogy and petrography. Rock Mech Rock Eng 15:1–7Thuro K (1997) Prediction of drillability in hard rock tunneling by drilling and blasting. In: Golser, Hinkel and Schubert (Eds.) Tunnels for people, Balkema, Rotterdam, pp 103–108Vallejo C (2007) Evolution of the western cordillera in the Andes of Ecuador (late cretaceous–Paleogene). Dissertation, Institute of Geology, ETH ZürichVallejo C, Winkler W, Spikings RA, Luzieux L, Heller F, Bussy F (2009) Mode and timing of terrane accretion in the forearc of the Andes in Ecuador. In: Kay SM, Ramos VA, Dickinson WR (Eds.) Backbone of the Americas: shallow subduction, plateau uplift, and ridge and terrane collision. Geol Soc Am Mem 204:197–216Vera RH (2016) Geology of Ecuador. Iberia, QuitoVezzoli L, Apuani T, Corazzato C, Uttini A (2017) Geological and geotechnical characterization of the debris avalanche and pyroclastic deposits of Cotopaxi volcano (Ecuador). A contribute to instability-related hazard studies. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 332:51–70West G (1989) Rock abrasiveness testing for tunneling. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci Geomech Abstr 26:151–160Yarali O, Yasar E, Bacak G, Ranjith PG (2008) A study of rock abrasivity and tool wear in coal measures rocks. Int J Coal Geol 74:53–6

Gestión y previsión de los recursos hídricos almacenados en forma de nieve en las cordilleras españolas

El estudio de la cuantificación del volumen de agua almacena en forma de nieve, así como en la previsión de su evolución, todo ello encaminado a conocer la disponibilidad de recursos hídricos y a realizar una gestión optima de los embalses emplazados aguas abajo, tanto en situación ordinaria donde la principal finalidad es asegurar el abastecimiento y los caudales ecológicos, como en circunstancias extremas de avenida y sequía. En la comunicación se expone la metodologí

Evaluación de la competencia transversal “Innovación, creatividad y emprendimiento” en el ámbito de la Ingeniería Geotécnica

[EN] The development of soft skills during the engineering student’s academic life is becoming more and more important due to the increasing interest of engineering companies for hiring students that own both good technical knowledge and management skills. One of those soft skills is that related with innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship. This communication presents a methodology for the evaluation and development of that soft skill. The core of the methodology is the organization of the students in groups that act as if they were companies specialized in some of the topics of the subject, having to prepare and conduct a presentation of their company, showing that they are the best and most innovative firm in their sector.[ES] El desarrollo de las competencias transversales durante la vida académica del estudiante de ingeniería está adquiriendo cada vez más importancia, dada la demanda por parte de las empresas de ingenieros que posean, además de conocimiento técnicos, capacidades y habilidades ejecutivas de gestión empresarial. Entre estas competencias transversales se tiene aquella relacionada con la innovación, la creatividad y el emprendimiento. Así, en esta comunicación se presenta una metodología para la evaluación y el desarrollo de dicha competencia transversal. El núcleo central de la metodología consiste en la organización de los alumnos en grupos que actúan como si fuesen empresas especializada en alguno de los temas de la asignatura, teniendo que preparar y llevar a cabo una presentación de su empresa, mostrando que son los mejores y más innovadores en su sector.Garzón Roca, J.; Torrijo Echarri, FJ.; Cobos Campos, G. (2019). Evaluación de la competencia transversal “Innovación, creatividad y emprendimiento” en el ámbito de la Ingeniería Geotécnica. En IN-RED 2019. V Congreso de Innovación Educativa y Docencia en Red. Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. 1279-1286. https://doi.org/10.4995/INRED2019.2019.10392OCS1279128

¿Puede el aprendizaje de la geotecnia ser divertido?

[EN] Geotechnical engineering is usually an awkward topic for many students of civil engineering degrees who are often more focused on getting the final number of a given problem than in the process conducted to arrive to the solution. This issue is especially significant when teaching advance topics of geotechnical engineering such as Tunneling or Ground Improvement. Those topics are normally taught in the last years of the degrees and in many cases students are used to the classical teaching in Higher Education. All of this normally results in a low motivation of students, mainly interested in obtaining the degree itself, more than in learning. This article shows an active learning methodology based on autolearning which leads to involving the engineering students in those advanced geotechnical engineering topics, even enjoying with them. The core activity of the learning methodology is the preparation of a part of the subject by the own students, who work in groups and have to give a real lecture to their colleagues[ES] La Geotecnia es en ocasiones una materia difícil e incómoda para el estudiante de ingeniería civil, el cual normalmente suelen centrarse más en obtener el número final de un problema determinado que en el proceso llevado a cabo para llegar a la solución. Esto es especialmente significativo cuando se enseñan temas avanzados de la disciplina, tales como el diseño y construcción de túneles o la mejora de terrenos, temas que se estudian en los últimos años de los grados, con unos alumnos acostumbrados a la enseñanza clásica en la Educación Superior. Todo esto lleva a que la motivación sea baja, estando los alumnos más interesados ​​en obtener el título en sí, que en aprender. Así, este artículo muestra una metodología de aprendizaje activa basada en el autoaprendizaje que persigue involucrar a los alumnos en temas avanzados de la Geotecnia, llegando incluso a disfrutar con ellos. El núcleo central de la metodología es la preparación, en grupos, de una parte de la asignatura por parte de los propios alumnos, quienes deben dar una clase real a sus compañeros.Garzón Roca, J.; Torrijo Echarri, FJ.; Cobos Campos, G.; Fernández, L. (2018). ¿Puede el aprendizaje de la geotecnia ser divertido?. En IN-RED 2018. IV Congreso Nacional de Innovación Educativa y Docencia en Red. Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. 529-540. https://doi.org/10.4995/INRED2018.2018.8592OCS52954

Cuentos del Olivar

En este apasionante viaje tenemos las puertas abiertas para todo aquel que se quiera sumar, ya sea trabajando en pos de la difusión de la cultura ligada al olivo o disfrutando de lecturas como las que se recogen en este libro, que seguro les depara un sabroso disfrute y les descubre una cultura del olivar que tiene a sus espaldas varios milenios de historia. Les deseo que paladeen cada uno de estos relatos, que conforman un excelente aperitivo literario.Área de Historia del Art