Movementos en masa

Titulación: Máster en Medio Ambiente e Recursos Naturais -- Materia: Xeoloxía AmbientalO programa que se presenta está especificamente deseñado para o alumnado que cursa o Máster de Medio Ambiente e Recursos Naturais, polo que se centra naqueles aspectos da Xeoloxía Ambiental que non se estudan noutras materias da titulación; por exemplo non se estuda o solo como recursos porque os alumnos cursan distintas materias desa disciplina. Dentro do programa pódense diferenciar claramente dúas partes, na primeira estúdanse os recursos (unidades II a IV) e na segunda os riscos (unidades V a IX)xeolóxicos. A presente unidade didáctica (en diante UD) encádrase na parte do programa onde se estudan os distintos riscos xeolóxicos, é dicir, aqueles fenómenos asociados a procesos xeolóxicos naturais que teñen lugar na superficie da Terra e que representan unha ameaza para a vida humana e para as súas propiedades. Nas unidades anteriores estudáronse os riscos xeolóxicos que son resultado de forzas do interior da Terra (erupcións volcánicas e terremotos) e nesta UD comezamos a analizar os resultantes de forzas externas (na superficie da Terra ou moi preto dela). Os movementos en masa constitúen un conxunto de procesos mediante os cales os materiais terrestres móvense por acción da gravidade. A maioría destes movementos teñen lugar en zonas de ladeira; pero mesmo en zonas chairas pódense producir desprazamentos, de maneira que existen poucas áreas totalmente exentas de perigo. En primeiro lugar trataranse aqueles movementos en masa non incluídos entre os corrementos de terra e a continuación centrarémonos nos corrementos de terra. Estudaranse os procesos, as consecuencias e as medidas para a prevención e a mitigación dos danos que poidan ocasionar.Universidade de Santiago de Compostela. Servizo de Normalización Lingüístic

An assessment of the recent evolution of the streamflow in a near-natural system: a case study in the headwaters of the Mero basin (Galicia, Spain)

Producción CientíficaObservational trend analysis is fundamental for documenting changes in river flows and placing extreme events in their longer-term historical context. Observations from near-natural catchments, i.e., with little or no alteration by humans, are of great importance in detecting and attributing streamflow trends. The purpose of this study is to analyze the annual and seasonal trends of stream discharge (mean, low and high flows) in a headwater catchment in NW Spain, i.e., in the wettest corner of the Iberian Peninsula. The results showed no significant decrease in the mean annual stream discharge. However, significantly lower summer and autumn mean stream discharge and an increase in low flow period were detected, in addition to lesser autumn high flow. The rainfall pattern followed an upward trend, but was not significant. This different pattern shown by rainfall and discharge indicates that is not sufficient to explain the observed trend in stream discharge. Air temperature, most notably by enhancing evapotranspiration, may explain the altered patterns of stream discharge.Xunta de Galicia (Proyecto CGL2014-56907-R)Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad (Proyecto CGL2014-56907-R

Assessing the Expected Impact of Climate Change on Nitrate Load in a Small Atlantic Agro-Forested Catchment

Climate change is likely to have profound impacts on quality of water resources, by altering the magnitude and timing of nutrient delivery to stream network. However, water quality responses to climate change are difficult to predict, especially for nutrient loads because of combined uncertainties in water quality and quantity projections. In this study, the potential medium (2031–2060) and long-term (2069–2098) impacts of project changes in climate variables (temperature, rainfall and CO2 concentration) on nitrate load in an Atlantic agro-forested catchment (NW Spain) were assessed using the soil and water assessment tool (SWAT) model. Climate change scenarios are based on data projected by regional models from the ENSEMBLES project and two CO2 concentration scenarios. The results showed that nitrate load will increase in the future horizons (2031–2060, 6%; 2069–2098, 7%) in relation to current values (1981–2010), possibly due to the decline in grassland biomass, as well as an increase in the rate of mineralisation linked to the increase in temperature. Consequently, lower rates of fertilisers will be needed in these areas in future horizons, which should be taken into consideration when planning management strategies in order to mitigate the impacts of potential climate change

Sea-level change and human occupation over 6000 years on Areoso Island (Ría de Arousa, NW Iberian Peninsula)

Coastal areas are extremely sensitive to variations in environmental conditions. The interaction of marine and continental processes causes a high degree of dynamism, generating depositional formations of great value for palaeoenvironmental reconstruction. This paper focuses on two pedostratigraphic deposits located under the current beach, in close proximity to archaeological tumuli located on Areoso Island (Ría de Arousa, NW Iberian Peninsula). Employing a geoarchaeological approach, sea-level rise, environmental conditions and human occupation over a 6000-year period are interpreted. The results of granulometric and mineralogical data, elemental composition and stratigraphic features, help to identify three successive environments: continental (rock weathering, soil formation and erosion); a transition to a coastal environment; and the establishment of full coastal conditions. The geomorphological evolution of the last 6.0 kyr BP has been controlled by climate, sea-level rise and human activity. The continental facies shows evidence of low sea-level up to 4.8 kyr BP and the first evidence of coastal processes after 3.2 kyr BP. These pedostratigraphic deposits located in an open coastal system improve the Holocene sea-level rise curve in the NW Iberian Peninsula and help to understand the context in which the most important archaeological structures on the island (the tumuli) began to be erodedOpen Access funding provided thanks to the CRUE-CSIC agreement with Springer NatureS

Evolution of a coastal area during the early Middle Ages in the NW of the Iberian Peninsula

En el presente trabajo se estudia la evolución de un tramo costero de la Ría de Vigo (NW de la península Ibérica) desde época romana hasta el siglo XVII, prestando particular atención a la Alta Edad Media. Desde el punto de vista arqueológico, la importancia del sector radica en la presencia de una salina de época romana, en uso desde los siglos II BC a III-IV AD, y su abandono para dar paso a la instauración de una iglesia y una necrópolis en la Alta Edad Media (a partir de los siglos IV-V AD). Se muestrearon, con alta resolución, tres secuencias edafo-sedimentarias y se analizaron diversas propiedades físico-químicas (pH, granulometría, contenido en C, N, S, P, Fe, As) y la composición mineralógica, con el fin de determinar la naturaleza de las distintas facies presentes, los procesos implicados y las causas asociadas. Los resultados indican modificaciones en la costa entre finales del periodo romano y comienzos de la Alta Edad Media, con una evolución del medio desde una dinámica costera, con formaciones de marisma-lagoon costero, a una dinámica eólica, con dunas. Dicho cambio es coincidente con el cese de la explotación romana de sal y el inicio del periodo Frío Altomedieval. Estos resultados son similares a los encontrados en otros puntos de la Ría de Vigo. En los tres sectores comparados (Rosalía de Castro, Toralla y Hospital), a la par que se produce la progradación de las formaciones de marisma y duna, el uso antrópico del sector cambia. Aunque la pauta climática presenta un papel importante en la evolución de este sector, los cambios en la línea de costa que se detectan entre ambos periodos culturales pudo estar determinada también por causas socioecómicasThis paper focuses on the evolution of a coastal stretch of the Ria de Vigo (NW Iberian Peninsula) during the early Middle Ages, which presents an important archaeological site with a roman salt mine. Salt exploitation in the Roman period ceased around the AD 3rd-5th centuries, and was followed by the establishment of a churche and a cemetery during the Middle Ages. The properties (pH, grain size, C, N, S, P, Fe and As, and mineralogical composition) of three pedo-sedimentary sequences were analysed in order to identify the different environmental changes that affected this sector. The results suggest signifcant changes occurred in the coast from the late Roman period (AD 3rth-5th centuries) into the early Middle Ages (AD 5th-6th centuries), with an evolution from a marine-continental dynamics, with formation of salt marshes, to a wind dynamics, with dune formations. This change is consistent with the abandonment of the Roman salt exploitation and the beginning of Cold Dark Ages. These results are similar to those found in other areas of the Ría de Vigo. In the three sectors compared (Rosalia de Castro, Toralla and Hospital) land use changed while the progradation of marsh and dune formations occurred. Although climate may have played a major role in the evolution of this sector, the changes in the coastline between the two cultural periods could be also related to socio-economic causesS

Unha enxeñeira ou científica en cada cole

Póster presentado na V XORNADA UNIVERSITARIA GALEGA EN XÉNERO. TRANSFORMANDO DENDE A UNIVERSIDADE. Vigo, 7 Xullo 2017Nesta comunicación, presentamos o proxecto Unha enxeñeira ou científica en cada cole organizado pola Oficina de Igualdade de Xénero da Universidade de Santiago de Compostela (USC) en colaboración co Concello de Santiago de Compostela. Esta iniciativa pretende incentivar a presenza de rapazas en carreiras relacionadas coas disciplinas STEM (ciencia, enxeñería, tecnoloxía e matemáticas), mediante actividades didácticas nos centros educativos que rachen cos estereotipos sexistas da nosa sociedade. A actividade didáctica consistiu na realización de dezanove obradoiros, dirixidos a nenas e nenos de 5º ou 6º de primaria e realizados nos meses de setembro e outubro de 2016. Os obradoiros foron impartidos por profesoras ou investigadoras da USC e do Centro de Supercomputación de Galicia (CESGA) para crear referentes femininos e incentivar a presenza de rapazas no ámbito científico tecnolóxico. Ademais, estes obradoiros amosaron a relación da ciencia e da tecnoloxía coa nosa vida cotiá e serviron para achegar ao alumnado a estas disciplinas dun xeito lúdicoConcello de Santiago de Compostel

Clonal chromosomal mosaicism and loss of chromosome Y in elderly men increase vulnerability for SARS-CoV-2

The pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19) had an estimated overall case fatality ratio of 1.38% (pre-vaccination), being 53% higher in males and increasing exponentially with age. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, we found 133 cases (1.42%) with detectable clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations (mCA) and 226 males (5.08%) with acquired loss of chromosome Y (LOY). Individuals with clonal mosaic events (mCA and/or LOY) showed a 54% increase in the risk of COVID-19 lethality. LOY is associated with transcriptomic biomarkers of immune dysfunction, pro-coagulation activity and cardiovascular risk. Interferon-induced genes involved in the initial immune response to SARS-CoV-2 are also down-regulated in LOY. Thus, mCA and LOY underlie at least part of the sex-biased severity and mortality of COVID-19 in aging patients. Given its potential therapeutic and prognostic relevance, evaluation of clonal mosaicism should be implemented as biomarker of COVID-19 severity in elderly people. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, individuals with clonal mosaic events (clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations and/or loss of chromosome Y) showed an increased risk of COVID-19 lethality

Higher COVID-19 pneumonia risk associated with anti-IFN-α than with anti-IFN-ω auto-Abs in children

We found that 19 (10.4%) of 183 unvaccinated children hospitalized for COVID-19 pneumonia had autoantibodies (auto-Abs) neutralizing type I IFNs (IFN-alpha 2 in 10 patients: IFN-alpha 2 only in three, IFN-alpha 2 plus IFN-omega in five, and IFN-alpha 2, IFN-omega plus IFN-beta in two; IFN-omega only in nine patients). Seven children (3.8%) had Abs neutralizing at least 10 ng/ml of one IFN, whereas the other 12 (6.6%) had Abs neutralizing only 100 pg/ml. The auto-Abs neutralized both unglycosylated and glycosylated IFNs. We also detected auto-Abs neutralizing 100 pg/ml IFN-alpha 2 in 4 of 2,267 uninfected children (0.2%) and auto-Abs neutralizing IFN-omega in 45 children (2%). The odds ratios (ORs) for life-threatening COVID-19 pneumonia were, therefore, higher for auto-Abs neutralizing IFN-alpha 2 only (OR [95% CI] = 67.6 [5.7-9,196.6]) than for auto-Abs neutralizing IFN-. only (OR [95% CI] = 2.6 [1.2-5.3]). ORs were also higher for auto-Abs neutralizing high concentrations (OR [95% CI] = 12.9 [4.6-35.9]) than for those neutralizing low concentrations (OR [95% CI] = 5.5 [3.1-9.6]) of IFN-omega and/or IFN-alpha 2

Concentración de sólidos en suspensión durante hidrológicos individuales

RESUMEN. El objetivo de este trabajo consiste en conocer la influencia de los episodios de lluvia en los contenidos de sólidos en suspensión en las aguas superficiales de una cuenca rural de 16 km2 de extensión, con sustrato de esquisto y clima templado húmedo. Para ello, se analizó la evolución de la concentración de sólidos en suspensión en 11 eventos individuales producidos entre diciembre de 2004 y diciembre de 2005. Los resultados obtenidos, con mayores concentraciones de sólidos en suspensión en los eventos de otoño e invierno, muestran que los contenidos de sólidos en suspensión no sólo dependen de la cantidad y duración de la precipitación, sino también, de las condiciones de humedad y uso del suelo. Se observa que al inicio del evento las concentraciones de sólidos son bajas (generalmente menores de 10 mg/L) y que éstas se incrementan de forma paralela al caudal describiendo fenómenos de histéresis en sentido de las agujas del reloj. Las concentraciones máximas de sólidos se alcanzan con el pico de caudal, o justo antes de éste, y después decrecen de manera rápida lo que es indicativo de que la fuente de sedimento está limitada. The objective of this work is to know the influence of the rain episodes in the suspended solid contents in superficial waters of a rural river basin of 16 km2 of extension, with substrate of schist and humid temperate climate. The evolution of the suspended solid concentrations was analyzed during 11 single-events that happened between December of 2004 and December of 2005. The obtained results, with greater suspended solid concentrations in the events of autumn and winter, demonstrate that the suspended solid contents depend on the amount and duration of the precipitation but also of the conditions of humidity and soil use. In all the cases is observed that at the beginning of the event the solid concentrations are low (generally small that 10 mg/L) and that these are increased of parallel form to the water volume having described clockwise hysteresis. The maximum suspended solid concentrations are reached with the peak flow or before this and later it decreases of fast way. This indicates that the sediment source is limited