- The institute hosted three researchers who explained how future early detection models for floods and inundations will work.
The Ephyslab research group from the University of Vigo gave a talk at the IES of Ponte Caldelas, bringing students closer to the key aspects of climate change and its impact on extreme events, particularly floods. The talk focused on river systems in the mountains of Ourense that flow into the Miño-Sil basin, rather than the immediate surroundings of the Verdugo River.
During the session, researchers Helena Barreiro, Diego Fernández, and José González Cao explained the evolution of these phenomena in the region and presented the Early Warning System, a tool being developed as part of the Risc_Plus project (which is part of the European Poctec Risc_Plus initiative). This system is designed to anticipate and mitigate the effects of flooding, improving the preparedness of affected territories.
The project also involves the Miño-Sil Hydrographic Confederation, the University of Porto, and the Portuguese Environment Agency. Its goal is to strengthen the resilience of the transboundary Miño and Limia river basins in the face of climate challenges.
The system’s operation is based primarily on using weather forecasts from Meteogalicia for the next 72 hours. These forecasts are fed into the hydrological module to transform rainfall into runoff and obtain flow forecasts at different key points throughout the basin, including both the main rivers, the Miño and Sil, and their tributaries.
Simulations
Once these flow predictions are obtained, they are applied to the hydraulic module, which allows for simulations of potential flooding generated by these flows.
The talk aimed to create a space for reflection and debate among students, promoting environmental awareness and highlighting the crucial role of science in managing climate change.
The activities of this research group are co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through the Interreg program, which promotes cross-border cooperation projects.
