Water Resources Modelling

  On March the 7th, the southern cold front brougth the stream close to full discharge capacity, in addition we can observe standing waves in phase with the river bed. But in Bahía Blanca was much worse, to be commented in the next Blog post.

What  a tough year for Argentina, but let me emphasize a few issues for optimism: We´ve been awarded three projects from CFI, FITBA and CIC Buenos Aires public institutions, the first one to design upstream water retention schemes, the second one to include AI on the Azul EWS and the third one to propose drainage and retention soft structures at a plain parcel in direct coordination with the owners, all are measures to gain flood resilience.  Lorena La Macchia MSc thesis dissertation was awarded as the best contribution related to Cartography, Geodesy and Geographic Information in 2024, by the Panamerican Institute for Geography and History . She also received a grant from " Move la America " brasilian program to stay at INPE. The published paper related to Digital Elevation Models in large plains by Ailé Golin et al .                                             ...

Two factors: extreme precipitations (convective cells) and the incapability of the ground/drainage systems to  handle such heavy rainfalls in a short period of time. It´s not the first time, neither the last,  and is still hardly to predict both the focus location and the flash flood evolution. Learning to Live with Risk for each municipality continues as the most reasonable policy, considering that long term climate projections are worse. My condolences for almost one hundred casualties at the moment. Satellite image from RTVE live and ALSOSpace over Valencia. EU-Copernicus Emergency Service Link    for mapping damage extents.

Financed by the Japanese JICA & JST institutions, within the SATREPS (Science and Technology Research Partnership for Sustainable Development ) between Argentina and Japan, a one week congress was held in Buenos Aires UBA campus, with the assistance of many experts and topics from Telemetry, Meteorology, Hydrology, Data Management and Social impact, all related to flash floods prevention in Argentina. PREVENIR started in 2022 and runs till 2027. I had the pleasure to present "Prospects for Azul basin Early Warning System" coauthored by IHLLA colleagues Georgina Cazenave and Ignacio Masson,  and Alex Minett from JBA consulting, UK. Link to the 3 pages abstract .

It is not that easy, even talking about current climate threats, but from last May experience , it´s important to: count on a multi-disciplinary team of collaborators, engage youth with future needs and realistic tools,  and avoid Friday´s afternoon lectures ! A list with a few conclusions is at this link . Image of the drainage network upstream Cacharí, more details and availability at this Zenodo link .

No doubt that a free public university equalises society and prospects for the youth. United to keep on going in Azul, April 23, national marches across Argentina.