Skip to main content

Main navigation

  • About ITEFI
  • Research
  • Formación y empleo
  • OpenLab
  • Servicios científico técnicos
  • Staff Directory

Changing Conditions: Global Warming-Related Hazards and Vulnerable Rural Populations in Mediterranean Europe

multi-hazard
change conditions
heatwaves droughts
wilfires
vulnerability
rural depopulation
S. Graus, T.M. Ferreira, G. Vasconcelos, J. Ortega
Urban Science, 8(2), 42 (2024)

Human-induced climate change has profound effects on extreme events, particularly those linked to global warming, such as heatwaves, droughts, and wildfires. These events disrupt ecosystems, emphasizing the imperative to understand the interactions among them to gauge the risks faced by vulnerable communities. Vulnerability levels vary primarily based on a community’s resources. Rural areas, especially in the Mediterranean region of Europe, are experiencing acute depopulation, creating a complex situation affecting various aspects of society, from economic declines to cultural heritage loss. Population decline in rural regions weakens resources, leading to the abandonment of built environments, fostering desertification, and elevating the risk of wildfires. Communities undergoing this deterioration process become exceptionally vulnerable, especially when dealing with and recovering from extreme natural phenomena. This review offers insights into the dynamics of these hazards and the predominant challenges in rural areas. By focusing on a topic that has received limited attention, the aim is to inform future research initiatives, ultimately improving risk assessment and mitigation strategies for these vulnerable communities.

Funding

 This research was funded by the Portuguese Foundation for the Science and Technology (FCT) through the R&D project “Sustainability led approaches for the rehabilitation and revitalization of the cultural built heritage of Montesinho Natural Park” (INHAVIT) with reference MTS/BRB/0086/2020 (https://doi.org/10.54499/MTS/BRB/0086/2020).

G-CARMA
Acoustics and Non Destructive Evaluation (DAEND)
  • Environmental Acoustics (GAA)
  • G Carma: Materials Characterization by Non Destructive Evaluation
  • ULAB, Ultrasounds for Liquid Analysis and Bioengineering
Information and Communication Technologies (TIC)
  • Cybersecurity and Privacy Protection Research Group (GiCP)
  • Research group on Cryptology and Information Security (GiCSI)
    • Quantum Communications Laboratory (LCQE)
  • Multichannel Ultrasonic Signal Processing Group (MUSP)
Sensors and Ultrasonic Systems (DSSU)
  • Ultrasonic Systems and Technologies (USTG)
  • Nanosensors and Smart Systems (NoySi)
  • Ultrasonic Resonators for cavitation and micromanipulation (RESULT)
  • Advanced Sensor Technology (SENSAVAN)
  • Quantum Electronics (QE)
Laboratorios
  • Laboratorio de Acústica
  • Laboratorio de Metrología Ultrasónica Médica (LMUM)
  • Laboratorio de Comunicaciones Cuánticas
  • Laboratory for International Collaboration in Advanced Biophotonics Imaging

Instituto de Tecnologías Físicas y de la Información Leonardo Torres Quevedo  - ITEFI
C/ Serrano, 144. 28006 - Madrid • Tel.: (+34) 91 561 88 06  Contacto  •  Intranet
EDIFICIO PARCIALMENTE ACCESIBLE POR PERSONAS CON MOVILIDAD REDUCIDA