DOCSLIB.ORG

Presentation

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Presentation Presentation Presentation from the 2008 World Water Week in Stockholm ©The Author(s), all rights reserved Stockholm Water Week 2008 Virtual Water and Water Footppyrint: From Theory to Practice Virtual Water and Water Footprint: A Case Study from Spain M. Ramón Llamas§ Alberto Garrido*, Maite M. Aldaya §, Paula Novo*,Roberto RdíRodríguez Cd*Casado*, ClConsuelo VlVarela‐OtOrtega * § Universidad Complutense, Spain *Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Spain Project Funded by • Sylabus Motivation Objectives Data Results Discussion Motivation • WF + VW are indicators that inform water policy decisions • There are critical issues that the literature has covered only superficially: – The Green‐blue water compp,onents, and drought cycles – Virtual water trade as water policy indicator • A few but crucial methodological issues question hit herto WF+VW evaliluations for SiSpain Objectives 1. Obtain new evaluations of WF and VW at lower scale (provincial) and for different years 2. Evaluate water scarcity in light of the evaluations of WF and VW 3. Distill water policy and farm policy lessons drawn from the WF and VW Data sources 1. Area/yield of 93 crops, rainfed and irrigated, in each province along 9 years (1997‐2005) (Ministry of Agriculture) 2. ETP evaluated for each crop, province and year (Allen et al., 1998; INM, 2007) 3. Blue water estimated as a complement to available green water and checked with Water Authorities 4. Trade of all crop products and years (MITYC, 2007) Results 1. Comparisons from previous evaluations 2. Spanish agricultural and livestock footprints 3. Agricultural Virtual Water Trade 4. Hydrological and economic water productivity 5. Does international agricultural trade increase water use in Spain? 6. Does agricultural footprint depend on water scarcity?? 7. River bibasin analilysis: the GdiGuadiana case 1. Comparisons from previous evaluations Strong differences in agricultural water use and virtual water 'trade'... Agricultural Water Virtual water ‘trade’ (Mm3/year) Use (Mm3/year) Exports Imports Year 2003 25,6021 9,8611 24,1402 Chapagain y Hoekstra3 50,570 17,440 27,110 Source: 1 Own elaboration; 2 MAPA (2005) and Chapagain y Hoekstra (2004) ; 3 Chapagain y Hoekstra (2004), 1997-2001 VIRTUAL WATER Our Work Chapagain y CONTENT (m3/ton) Hoekstra Wheat 507 1227 ...due to: Barley 434 1070 – Distinction between rainfed and Maize 727 646 irrigated agriculture Orange 326 362 – Different data sources Tomato 93 53 Olive 496 3295 Source: Chapagain y Hoekstra (2004), 1997-2001 and own elaboration, 2003 2. Agricultural Water footprint Changes of in the Water footprint 3 45 000 Smaller 40 000 footprint Million m 35 000 30 000 25 000 Water footprint agriculture Virtual water exports livestock 20 000 Water footrpint agricultural sector Virtual water imports livestock 15 000 10 000 Net exports 5 000 0 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 Year 3. Agricultural virtual water trade Virtual Water 'Exports' Virtual Water 'Imports' 25000 25000 Crops 20000 20000 Crops Products Livestock Products 15000 15000 3 3 Mm Mm 10000 10000 5000 5000 0 0 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 3. Agricultural Virtual Water trade Virtual water exports Virtual water imports 6000 30000 Mm3 5000 Mm3 25000 4000 20000 3000 15000 2000 10000 1000 5000 0 0 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 year year Vineyard Vegetables Tuber Pulse Olive Industrial crops Fresh fruit Fodder Dry fruit Coffee/tea Citrics Cereals 3. Agricultural Virtual Water trade Virtual water exports Virtual water imports 30000 30000 Mm3 25000 Mm3 25000 20000 20000 15000 15000 10000 10000 5000 5000 0 0 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 year Vineyard Vegetables Tuber Pulse Vineyard Vegetables Tuber Pulse Olive Industrial crops Fresh fruit Fodder Olive Industrial crops Fresh fruit Fodder year Dry fruit Coffee/tea Citrics Cereals Dry fruit Coffee/tea Citrics Cereals 4. Water productivity and blue-green water use 14 000 4,0 ) 33 12 000 Crop blue water use 3,5 Crop green water use 3,0 use (Mm3) 10 000 vity (€/m rr WtWater apparen t prod ucti tiitvity 2,5 8 000 2,0 Crop wate t producti 6 000 nn 1,5 4 000 1,0 2 000 050,5 er appare wat 0 0,0 Blue 5. Does international agricultural trade increase water use in Spain? Agricultural and Livestock Exports Agricultural and Livestock Imports 12000 15000 35000 9000 M€ M€ 8000 ) 10000 30000 3 12000 ) 3 7000 m (Mm MM 25000 8000 6000 9000 20000 5000 6000 15000 4000 ater 'Exports' 6000 ter 'Imports' ter 'Imports' ( aa WW 4000 3000 10000 3000 2000 Virtual 2000 Virtual W 5000 1000 0 0 0 0 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 Agricultural Virtual Water 'Exports' Agricultural Virtual Water 'Imports' Livestock Virtual Water 'Exports' Livestock Virtual Water 'Imports' Agricultural Exports Agricultural Imports Livestock Exports Livestock Imports 6. Is agricultural footprint dependent on water scarcity? Green and blue water apparent productivity in irrigated agriculture Mediterranean regions Mainland regions .004 .004 Each dot, a province (1997-2005) .003 .003 R-squared = 0.0019 .002 R-squared = 0.3810 .002 .001 .001 R-squared = 0.0065 R-squared = 0.1229 0 0 0 .1 .2 .3 .4 0 .1 .2 .3 .4 Scarcity value (€/m3) Scarcity value (€/m3) Fitted values Crop blue water use 1000 m3/€ Fitted values Crop blue water use 1000 m3/€ Fitted values Crop green water use 1000 m3/€ Fitted values Crop green water use 1000 m3/€ 7. Regional analysis: the Guadiana Basin Water Footprint analysis (green and blue), both from a hydrological and economic perspective, for the whole Guadiana basin in collaboration with the Portuguese Water Institute (INAG) within the NeWater project. Source: CHG (2008) 7. Regional analysis: the Guadiana Basin Agricultural use of water resources in the Guadiana (106 m3/year) (2001) CUENCA CÁCERES TOLEDO 835 1286 142 93 745 905 CIUDAD UPPER GUADIANA BADAJOZ REAL ALBACETE MIDDLE GUADIANA CÓRDOBA 3 10 21 PROVINCES GREEN WATER UPPER GUADIANA BLUE SURFACE WATER LOWER GUADIANA SEVILLA MIDDLE GUADIANA BLUE GROUNDWATER HUELVA LOWER GUADIANA FORMER LOWER GUADIANA II DOMAIN 025 50 100 150 200 Km Source: Aldaya and Llamas (2007) 7. Regional analysis: the Guadiana Basin Water consumption and economic value in the Guadiana Basin (2001) GUADIANA RIVER BASIN* Blue water economic Green Water Blue Water Per capita GVA Human pppopulation ppyroductivity 106m3/year 106m3/year m3///cap/year million € €/m3/year 1,417,810 Agricultural 2,212 1,827 2,849 1,096 0.6 Livestock 22 16 286 12.7 Urban 130 91 128 0.9 Industrial 20 14 1,557 77.9 Total 2,212 1,999 2,970 3,068 1.53 *These data do not include trade. Source: Aldaya and Llamas, 2007 Conclusions VW & WF inform water, trade & agricultural policies 1. VW alleviates and cushions drought cycles 2. Green vs. Blue water accounting is essential to evaluate VW+WF (composition varies with years and regions). 3. The ‘water scarcity’ paradigm should be revisited in light of water VW trade .
Load more

Recommended publications
  • The Celts of the Southwestern Iberian Peninsula
    e-Keltoi: Journal of Interdisciplinary Celtic Studies Volume 6 The Celts in the Iberian Peninsula Article 9 7-12-2005 The eltC s of the Southwestern Iberian Peninsula Luis Berrocal-Rangel Departamento de Prehistoria y Arqueología, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid Follow this and additional works at: https://dc.uwm.edu/ekeltoi Recommended Citation Berrocal-Rangel, Luis (2005) "The eC lts of the Southwestern Iberian Peninsula," e-Keltoi: Journal of Interdisciplinary Celtic Studies: Vol. 6 , Article 9. Available at: https://dc.uwm.edu/ekeltoi/vol6/iss1/9 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by UWM Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in e-Keltoi: Journal of Interdisciplinary Celtic Studies by an authorized administrator of UWM Digital Commons. For more information, please contact open- [email protected]. The Celts of the Southwestern Iberian Peninsula Luis Berrocal-Rangel Departamento de Prehistoria y Arqueología Universidad Autónoma de Madrid Abstract Archaeological investigations carried out in the southwestern Iberian Peninsula during recent years have contributed to the identification of the cultural characteristics of its ancient populations, called Keltikoi or Celtici by Ephorus, Herodotus, Strabo and Pliny. From a detailed analysis of the types and distribution of the material culture, references in the Classical sources, epigraphic evidence, contemporary observations, and the presence of an individual decorative style of hand-made pottery, it is now possible to record the specific cultural traits of those native populations that occupied, at least from the end of the fifth century BC, the basins of the Sado and Guadiana Rivers in both Spain and Portugal.
    [Show full text]
  • Alien Species in the Guadiana Estuary
    Aquatic Invasions (2009) Volume 4, Issue 3: 501-506 DOI 10.3391/ai.2009.4.3.11 © 2009 The Author(s) Journal compilation © 2009 REABIC (http://www.reabic.net) This is an Open Access article Short communication Alien species in the Guadiana Estuary (SE-Portugal/SW-Spain): Blackfordia virginica (Cnidaria, Hydrozoa) and Palaemon macrodactylus (Crustacea, Decapoda): potential impacts and mitigation measures Maria Alexandra Chícharo1*, Tânia Leitão1, Pedro Range1, Cristina Gutierrez2, Jesus Morales2, Pedro Morais1 and Luís Chícharo1 1CIMAR/CCMAR – Centro de Ciências do Mar, Faculdade de Ciências do Mar e do Ambiente, Campus de Gambelas, Universidade do Algarve, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal 2Instituto Andaluz de Investigación y Formación Agraria, Pesquera, Alimentaria y de la Producción Ecológica (IFAPA) Centro “Agua del Pino”, Ctra. Punta Umbria-Cartaya s/n. 21450 Cartaya, Huelva, España E-mail: [email protected] (MAC), [email protected] (TL), [email protected] (PR), [email protected] (PM), [email protected] (LC), [email protected] (JM), [email protected] (CG) *Corresponding author Received 9 May 2009; accepted in revised form 6 August 2009; published online 10 August 2009 Abstract The cnidarian Blackfordia virginica and the adult of the caridean prawn, Palaemon macrodactylus are first recorded from the Guadiana Estuary. The habitats and environmental conditions under which these species were found are described and the potential impacts and mitigation measures for their introduction are discussed. The first observations of adults of these species were made in July 2008, at the transitional zone of the estuary (brackish area). Most samples taken in the middle-estuary were characterized by large densities of B.
    [Show full text]
  • River Basin Management Plans
    EUROPE-INBO PORTO (PORTUGAL) 27 – 30 SEPTEMBER 2011 Tagus River Basin District Administration Administração da Região Hidrográfica do Tejo, I.P. (ARH do Tejo, I.P.) Manuel Lacerda WATER LAW – INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK . Public Administration . National level - National Water Authority (Instituto da Água – INAG) . Regional level - Coordination and Regional Development Commissions . River Basin District level – River Basin District Administrations (Administrações de Região Hidrográfica – ARH) . Local level - Municipalities . Public or private entities . Users Associations . Multipurpose Infrastructures . Advisory bodies . National Water Council . River Basin District Council RIVER BASIN DISTRICT ADMINISTRATIONS (RBDA) IN PORTUGAL MAINLAND ▪ ARH do Norte (North RBDA) . Minho and Lima RB . Cávado, Ave e Leça RB . Douro RB ▪ ARH do Centro (Centre RBDA) . Vouga, Mondego and Lis RB . West Coast RB ▪ ARH do Tejo (Tagus RBDA) . Tagus RB ▪ ARH do Alentejo (Alentejo RBDA) . Sado and Mira RB . Guadiana RB ▪ ARH do Algarve (Algarve RBDA) . Algarve RB TAGUS RBDA AREA AND MAIN FIGURES Portugal ARH do Tejo mainland jurisdiction area Area (km2) 89 271 28 077 (31 %) Population (inhabit.) 9 858 925 3 485 816 (35 %) Municipalities (nr.) 278 107 (38 %) Coastal line (km) 898 261 (32 %) Bathing areas (nr.) 425 124 (29 %) TAGUS – INTERNATIONAL RIVER BASIN DISTRICT . Convention for the Protection and Sustainable Use of Water in the Shared River Basins of Portugal and Spain (Albufeira Convention) . Commission for Implementation and Development of the Convention (CADC)
    [Show full text]
  • Climate Change Effects on the Hydrology of The
    Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2018-258-RC1, 2018 HESSD © Author(s) 2018. This work is distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License. Interactive comment Interactive comment on “Climate change effects on the hydrology of the headwaters of the Tagus River: implications for the management of the Tagus-Segura transfer” by Francisco Pellicer-Martínez and José Miguel Martínez-Paz Anonymous Referee #1 Received and published: 2 July 2018 GENERAL COMMENTS The manuscript studies the effects of climate change on the Tagus-Segura water trans- fer. According to the authors, the work constitutes a new contribution because it ana- lyzes the impact of climate change in an inter-basin water transfer from an integrated Printer-friendly version water management perspective. Despite they cite a recent article where the issue has already been addressed (Morote et al., 2017), they explain that their approach includes Discussion paper three new aspects: 1) specific modelling of climate scenarios; 2) hydrological modelling and; 3) simulation of the system management under the current operating rule. C1 In my opinion, despite the subject could be really interesting for the future manage- ment of Tagus-Segura water transfer, the selected methodology does not constitute a HESSD new contribution to the existing literature. Besides, although the estimation of climate change socioeconomic impacts for the case study could be considered as a novelty, it is scarcely developed. Demand curves are mentioned for the first time in the Dis- Interactive cussion section, the methodology to obtain them is not further explained and plots are comment not provided.
    [Show full text]
  • Lisbon, Évora & the Algarve
    VBT Itinerary by VBT www.vbt.com Portugal: Lisbon, Évora & the Algarve Bike Vacation + Air Package Cycle into the magnificent heart of the Alentejo and Algarve regions. During your Portugal bike tour, VBT deeply immerses you in spectacular landscapes and a famously welcoming culture. You’ll ride among stunning vineyard-laden vistas past cork forests and olive groves to remarkably preserved hilltop villages and scenic seaside towns. Sample farm-fresh cuisine as the guests of a farmhouse café and delicious wines from local wineries. Straddle the border with Spain when you embark on a Guadiana River cruise. The region’s rich heritage greets you, too, in the UNESCO site of Évora, a stunningly preserved medieval gem, and in ancient Mértola, home to a Moorish mosque steeped in history. Authentic accommodations, including an elegant Algarve retreat, evoke the character of the region, enhancing this unforgettable adventure. 1 / 10 VBT Itinerary by VBT www.vbt.com Cultural Highlights Marvel at the UNESCO World Heritage site of Évora and the eerie Chapel of the Bones in the São Francisco Church Stroll the charming cobbled lanes of hilltop Monsaraz, a stunning village crowned by a medieval castle Cycle Alentejo’s stunning landscapes of sprawling vineyards, cork tree forests and olive groves Roam the hallowed halls of the Moorish medieval mosque in the ancient town of Mértola 2 / 10 VBT Itinerary by VBT www.vbt.com Pedal along the Guadiana River, then cruise its waters by privately chartered river boat Straddle two time zones at the border between Portugal and Spain along the Guadiana River Indulge in the amenities of your elegant Algarve retreat, relaxing in a heated pool and savoring locally sourced meals Taste the delectable flavors of Portugal in the simple ingredients of its rustic cuisine and the famed locally produced wines What to Expect This tour offers a combination of rolling terrain and moderate-to-challenging hills.
    [Show full text]
  • Drought and Ecological Flows in the Lower Guadiana River Basin (Southwest Iberian Peninsula)
    water Article Drought and Ecological Flows in the Lower Guadiana River Basin (Southwest Iberian Peninsula) Inmaculada Pulido-Calvo * , Juan Carlos Gutiérrez-Estrada and Víctor Sanz-Fernández Departamento de Ciencias Agroforestales, Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería, Campus El Carmen, Universidad de Huelva, 21007 Huelva, Spain; [email protected] (J.C.G.-E.); [email protected] (V.S.-F.) * Correspondence: [email protected] Received: 13 December 2019; Accepted: 22 February 2020; Published: 2 March 2020 Abstract: Drought temporal characterization is a fundamental instrument in water resource management and planning of basins with dry-summer Mediterranean climate and with a significant seasonal and interannual variability of precipitation regime. This is the case for the Lower Guadiana Basin, where the river is the border between Spain and Portugal (Algarve-Baixo Alentejo-Andalucía Euroregion). For this transboundary basin, a description and evaluation of hydrological drought events was made using the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) with monthly precipitation time series of Spanish and Portuguese climatic stations in the study area. The results showed the occurrence of global cycles of about 25–30 years with predominance of moderate and severe drought events. It was observed that the current requirements of ecological flows in strategic water bodies were not satisfied in some months of October to April of years characterized by severe drought events occurring in the period from 1946 to 2015. Therefore, the characterization of the ecological status of the temporary streams that were predominant in this basin should be a priority in the next hydrologic plans in order to identify the relationships between actual flow regimes and habitat attributes, thereby improving environmental flows assessments, which will enable integrated water resource management.
    [Show full text]
  • The Landforms of Spain
    UNIT The landforms k 1 o bo ote Work in your n of Spain Spain’s main geographical features Track 1 Spain’s territory consists of a large part of the Iberian Peninsula, the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean, the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean Sea and the autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla, located on the north coast of Africa. All of Spain’s territory is located in the Northern Hemisphere. Peninsular Spain shares a border with France and Andorra to the north and with Portugal, which is also on the Iberian Peninsula, to the west. The Cantabrian Sea and the Atlantic Ocean border the north and west coast of the Peninsula and the Mediterranean Sea borders the south and east coast. The Balearic Islands are an archipelago in the Mediterranean Sea. The Canary Islands, however, are an archipelago located almost 1 000 kilometres southwest of the Peninsula, in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, just north of the coast of Africa. Spain is a country with varied terrain and a high average altitude. Spain’s high average altitude is due to the numerous mountain ranges and systems located throughout the country and the fact that a high inner plateau occupies a large part of the Peninsula. The islands are also mostly mountainous and have got significant elevations, especially in the Canary Islands. Northernmost point 60°W 50°W 40°W 30°W 20°W 10°W 0° 10°E 20°E 30°E 40°E 50°E 60°N Southernmost point Easternmost point s and Westernmost point itie y iv ou ct ! a m 50°N r Estaca o S’Esperó point (Menorca), f de Bares, 4° 19’ E d ATLANTIC 43° 47’ N n a L 40°N ltar Gibra Str.
    [Show full text]
  • Bajo Guadiana Routes Guaditer Project Guaditer
    BAJO GUADIANA ROUTES Guaditer Project Guaditer SANTA BÁRBARA DISCOVER CASTRO MARIM PAYMOGO DE CASA The Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Piedad (18th century) The fort of Sao Sebastião (17th century), the Ermita de Santo Its castle was built in the 15th century and later reconstructed stands out among a typical, traditional, popular architecture António, a restored historic windmill and the Regional during the wars with Portugal in the 17th century. Inside, we with whitewashed walls and beautiful cobbles. From the Interpretation Centre stand on the Revellín hill. On the opposite can find theIglesia Parroquial de Sta. María Magdalena (16th Mirador de la Santa, where the Ermita de Santa Bárbara hill stands the medieval castle (13th century), which houses the century). In the surrounding area of the town there are two (16th century) is situated, some breathtaking views can be Archaeological Museum and holds a lively medieval fair in the small chapels, the Ermita de San Sebastián (17th century) and enjoyed. Upon a line of nearby hills stand several windmills month of August. The Iglesia de Nossa Senhora dos Mártires the Ermita de la Santa Cruz (20th century). In the town, of (18th century), and on the banks of the Casa stream is an old (18th century) is a focal point of the old quarter. In the immediate particular note is the Pósito (18th century), an ancient grain silo watermill. The ritual of the slaughtering of the pig is one of surroundings of the town is a wetlands of great ecological interest, which is now the Municipal Library. Every year there is the the most deeply rooted traditions.
    [Show full text]
  • Groundwater and the Opportunity to Irrigate
    The Impossible dream? The Upper Guadiana system: Is It possible to Align Changes in Ecological Systems with Changes in Social Systems Elena Lopez-Gunn, FMB Water Observatory, Spain Pedro Zorrilla Miras Cooperativa Terrativa/UAM Ramon Llamas FMB Water Observatory 1 Introduction: Starting at the end Over a period of approximately 40 years (1970-2010) more than 3,000 Mm3 have been abstracted from a 5,500 square km aquifer This has facilitated socio … with clear environmental economic development… externalities km MAB Reserve: 20% of the original 2area; very few of the wetlands function naturally (those not dependent on the aquifer) Water and 20th Century Development after the [Civil War 1939] almost lost half its population and then they discover groundwater and the opportunity to irrigate. (Elite Interview Mining Institute) We were sinking in the 1960s, the people that stayed here necessarily had to change, they had to start a new development model (…). the development model had to change; the mistake was to adopt a model from the beginning of the [twentieth] century (Elite Interview NGO) VOLUME ABSTRACTED YEAR IRRIGATED AREA (Mm3) 1974 31.166 205 1984 85.053 373 1990 123.321 576 2006 180.000-200.000 650-700 Why? Water as “wealth” 3 The land of honey: Tablas de Daimiel National Park 4 Cultural/Natural heritage The Drop in aquifer levels (> 35m in some areas) no natural discharge (PNTD) and the dissapereance of the Guadiana river is one of the biggest natural disasters in our country (Ruiz de la Hermosa Director PNTD, 2010) Don Quixote: The Cave of Montesinos Capítulo XXIV, parte II “ Guadiana vuestro escudero, plañendo asimesmo vuestra desgracia, fue convertido en un río llamado de su mesmo nombre; el cual cuando llegó a la superficie de la tierra y vio el sol del otro cielo, fue tanto el pesar que sintió de ver que os dejaba, que se sumergió en las entrañas de la tierra; pero como no es posible dejar de acudir a su natural corriente, de cuando en cuando sale y se muestra Valor de donde el sol y las gentes le vean”.
    [Show full text]
  • Postglacial Sea-Level Rise and Sedimentary Response in the Guadiana Estuary, Portugal/Spain Border
    View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by Universidade do Algarve Postglacial sea-level rise and sedimentary response in the Guadiana Estuary, Portugal/Spain border T. Boski a,*, D. Moura a, C. Veiga-Pires a, S. Camacho a, D. Duarte a, D.B. Scott b, S.G. Fernandes a a CIMA-Centro de Investigacao Marinha e Ambiental, FCMA, Universidade do Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, 8000 Faro, Portugalߘ bCentre of Marine Geology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada Abstract The study of sedimentological features, foraminifera and molluscan fauna in samples recovered from four rotary boreholes permitted, after 14C dating, the first assessment of the post-glacial transgression in Guadiana River Estuary. The Holocene sequence is underlain by coarse sediments from delta fan enclosing continental swamp deposits dated 16 980 year BP. The Holocene sedimentary sequence was deposited either directly on this delta fan gravels or on top of fluvial sands deposited probably between 11 000 and 10 000 yr BP. An accelerated phase of the estuary infilling by clayey sediments containing the salt marsh foraminifer Trochammina, began ca. 9800 year BP, when sea level was about 39 m below present. Between 7500 and 7000 year BP, the central part of the estuary started to accommodate coarser sediments, partially introduced from the continental shelf. The first phase of Holocene sea-level rise at a rate of 0.85 m/century terminated ca. 6500 year BP. Since then, lagoonal sediments in the vicinity of the estuary have been enclosed behind sand spits and predominantly sandy sedimentation was initiated within the estuary.
    [Show full text]
  • PORTUGAL Location Geography Climate
    PORTUGAL Location The Portuguese Republic, better known as Portugal, is located in Southwestern Europe on the western side of the Iberian Peninsula. The country is bordered by Spain on the east and north and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and south. The country also includes the Madeira Islands and Azores. Azores consists of nine main islands that are located about 900 miles west of Portugal. The Madeira Islands is made of four main island groups. Two of these groups are uninhabited. Portugal is also the westernmost country in Europe. The capital city, Lisbon, is located on the western coastline. This city has been the capital since 1147. Geography Portugal is one of Europe's smallest countries. It measures 560 km (350 mi) north to south and 220 km (135 mi) from east to west. For comparison, this country is slightly smaller than Indiana. The areas north of the Tagus River are heavily populated and characterized by rivers, valleys, forests, and mountains. The southern portion of the country is less populated and consists of rolling plains. The main rivers of the country include the previously mentioned Tagus, the Douro, the Sado, and the Guadiana. All of these rivers begin in Spain and flow through Portugal to the Atlantic Ocean. The river valleys provide most of the agricultural areas for the country. The north-central region, called Beira, is home to Portugal’s highest mountain range, the Serra da Estrela. However, the highest elevation point of 2,351 meters is found in Azores, while Serra da Estrela is the highest point in continental Portugal at 1,993 meters.
    [Show full text]
  • The Guadiana Case
    The Guadiana Case Rodrigo Maia Key messages • Implementation of EU WFD and EU Drought Policy • Transboundary cooperation in Drought Planning and Management • Development of a sound drought and scarcity indicator system • Definition of environmental flows and establishment of a minimum flow regime (MFR) for drought periods 1. Short description of the physical and socio-economic characteristics of the case study Drought is one of the most damaging natural hazards in the Iberian Peninsula (IP) – Figure 1 – causing varied socioeconomic and environmental impacts. In order to prevent the impacts from drought, close cooperation between Portugal and Spain is required, namely regarding water and drought planning and management, as the two countries share five river basins (Minho, Lima, Douro, Tejo and Guadiana) that cover 45 % of the Iberian territory. This issue is particularly relevant for Portugal, as 64% of its territory corresponds to shared river basins, with the Portuguese part located downstream, rendering the country extremely vulnerable to the quantity and quality of water flowing from Spain (Maia and Vicente-Serrano, 2017). Figure 1. The five river basins shared in the Iberian Peninsula (adapted from Pulwarty and Maia 2015). With an area of 67,200 km2, the Guadiana River Basin is the fourth largest river basin in the Iberian Peninsula, but ranks only as the 10th in terms of average yearly flow volume. It holds a distinctive feature from other Iberian transboundary rivers, since the lower reach and the estuary of the Guadiana River serve as a natural border between Portugal and Spain, raising additional challenges for water resources management. According to the Köppen climate classification, the region’s climate is of the Csa type (hot summer Mediterranean climate).
    [Show full text]