martes, 25 de marzo de 2025

Inundaciones en Ávila: algunas lecciones aprendidas (o por aprender)

Este blog se escribe desde la ciudad de Ávila, que ha sufrido algunas inundaciones en los últimos días. Han sido unas inundaciones leves, sin daños personales y no excesivos daños materiales, aunque las personas afectadas merecen nuestra solidaridad y apoyo, y la ayuda de las administraciones públicas.

La causa del desbordamiento de los ríos Adaja y Chico ha sido la abundante precipitación caída en las últimas semanas, como consecuencia del paso consecutivo de cuatro borrascas: Jana, Konrad y Laurence. Ahora, Martinho. Especialmente esta última generó precipitaciones intensas en la noche del 20 al 21 de marzo.

Sin embargo, en mi opinión, hay que aprender dos lecciones muy importantes sobre estas inundaciones, que no por simples hay que dejar de destacar:

1) Las zonas inundables se terminan inundando.

2) Las inundaciones catastróficas son un problema más de ordenación del territorio o de planificación urbanística que de hidrología.

3) Como ya explicamos para la catástrofe de Valencia, cabeceras de cuencas con cubierta forestal densa previenen las inundaciones abajo.

Aquí os dejo algunas fotos que para los vecinos de esta ciudad tienen carácter histórico, ya que no se veía una riada similar desde los años 40 del siglo XX.










jueves, 20 de marzo de 2025

Spacial issue: Combating Desertification and Adapting to Droughts

 

Droughts are among the most urgent threats to sustainable development, with projections indicating that by 2050, they could affect more than three-quarters of the global population. Since 2000, the frequency and duration of droughts have increased by 29% compared to the previous two decades (WMO, 2021). Meanwhile, desertification – defined as land degradation in arid, semi-arid, and dry-subhumid regions – has accelerated, posing severe risks to ecosystems, biodiversity, and human livelihoods worldwide.

The complex interplay between climatic variability and human activities has intensified pressure on rangelands, forests, and agricultural lands, diminishing their resilience and long-term productivity. As a result, environmental degradation is exacerbating risks to water and food security, particularly in dryland regions. Addressing these challenges requires interdisciplinary research and innovative solutions to mitigate land degradation and enhance drought resilience.

To contribute to this global effort, we invite submissions on topics related to desertification and drought adaptation. While rooted in soil science, this Special Issue welcomes contributions from related disciplines, including agronomy, environmental science, forestry, hydrology, and physical geography.

Suggested Themes:

• Climate change and its role in exacerbating desertification

• Soil degradation and restoration in drylands

• Geo-ecological responses to drought and land degradation

• Impacts of drought on soil quality and the carbon cycle

• Sustainable land management practices to combat desertification

• Innovative agricultural strategies for drought adaptation

• Remote sensing and modelling for monitoring land degradation

• Traditional and indigenous knowledge in dryland management

• Policy frameworks and governance for drought resilience

The UN’s designation of the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought highlights the urgency of this issue. We look forward to receiving high-quality submissions that advance knowledge and contribute to practical solutions for these pressing global challenges.

Keywords: soil quality, drought, desertification, sustainable development, land degradation, water security, food security, drylands, drought resilience, drought adaptation, soil science, agronomy, environmental science, forestry, hydrology, physical geography, climate change, remote sensing, policy, sustainable land management, carbon cycle, indigenous knowledge, governance, climatic variability

Issue editors: Ilan Stavi and Jorge Mongil-Manso

Manuscript Summary Submission Deadline 30 September 2025 | Manuscript Submission Deadline 31 January 2026

Link