Evaluación del riesgo de inundación a múltiples componentes en la costa del Maresme

The coast is one of the areas most affected by natural hazards, with floods being the most frequent and significant of these in terms of their induced impacts, so any management scheme requires their evaluation. In coastal areas, flooding is a hazard associated with different processes acting at different scales: coastal storms, flash floods and sea level rise (SLR). To address the problem as a whole, this study presents a methodology to undertake a preliminary integrated risk assessment of the magnitude of each flood component, taking into account their scope (extension of the affected area) and their temporal scale. The risk is quantified using specific indicators to assess the hazard magnitude (for each component) and the consequences. This allows for a robust comparison of the spatial risk distribution along the coast in order to identify both the most at-risk areas and the most influential risk components. This methodology is applied to a stretch of coastline (Maresme, Catalonia) representative of the Spanish Mediterranean coast. The results obtained characterise this coastline as an area with a relatively low overall risk, although some hotspots are identified as having high-risk values. Resumen: La costa es una de las zonas más sometidas a riesgos naturales, siendo la inundación uno de los más frecuentes e importantes en términos de daños inducidos, por lo que cualquier esquema de gestión requiere evaluación. La inundación en zonas costeras es una amenaza natural asociada a diferentes procesos que actúan a distintas escalas: tormentas costeras, riadas y subida del nivel del mar (SNM). Para abarcar la totalidad del problema, este trabajo propone una metodología para la evaluación preliminar del riesgo integrado de inundación costera a una escala regional que permite evaluar la magnitud de cada componente teniendo en cuenta su alcance (extensión de la zona afectada) y su escala temporal. El riesgo se cuantifica en función de unos indicadores específicos que valoran la magnitud de la amenaza para cada componente y las consecuencias. Esto permite comparar robustamente la distribución espacial del riesgo a lo largo de la costa, para identificar tanto zonas de mayor riesgo como las componentes que más contribuyen al mismo. Aplicamos esta metodología a un tramo de costa característica del Mediterráneo español (Maresme, Cataluña). Los resultados permiten caracterizar esta costa como un área con un riesgo global relativamente bajo, pero algunos puntos singulares con riesgo alto

The Tordera Delta, a hotspot to storm impacts in the coast northwards ofBarcelona (NW Mediterranean)

The Catalan coast, as most of the developed Mediterranean coastal zone, can be characterized as a high-risk area to the impact of storms due to the large concentrationof values together with the dominance of eroding shorelines. In consequence, any long-term coastal management scheme must include a risk analysis to permitdecision makers to better allocate resources. This can be done in a nested approach in which hotspots are first identified along the coast at a regional scale andsecondly, they are further analysed to produce dedicated risk reduction strategies. In this work, we apply the methodology developed within the RISC-KIT project foridentifying and analysing coastal hotspots in the Catalan coast as a test for applying it to Mediterranean conditions. Obtained results show that this methodology isvery efficient in identifying hotspots of storm-induced flooding and erosion at a regional scale. The adoption of the response approach resulted in the direct assessmentof the hazards' probability distributions, which allowed for the selection of the severity of the hotspots to be identified. When a given coastal stretch behaves as ahotspot for both hazards, it is identified as a very highly-sensitive area to storm impacts. In the study area, the Tordera Delta possesses this condition of very high“hotspotness.” This has been demonstrated by the large and frequent damages suffered by the site during the past decades. The paper analyses different aspects related to the risk management of this area, including stakeholder actions

Integrated Environmental Study for Beach Management: A Methodological Approach

This paper aims to present a project convened by the University of Genoa and Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei (FEEM), in collaboration with Local Authorities, concerning the development of tools for beach management in the Riviera del Beigua (Liguria Region, Italy). The aim of the first step of the project is to assess the environmental state of resort beaches examining them interdisciplinary, through a data analysis based on a sound understanding of the components of the physical and the human system. The following step will be the treatment of the data, through the use of various instruments, which use a synthesis analysis, such as the traditional SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) analysis, and the use of a set of environmental and socio-economic indicators. Finally, our ultimate target is to propose guidelines, which will supply an instrument to back up policies concerning beach planning and management

Approaches for zoning of coastal areas with reference to Mediterranean aquaculture

Marine aquaculture, as a relatively new sector capable of economic growth and benefits, is now moving beyond its traditional stages to the point where it needs to have a recognisable and effective position - both in development and regulatory terms. In that context selection of the site is of vital importance since the quality and characteristics of the site are essential for both farming performance and reducing the negative impact on the environment. Site selection procedures are closely related to the coastal zone planning and management policy, especially in a climate of competition for coastal space and resources use. The document suggests that coastal zoning relevant to aquaculture must be included in the national policy and with the goals defined at every level, mainly the control of developmental activities affecting the sustainability of coastal resources

Water Quality

Turkey's present population exceeds 80 million. It has increased six-fold in the last 90 years. Her per capita Gross National Income (GNI) increased more than 25 times in the last 50 years. The associated expansion in production and consumption causes serious pressures on resources and the environment. Based on the latest available, and to some extent reliable data, the present situation of water quality of inland and coastal waters (river, lake, groundwater and marine pollution) in Turkey is discussed in this chapter. The wastewater management schemes and efforts to improve the situation using available treatment and disposal technologies are summarized

Coastal and marine tourism: A challenging factor in Marine Spatial Planning

Coastal and marine space is "home" to a constantly growing number of human activities and facilities, the most important of which are those related to coastal and marine tourism. Being one of the largest segments of the maritime economic sectors, as well as the largest component of the tourism industry, coastal and marine tourism often raise controversy regarding the environmental impacts and the compatibilities with other human activities.Marine Spatial Planning (MSP), is considered to be a promising procedure in tackling developmental and management issues related to the oceans and seas, and thus issues related to coastal and marine tourism. Indeed the present paper argues over the significant role of MSP in organizing and planning coastal and marine tourism activities and especially in ensuring: a) good environmental conditions for the tourism industry to prosper, b) quality of seascapes and coastal landscapes and other resources of importance to tourism, c) adaptation to climate change effects, d) spatial regulations so that coastal and marine space is not overwhelmed by tourism facilities and activities and e) wise allocation of human uses in the coastal zone so as to avoid conflicts and create synergies among sectors. © 2016 Elsevier Ltd