Newsletter UNESCO-UDLAP Chair 6

Number 6 · January-March · 2018 · DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.15344.15364

HYDROMETEOROLOGICAL UNESCO CHAIR ON

RISKS

NEWSLETTER

Number 6 · January-March · 2018

CHIR MEMBERS Director Polioptro F. Martínez Austria udlap

CONTENTS

MEMBERS Víctor Hugo Alcocer Yamanaka Comisión Nacional del Agua

Felipe Arreguín Cortés Instituto Mexicano de Tecnología del Agua

Erick R. Bandala González Desert Research Institute, EE. UU.

Benito Corona Vázquez

udlap

Johanness Cullmann

World Meteorological Organization Geneva

Carlos Díaz Delgado

Centro Interamericano de Recursos del Agua, uaem

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Sesión especial de la Cátedra unesco en Convención de Organismos Operadores de México

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Annual Meeting of UNESCO Chairs Related to Water in Latin America and the Caribbean

Carlos Escalante Sandoval

Facultad de Ingeniería, unam

Matthew Larsen

Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, EE. UU.

Carlos Patiño Gómez

udlap Sofía Ramos University of Arizona, EE. UU.

María Elena Raynal Gutiérrez

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Participation in the National Congress of Climate Change

udlap José Ángel Raynal Villaseñor

udlap José D. Salas Colorado State University, EE. UU.

Jim Thomas Desert Research Institute, EE. UU.

Juan Valdés

University of Arizona, EE. UU.

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http://www.udlap.mx/catedraunesco/

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Participative Workshop: Atoyac River Master Plan

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PhD in Water Sciences Summons

UNESCO CHAIR ON HYDROMETEOROLOGICAL RISKS

SPECIAL SESSION OF UNESCO CHAIR ON CONVENTION OF MEXICAN OPERATING ENTITIES rom November 27 to December 1 of 2017, the XXXI Convention of the National Association of Water and Sanitation Companies (ANEAS, by its Spanish acronyms) took place in the city of Puebla, Mexico. This event is the largest of its kind in Latin America and, in this edition, it brought together 10,500 participants.

The organizing committee invited UDLAP (University of the Americas) to organize a parallel event to show the research progress of UNESCO Chair’s group on Hydro-meteorological Risks under the topic “Vulnerability and Impact of Hydrometeorological Extreme Events in Urban Areas.”

In the session that took place on November 30 from 4:00 p. m. to 6:00 p.m., Dr. Benito Corona Vásquez, Dr. Carlos Patiño Gómez, and Dr. Polioptro F. Martínez Austria, who are professors at UDLAP and chair members, served as speakers; Alberto Vargas Hidalgo, candidate for PhD in Water Sciences by UDLAP, and Víctor Bourguett Ortíz, manager of technical advisory of the Water National Commission, served as speakers as well.

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THIS EVENT IS THE LARGEST OF ITS KIND IN LATIN AMERICA AND, IN THIS EDITION, IT BROUGHT TOGETHER

10,500 PARTICIPANTS

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Number 6 · January-March · 2018

In the session that took place on November 30 from 4:00 p. m. to 6:00 p.m

Benito Corona Vásquez Carlos Patiño Gómez Polioptro F. Martínez Austria

mission), for when hydro-meteorological eventualities occur. The new tools for real-time analysis were of great interest since they allow for the analysis of major hydraulic infrastructure risks such as big dam curtains under strong earthquakes.

Dr. Polioptro F. Martínez Austria showed the most recent research progress by the UNESCO Chair on extreme temperature analysis and heat waves and their connection with the increases in morbidity and mortality rates. He depicted, using the Mexicali case, the danger of these heat waves and made recommendations about temperature thresholds in order to implement contingency plans.

Finally, Alberto Vargas presented an adaptive dynamic simulation model of the water supply to the city of Puebla, with which it is possible to calculate the expected shortage conditions for the future, including the effects on climate changes and the measures that should be adopted to prevent the population from facing a water deficit.

The participants made several questions that came to a halt only because the following programed activity for the convention was about to start.

Alberto Vargas Hidalgo Víctor Bourguett Ortíz Dr. Carlos Patiño presented a binational geographical information system for the Rio Bravo/Rio Grande river that includes all georeferenced information needed to manage water in the river basin, on both sides of the border, including the climate change scenarios and the implementation of flood models. This geographical information system (SIG, by its Spanish acronyms) is the only one of its kind in Mexico and one of the few that have information about more than one country in transboundary river basins.

Dr. Benito Corona spoke about water recycling as an adaptation measure to climate changes. After analyzing the main characteristics of several water treatment systems, he discussed the possibilities of using treated recycled water as drinking water. He concluded that even if current laws about it exist, due to the emerging contaminants, it is wiser to wait for an improvement in knowledge and technology, both in the detection of pollutants as well as in advanced treatment, before risking direct consumption, unlike its use in other conditions such as agricultural irrigation.

Victor Bourgett showed the methodologies of decision making in case of extreme events that are implemented in Mexico and particularly at CONAGUA (Water National Com-

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DR. BENITO CORONA SPOKE ABOUT WATER RECYCLING AS AN ADAPTATION MEASURE TO CLIMATE CHANGES. AFTER ANALYZING THE MAIN CHARACTERISTICS OF SEVERAL WATER TREATMENT SYSTEMS, HE DISCUSSED THE POSSIBILITIES OF USING TREATED RECYCLED WATER AS DRINKING WATER.

UNESCO CHAIR ON HYDROMETEOROLOGICAL RISKS

ANNUAL MEETING OF UNESCO CHAIRS RELATED TO WATER IN LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN THE MAIN OBJECTIVE OF THE MEETING WAS TO ANALYZE AND SHARE THE ACTIVITIES THAT THE DIFFERENT REPRESENTATIVES OF THE WATER FAMILY OF UNESCO CARRY OUT IN LATIN AMERICAN AND THE CARIBBEAN REGION TO SUPPORT THE COMPLIANCE OF THE OBJECTIVES OF THE EIGHTH PHASE OF THE INTERNATIONAL HYDROLOGICAL PROGRAM.

he Regional Office of UNESCO for Latin America and the Caribbean, with headquarters in Montevideo, organized the XII Meeting of National Committee and Focal Points of the International Hydrological Program in Latin America and the Caribbean (PHI-LAC, by its Spanish acronyms) from September 18 to 20, 2017 in the city of Nassau, Bahamas. Within the framework of this meeting, 65 representatives of national committees, programs, centers and UNESCO Chairs were invited. All of them coming from 29 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. The Chair on Hydrometeorological Risks was represented by Dr. Benito Corona Vรกsquez, chair member and Academic Director of the Environmental and Civil Engineering Department at UDLAP. The main objective of the meeting was to analyze and share the activities that the different representatives of the water family of UNESCO carry out in Latin American and the Caribbean region to support the compliance of the objectives of the eighth phase of the International Hydrological Program (PHI, by its Spanish acronyms). This most recent phase of the PHI focuses on hydric safety and involves six fundamental topics: 1) hydric disasters and hydrological

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Number 6 · January-March · 2018

This most recent phase of the PHI focuses on hydric safety and involves six fundamental topics:

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changes, 2) groundwater, 3) water quality and shortage, 4) water and human settlements, 5) ecohydrology, and 6) education on water. During the meeting, PHI’s secretary reported the progress and achievements on the implementation of the agreements that derived from the XI CONAPHIS (National Committee, International Hydrologic Program), meeting that took place in Santiago de Chile in October 2015.

The UNESCO Chair on Hydrometeorological Risks was introduced to the participants as the newest chair on water in the region and had the opportunity to share the activities that were carried out since its official opening on October 7, 2016. Among the reported activities there were master conferences, specialized seminars, production of publications, outreach media developments, and specialized human resources training through a PhD in Water Sciences at UDLAP.

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Hydric disasters and hydrological changes

2

Groundwater

3

Water quality and shortage

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Cohydrology

4

Water and human settlements

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Education on water

UNESCO CHAIR ON HYDROMETEOROLOGICAL RISKS

PARTICIPATION IN THE NATIONAL CONGRESS OF CLIMATE CHANGE rom October 4 to 6, the National Congress of Climate Change Research was carried out in different headquarters with “From Anthropocene to Sustainability” as the main topic. The congress, now in its sixth edition, has the purpose of providing a space for reflecting and promoting scientific and professional relationships in the climate change field as well as for analyzing the effects of climate change on human health and the environment.

The chair, by way of Dr. Polioptro F. Martínez Austria, participated in the master conference “Extreme Temperatures and Heat Waves in the North of Mexico,” where recent outcomes were set forth along this line of research developed by members of the chair.

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THE CHAIR, BY WAY OF DR. POLIOPTRO F. MARTÍNEZ AUSTRIA, PARTICIPATED IN THE MASTER CONFERENCE “EXTREME TEMPERATURES AND HEAT WAVES IN THE NORTH OF MEXICO,” WHERE RECENT OUTCOMES WERE SET FORTH ALONG THIS LINE OF RESEARCH DEVELOPED BY MEMBERS OF THE CHAIR.

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Number 6 · January-March · 2018

53 52 TEMPERATURE °C

51 50 49 48 47 46 45 44 43

1950

1960

1970

1980

1990

2000

2010

2020

Year Maximum temperatures registered in Mexicali during 1960-2010.

AFTER EXPLAINING THE DIVERSE EXTREME TEMPERATURE SCENARIOS DUE TO CLIMATE CHANGE, RECENT RESEARCH OUTCOMES BY THE CHAIR FOR THE CITY OF MEXICALI, BAJA CALIFORNIA, WERE PRESENTED.

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In the presentation, statistics on natural disasters related to the weather, worldwide and in Mexico, were exposed for a period that covers the last decades. They show the growing tendency of these events both in number and in their effect on human health and economic damages. Health damages by heat waves were highlighted, which are responsible for the growth in the mortality of people who already suffer from diabetes, renal, respiratory, or cardiovascular diseases.

After explaining the diverse extreme temperature scenarios due to climate change, recent research outcomes by the chair for the city of Mexicali, Baja California, were presented.

They observe a clear correlation between the increase in the mortality rates and the maximum temperatures—especially in the summer months of July, August, and September—as well as between the increase in mortality rates and the temperature thresholds.

UNESCO CHAIR ON HYDROMETEOROLOGICAL RISKS

PARTICIPATIVE WORKSHOP: ATOYAC RIVER MASTER PLAN L

ESTA CORRIENTE ES LA PRINCIPAL EN LOS ESTADOS DE PUEBLA Y TLAXCALA Y, DEBIDO A PROCESOS DE CRECIMIENTO DE LAS CIUDADES EN LA REGIÓN, PRESENTA PROBLEMAS IMPORTANTES DE CALIDAD DEL AGUA Y DE INUNDACIONES EN ÉPOCA DE AVENIDAS.

ast September 28, at UDLAP, a workshop sponsored by the UNESCO Chair was carried out where a great number of government, civil corporations, and academic scholars participated. This was the first proposal for a “Master Plan for the Environmental Sustainability of the Atoyac River.”

This is the main current for the states of Puebla and Tlaxcala, and due to growing processes in the cities of the region, it presents alarming issues related to the quality of water and to floods in the flood season. To address this issue, the municipal government of Puebla created the ¡Vive Atoyac!

Committee. It groups together concerned people from the public and private sector as well as the citizens. This committee counts on a group of specialists that collaborate by providing scientific and technical solutions.

The objective of the workshop was to “achieve consensus among ¡Vive Atoyac! Committee members on the Master Plan and to gather proposals and recommendations for the technical counsel to integrate the final version of the document.”

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Number 6 · January-March · 2018

After the presentation of the diagnosis and the sustainability plan by Engineer Gabriel Navarro, the analysis and arguments in working roundtables on the following topics moved forward:

ROUNDTABLE

1

Functional and sufficient infrastructure and hydraulic equipment

ROUNDTABLE

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ROUNDTABLE

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ROUNDTABLE

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Sustainable economic development

Environmental governance and civic commitment Transparent and effective environmental governance

ROUNDTABLE

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Lowland regulation for urban sustainability

ROUNDTABLE

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Mainstreaming for effective coordination

As a result, more than 100 recommendations and concrete proposals of action were integrated and they will be included in the plan’s final version. This kind of social consensus is crucial to solve the water problems in river basins and water currents.

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UNESCO CHAIR ON HYDROMETEOROLOGICAL RISKS

PHD IN WATER SCIENCES SUMMONS THE UNIVERSITY OFFERS A SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM FOR THE BEST QUALIFIED CANDIDATES DURING THE ADMISSION PROCESS. IT INCLUDES TUITION AND LIVING EXPENSES.

niversidad de las Americas Puebla summons all interested parties, of any country, to submit an application for the PhD in Water Sciences for the course that starts in August 2018.

The university offers a scholarship program for the best qualified candidates during the admission process.

It includes tuition and living expenses. Scholarships are open to all participants, and candidates from Latin America and the Caribbean are especially welcome.

U

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NEWSLETTER OF THE UNESCO CHAIR ON HYDROMETEOROLOGICAL RISKS

EDITORIAL COORDINATIONS

Editor

Polioptro F. Martínez Austria

Style correction

Aldo Chiquini Zamora Andrea Garza Carbajal

Editorial design

Angélica González Flores

The unesco Chair on Hydrometerological Risks Newsletter is a bimonthly publication which reports on the activities of the Chair and its members, unesco news related to it, as well as general information on disasters and hydro-meteorological risks. It is elaborated by the Universidad de las Américas Puebla. Ex hacienda Sta. Catarina Martir s/n. C. P. 72810, San Andres Cholula, Mexico.

www.udlap.mx/catedraunesco polioptro.martinez@udlap.mx