Preface
Pico Mountain, with black clouds covering its tower and coming down the whole slope which finally looks out over the heights of Friar Matias' Cave...
Carlos Faria (Kinsella 2007)
Natural hazards are the consequence of a threat of a naturally occutTing event will have a harmful outcome on persons and ecosystems. That damaging effect is often called natural disasters. That is defined by the UN—United Nations (IASC 2006) as: "the consequences of events triggered by natural hazards that overwhelm local response capacity and seriously affect the social and economic development of a region". UN (IASC 2006; Report of the Secretary General to the General Assembly 2005) highlights also the key challenges faced by international community as: "The risks and potential for disasters associated with natural hazards are largely shaped by the prevailing levels of vulnerability and the effectiveness of measures taken to prevent, mitigate and prepare for disasters". For all that the shared comprehensive knowledge is the key to understand the functioning of natural systems within climate change framework and outline guidelines and measures based on sustainable environments, socio-responsibility and ethical approach to achieve balanced and integrated management. In addition, as recently stated by the UN—United Nations (IPCC 2019; Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) "knowledge on risk is essential for conceiving and implementing adequate responses".
Among the natural hazards and potential disasters to be considered are earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landslides, rockfalls, subsidence, floods, droughts and coastal erosion. In addition, anthropogenic hazards occur as a result of human interaction with the environment. They comprise technological hazards, which occur due to exposure to hazardous substances in the environment. Natural systems in different framework require a comprehensive understanding of climatology, geology and hydrology data and dynamics. Thus, it is important to perform hazard and risk assessment studies to accomplish hazard mitigation. Currently, it is vital to highlight the role of the variability and climate change in natural systems. Furthermore, an accurate understanding of the natural systems and interactions with engineering and natural resources has a vital significance to the entire socio-economic sector. That is the key landmark to achieve in any natural hazards project aiming at a sustainable design that is compatible with nature, environment and society (McHarg 1992; González de Vallejo 2010).
This volume offers an overview related to natural hazards in model regions in Asia, Europe, America and Atlantic islands. It gives new insights on characterization, assessment, protection, modelling on geological hazards, water systems, urban areas, coastal zones and engineering approaches by international researchers and professionals. Furthermore, the volume gives a general overview of cun-ent research and challenges focusing on natural hazard issues and its applications to a variety of problems worldwide but highlighting volcanic islands framework.
The volcanic origin of the Azores islands, associated with the geographic location, its archipelagic nature (nine dispersed and distant islands in Atlantic Ocean often subject to adverse weather conditions) and its geodynamic framework, make Azores highly vulnerable to natural hazards (Malheiro 2006; Malheiro and Nunes 2007; Malheiro et al. 2016; Kueppers and Beier 2018). Pico is the biggest island of the Central Azorean Group and shows the highest point of Portugal (2351 m), the Pico Mountain volcano, which is the third highest volcano of the North Atlantic Ocean (Kueppers and Beier 2018). In addition, the Azores archipelago is affected by most of the all-natural hazards, namely eafthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landslides, floods, coastal erosion, damages in engineering works, etc. Some of these events have resulted in heavy damage to people and goods. Consequently, it was the perfect place where experts in these fields discussed and shared several case studies and vision aiming the advance of the natural hazard's knowledge. The workshop highlighted all aspects of natural hazards focusing in hydrological hazards and risks, including the forecasting of catastrophic events, risk assessment and management, as well as all aspects of water resources impacts, and oceanic, natural and technological hazards and disasters because all that it is extremely important the sharing of the results of 2nd International Workshop on Natural Hazards (NATHAZ' 19) in an archipelago marked by natural hazards and, for that reason, with a strong geodynamic context that drives us to know more. In a sense, Azores is a real natural laboratory at the centre of the Atlantic, opened to the exchange of knowledge and experiences that enrich and prepare the region for a correct societal perception and a balance sustainable environmental practice. That approach will be another pillar of Azores socio-economic and more sustainable autonomous region within the European Union context. In fact, the impressive words of the outstanding Azorean writer, Vitorino Nemésio, are still topical: "For us, geography is just as important as history, and it is not without reason that 50% of our memories comprise records of earthquakes and floods". (Nemésio 1932).
This book comprises the select proceedings during the 2nd Intemational Workshop on Natural Hazards (NATHAZ'19), Lajes do Pico, Pico Island, Azores 2019. The challenges of balanced management and design with natural hazards are confirmed by the diversity of contributions to this special volume (Fig. 1). Main topics include: (i) hydrological hazards, hydrogeomorphology, groundwater and disasters; (ii) hazard assessment, spatial planning and climate change; (iii) natural hazards, hydrodynamics and engineering design; and (iv) around of Pico Island geology: meeting natural hazards.
The special volume has a core of 32 original proceedings grounded on the scientific-technical sessions (including the unforgettable field trip coordinated by João Carlos Nunes from University of Azores and NOVA) and three outstanding keynote lectures by leading experts, José Luís Zêzere (University of Lisbon, Portugal), Luís Ribeiro e Sousa (University of Tontii, China) and Giuseppe Sappa (La Sapienza University of Rome, Italy). The keynote speakers gave interesting insights from hydrological hazards focused on hydrogeomorphology and disasters, geotechnical hazards highlighting the role of water, as well as landslide lisks and flooding hazards and hydraulic design. The volume gathered over 115 authors from the academy, research centres and/or state laboratories from Europe, Africa, America and Asia (Figs. 2, 3, 4).
The volume will be of interest to researchers and practitioners in the field of geosciences, hydrology, groundwater, natural hazards and geotechnics, as well as those engaged in sustainable environmental sciences, earth sciences, natural resources and engineering design. Graduate students, geoscientists, engineers and natural hazard-related professionals further research in the earth and environmental sciences will also find the book to be of value.
The special volume comprises case studies that demonstrate the role Of natural hazards understanding can contribute to a more sustainable and safer environment, also discusses the latest advances in natural hazards from diverse backgrounds, particularly highlighting the role of the variability and climate change in hydrological systems and, lastly, offers new insights on natural hazards mapping, characterization, assessment, protection and geoethics aiming a better knowledge and design with nature.
Ponta Delgada, Azores, Portugal Francisco Fernandes
Ponta Delgada, Azores, Portugal Ana Malheiro
Porto, Portugal May 2019 Helder I. Chaminé
May 2019
