Continental Portuguese Territory Flood Susceptibility Index : contribution to a vulnerability index

This work defines a national flood susceptibility index for the Portuguese continental territory, by proposing the aggregation of different variables which represent natural conditions for permeability, runoff and accumulation. This index is part of the national vulnerability index developed in the scope of Flood Maps in Climate Change Scenarios (CIRAC) project, supported by the Portuguese Association of Insurers (APS). This approach expands on previous works by trying to bridge the gap between different flood mechanisms (e.g. progressive and flash floods) occurring at different spatial scales in the Portuguese territory through (a) selecting homogeneously processed data sets and (b) aggregating their values to better translate the spatially continuous and cumulative influence in floods at multiple spatial scales. Results show a good ability to capture, in the higher susceptibility classes, different flood types: fluvial floods and flash floods. Lower values are usually related to mountainous areas, low water accumulation potential and more permeable soils. Validation with independent flood data sets confirmed these index characteristics, although some overestimation can be seen in the southern region of Alentejo where, due to a dense hydrographic network and an overall low slope, floods are not as frequent as a result of lower precipitation mean values. Future work will focus on (i) including extreme precipitation data sets to represent the triggering factor, (ii) improving representation of smaller and stepper basins, (iii) optimizing variable weight definition process and (iii) developing more robust independent flood validation data sets.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

How to map potential mesovoid shallow substratum (MSS) habitats? A case study in colluvial MSS

Understanding habitat extension that limits species distribution is a crucial tool for management and conservation, in which habitat mapping plays a pivotal role. The mesovoid shallow substratum (MSS) is a type of shallow subterranean habitat with an important conservation value for invertebrate communities, functioning as climatic/reproductive refuge, biogeographic corridor and/or permanent habitat. Methodologies to map the mesovoid shallow substratum (MSS) are currently lacking. We propose a novel method for colluvial MSS habitat mapping, combining geographic information systems, geological maps, and geological knowledge on the habitat genesis. We tested and validated the efficiency of the method using the Arrábida karst area (Portugal) as a model. The method allowed the remote detection of MSS habitats suitable for invertebrate communities ex situ within the study area, and enabled the estimation of habitat extent. The faunal communities sampled in the selected location were dominated by arthropods, especially insects, showcasing the efficacy of this mapping method to detect suitable MSS habitats. The use of this method considerably reduces the in situ scouting area, providing a more efficient way of locating these habitats. The MSS is protected under EU legislation concerning floral communities and geological features, completely neglecting its faunal communities. This method also allows to estimate potential MSS habitat extension in several lithologies, facilitating the implementation of invertebrate prospections, and the establishment of more effective conservation measures.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Landslides in a changing climate: assessment of hazard and exposure in the Arrábida (Portugal)

This work aims to assess the landslide hazard, nowadays and at the end of the 21st century, considering the SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5climate change scenarios. The exposure of residential buildings, roads and strategic equipment to landslide hazard is also assessed. The study area is a small alpine orogenic chain – the Arrábida - characterised by a complex geomorphology, developing along 35 km in the southern part of the Lisbon Metropolitan Area. The landslide susceptibility was assessed using a statistical method (Information Value), using seven landslide predisposing factors: slope, aspect, slope curvature, topographic position index, topographic humidity index, lithology, and land use. These factors were crossed with a landslide inventory containing 4047 rainfall-triggered landslides occurred in 19 municipalities belonging to the Lisbon and Tagus Valley region, which includes the study area. The obtained susceptibility model was cross-checked with 197 rainfall-triggered landslides that were inventoried in the Arrábida in 2012, based on aerial photo interpretation and fieldwork. The date of occurrence of most landslides is unknown, but we assume that the morphological maintenance of landslides in the landscape is less than 20 years. The landslide susceptibility map was classified based on the slope breaks of the prediction-rate curve, and the current landslide probability was computed for each grid cell within each landslide susceptibility class. Landslides in the Arrábida have been typically associated with intense rainfall episodes lasting a few days (5 to 15 days). The estimation of the future landslide probability considered the critical rainfall thresholds established for the Lisbon region by Vaz et al. (2018): (regression threshold, R= 5.5D +124.6; minimum threshold, R= 4.4D + 56.5, where R is the critical rainfall, and D is the number of consecutive days). In a recent work, Araújo (2021) projected the critical rainfall thresholds for landsliding in the Lisbon region for the end of the 21st century, in the context of climate change (SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5 scenarios) and considering 4 accumulated rainfall time scales (1 day, 10 days, 30 days and 60 days). The projections for the duration of 10 days are of special interest for the case study, indicating an increase of 5% in frequency in the case of SSP2-4.5 scenario, and a reduction of 10%in frequency in the case of SSP5-8.5 scenario (Araújo, 2021). These features are considered to compute landslide probability per pixel for the end of the century

Impacto da umidificação aquecida com pressão positiva automática em vias aéreas na terapia do síndroma de apneia obstrutiva do sono Impact of heated humidification with automatic positive airway pressure in obstructive sleep apnea therapy

OBJETIVO: Avaliar o impacto da umidificação aquecida introduzida no início da terapia com pressão positiva automática em vias aéreas (APAP, do inglês automatic positive airway pressure) na adesão e efeitos secundários. MÉTODOS: Foram randomizados 39 doentes com síndroma de apneia obstrutiva do sono sem terapia prévia em dois grupos de tratamento com APAP: com umidificação aquecida (grupo APAPcom; e sem umidificação (grupo APAPsem). Os doentes foram avaliados 7 e 30 dias após a colocação de APAP. Os parâmetros analisados foram a adesão ao tratamento (número médio de horas/noite), efeitos secundários (secura nasal ou da boca, obstrução nasal e rinorreia), sonolência diurna (escore da escala de sonolência de Epworth) e o conforto subjectivo (escala visual analógica). Foram ainda avaliados o índice de apneia-hipopneia (IAH) residual, pressões e fugas médias registados nos ventiladores. RESULTADOS: Os dois grupos de doentes estudados eram semelhantes no que respeita à média etária (APAPcom: 57,4 ± 9,2; APAPsem: 56,5 ± 10,7 anos), IAH (APAPcom: 28,1 ± 14,0; APAPsem: 28,8 ± 20,5 eventos/hora de sono), Epworth basal (APAPcom: 11,2 ± 5,8; APAPsem: 11,9 ± 6,3) e sintomas nasais iniciais. A adesão foi semelhante nos dois grupos (APAPcom: 5,3 ± 2,4; APAPsem: 5,2 ± 2,3 horas/noite). Não se verificaram diferenças nos outros parâmetros avaliados. CONCLUSÕES: A introdução inicial da umidificação aquecida na terapia com APAP não demonstrou vantagem no que diz respeito à adesão e efeitos secundários.<br>OBJECTIVE: To study the impact that heated humidification instituted in the beginning of automatic positive airway pressure (APAP) therapy has on compliance with and the side effects of the treatment. METHODS: Thirty-nine treatment-naïve patients with obstructive sleep apnea were randomized into two groups to receive APAP using one of two modalities: with heated humidification (APAPwith group); and without heated humidification (APAPw/o group).Patients were evaluated at 7 and 30 days after APAP initiation. The following parameters were analyzed: compliance with treatment (mean number of hours/night); side effects (dry nose or mouth, nasal obstruction and rhinorrhea); daytime sleepiness (Epworth sleepiness scale score) and subjective comfort (visual analog scale score). Patients were also evaluated in terms of residual apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), as well as mean pressures and leaks registered in the ventilators. RESULTS: There were no differences between the two groups in terms of mean age (APAPwith: 57.4 ± 9.2; APAPw/o: 56.5 ± 10.7 years), AHI (APAPwith: 28.1 ± 14.0; APAPw/o: 28.8 ± 20.5 events/hour of sleep), baseline Epworth score (APAPwith: 11.2 ± 5.8; APAPw/o: 11.9 ± 6.3) and initial nasal symptoms. Compliance was similar in both groups (APAPwith: 5.3 ± 2.4; APAPw/o: 5.2 ± 2.3 h/night). There were no differences in any of the other parameters analyzed. CONCLUSIONS: The introduction of heated humidification at the beginning of APAP therapy provided no advantage in terms of treatment compliance or side effects of treatment

Proceedings Of The 23Rd Paediatric Rheumatology European Society Congress: Part Two

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