MODULE
4: REGIONAL SCALE STUDIES IN THE ALENTEJO
Module Leader:
Prof. M. J. Roxo (Universidade Nova de Lisboa)
Synthesis of desertification problems at
the regional scale
Topic
4.1 Environmentally Sensitive Areas (Roxo, Universidade Nova de Lisboa)
- To identify Environmentally Sensitive
Areas (ESAs) using remotely sensed images. To apply GIS
support for sound environmental management. To develop
tools for land degradation mitigation-regional planning.
Topic
4.2 Developing and applying indicators of desertification derived
from soil- vegetation-water relationships in the Alentejo case
study area (Imeson, University of Amsterdam)
- To apply the findings of research on
soil-water-vegetation dynamics to develop bio-physical
indicators of desertification. To determine the relevant
soil surface characteristics (process-pattern structures)
on the major landscape units that are, at a fine scale,
responsible for coarser (slope) scale water availability.
To apply the indicators to characteristics a) current
desertification status, b) desertification risk under
different model scenarios and c) management requirements.
Specific actions to mitigate
desertification
Topic
4.3 Climatic change and water resources management (Corte
Real, University of Lisbon)
- To study the relationships between
precipitation and atmospheric conditions for selected
weather events responsible for soil degradation in
Alentejo. To characterise the synoptic climatology of
drought. To predict, in the extended range, parameters of
surface climatic anomalies, enabling the operational
estimate of available water. To develop future scenarios
of water availability using scenarios provided by GCMS.
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