Fecha elaboración del documento: 09/12/2011 Escrito …climaimpacto.eu/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/CI1A_-Recopilacion-de... · Los incendios en el ... Se establece una parcela experimental

0

“ACTUACIÓN 1: RECOPILACIÓN DE INFORMACIÓN Y REGISTRO EN BASE DE DATOS DOCUMENTAL”.

“Proyecto CLIMA“Proyecto CLIMA“Proyecto CLIMA“Proyecto CLIMA----IMPACTO (MAC/3/C159). IMPACTO (MAC/3/C159). IMPACTO (MAC/3/C159). IMPACTO (MAC/3/C159). Cofinanciado con Fondos FEDER dentro del Cofinanciado con Fondos FEDER dentro del Cofinanciado con Fondos FEDER dentro del Cofinanciado con Fondos FEDER dentro del Programa de Cooperación Transnacional Madeira Programa de Cooperación Transnacional Madeira Programa de Cooperación Transnacional Madeira Programa de Cooperación Transnacional Madeira –––– Azores Azores Azores Azores –––– Canarias (MAC) 2007Canarias (MAC) 2007Canarias (MAC) 2007Canarias (MAC) 2007----2013”2013”2013”2013”

Fecha elaboración del documento: 09/12/2011

Escrito por: Gestión y Planeamiento Territorial y Medioambiental, S.A.

Revisado por: ACDSyCC

CI1A_20111209

2

Actuación 1: Recopilación de información y registro en base de datos documental

Esta actuación se contempla en la Actuación nº 1 del proyecto “Colaboración para detectar las causas y

consecuencias del cambio climático en la región euroafricana – Proyecto CLIMA IMPACTO”, con código

MAC/3/C159 del programa de Cooperación Transnacional MAC 2007-2013.

A continuación se muestra en una tabla la información recopilada hasta el momento sobre las causas y

consecuencias del cambio climático en la Región Euroafricana:

3

TÍTULO ABSTRACT AUTORES PUBLICACIÓN AÑO KEYWORDS

Los incendios en el

Archipiélago Canario y su

relación con la situación

atmosférica. Causas y efectos

La superficie forestal de la provincia de Santa Cruz de Tenerife se ve

afectada, con frecuencia, por graves incendios que pueden llegar a

arrasar miles de has. En este trabajo se defiende la hipótesis de que

el tiempo atmosférico resulta determinante en la propagación del

fuego y se demuestra la importancia de uno de los tipos de tiempo

más singulares de Canarias: invasiones de aire sahariano y, sobre

todo, se mide cuál es la relación exacta entre este y los incendios.

Dorta, P., MªV Marzol Y J.L

Sánchez

Actas del XII Congreso Nacional de

Geografía. A.G.E. Valencia: 151-158 1991

Tenerife, Canarias, aire

sahariano, incendios

Some low elevation fog forest

of dry environments:

Application to African

paleoenvironments

We present some examples of cloud water and fog precipitation on

vegetation following Kerfoot's pioneer work (1968), High fog frequency

allows for the existence of forest communities in otherwise arid (low

rainfall) conditions.

Gioda, A., J. Maley, R. Espejo

Guasp & A. Acosta Baladon

En L.S. Hamilton, J.O. Juvik & F.N.

Scatena (eds.) "Tropical Montane Cloud

Forests. Proceedings of an International

Symposium·, San Juan de Puerto Rico

31 may-5 june 1993. East-West Center,

UNESCO & International Institute of

tropical forestry. 97-101 pp

1993

Las inversiones térmicas en

Canarias

La localización geográfica del archipiélago canario, en latitudes

subtropicales y con un predominio casi absoluto de los vientos alisios,

determina una estructura vertical de la baja troposfera con una

presencia constante de inversiones térmicas, de subsidencia en la

mayor parte de los casos, que explican la fuerte tendencia a la

estabilidad de toda esta región. Realizar un primer análisis estadístico

de estas inversiones así como estudiar su origen supone el tema de

estudio de este trabajo.

The geographic situation of Canary Archipelago, in subtropical

latitudes and with the prevailing trade winds action, means a vertical

structure of the low troposphere with very frequent thermic inversions,

of subsidence in most cases, what explains the great propensity to

stability of the whole region. The aim of this work is to elaborate a

statistic study of these inversions as well as their origin.

Dorta, P Investigaciones geográficas, 15: 109-

124 1996

Inversión térmica, Alisios,

Anticiclón, Subsidencia,

Canarias, Thermic inversion,

Trade winds, High pressure,

Subsidence, Canary Islands

Temperature variations in

Spain since 1901: a

preliminary analysis

The long-term temperature trends since 1901 at ten meteorological

stations on the Iberian Peninsula and one in the Canary Islands are

analysed. These trends are identified by applying the Mann–Kendall

trend test to the series of maximum and minimum temperatures, the

Oñate, J.J. & A Poy International Journal of Climatology, 16:

805-815 1996

Air temperature variations;

twentieth century; Spain


variability of both, and the diurnal temperature range. A

multidimensional scaling analysis is used to produce an automatic

grouped systemization of all trends.The results appear to confirm the

hypothesis of a local regionalization of the more global influences,

yielding three types of regional trends in temperature variations since

1901: (i) less extreme in the north and north-west; (ii) more extreme

conditions in the south-east and centre-east; and (iii) an overall

increase in the south-west.

Propuesta metodológica para

el estudio del mar de nubes :

el caso del año 1989 en el

norte de Tenerife

El mar de nubes es la formación nubosa más frecuente en Canarias,

produciendo un aporte adicional de agua en una región que carece de

este recurso. En este trabajo se propone un nuevo método para

analizar su dinámica, utilizando para ello las horas de saturación

registradas en el año 1989 en dos estaciones meteorológicas situadas

en la vertiente norte de la isla de Tenerife.

Valladares, P Investigaciones geográficas, 15: 99-108 1996

Mar de nubes, Horas de

saturación, Tenerife,

Canarias

Temperature variations during

the last century at high

elevation sites

Differential temperature changes with altitude can shed light on the

relative importance of natural versus anthropogenic climatic change.

There has been heightened interest in this subject recently due to the

finding that high-elevation tropical glaciers have been retreating and

that significant melting from even the highest alpine regions has

occurred in some areas during the past 20 years or so, as recorded in

ice core records, which do not reveal any similar period during

previous centuries to millennia.

In this paper we find evidence for appreciable differences in mean

temperature changes with elevation during the last several decades of

instrumental records. The signal appears to be more closely related to

increases in daily minimum temperature than changes in the daily

maximum. The changes in surface temperature vary spatially, with

Europe (particularly western Europe), and parts of Asia displaying the

strongest high altitude warming during the period of record.

High-elevation climate records of long standing taken at a number

ofmountain tops throughout the world, but primarily inEurope, are

available froma number of countries. In some cases,meteorological

observations at these unique mountain sites have been discontinued

for a variety of reasons, usually budgetary. It is hoped that the papers

published in this special issue of Climatic Change can contribute to a

Diaz, H.F. & R.S. Bradley Climatic Change, 36: 253-279 1997 Temperature, Climatic

Change


reassessment of the value of continuing climate measurements at

these mountain observatories by the appropriate entities, so that we

may continue to have access to climate information from the ‘tops of

the world’.

Flujos netos hidrológicos y

químicos asociados de un

bosque de laurisilva en

Tenerife

Se propone conocer el ciclo hidrológico interno de un bosque de

laurisilva en la isla de Tenerife para lo cual se estudia la precipitación

penetrante, el escurrido cortical de los árboles, la evaporación por

interceptación de la cubierta y los aportes de elementos químicos de

la lluvia al sustrato. La metodología se basa en el estudio de una

parcela de 3.390 m2, situada a 820 metros de altitud, en la vertiente

norte de la isla de Tenerife y entre dos barrancos

Aboal, J Tesis inédita. Depositada en la

Universidad de La Laguna. 268 pp. 1998

Caracterización fotosintética

de los árboles de la laurisilva

canaria (Laurus azorica,

Persea indica y Myrica faya)

Se establece una parcela experimental en el bosque de laurisilva de

Agua García, realizando estudios estructurales para determinar el

número, tamaño y distribución de las principales especies de árboles

así como de las características morfológicas y fisiológicas de sus

hojas a lo largo del perfil vertical del bosque, calculando su índice de

área foliar. Se realizan ciclos diarios de intercambio gaseoso a lo

largo de un año, en árboles adultos de Laurus azorica, Persea indica

y Myrica faya, utilizando una torre de 20 m. para acceder tanto a las

hojas de sol como de sombra, y facilitando la instalación de una

estación metereológica con registro contínuo de los principales

factores. A partir de los datos obtenidos con estas medidas se calcula

la fotosíntesis y transpiración máxima de cada especie y su variación

a lo largo del año, así como su eficiencia en el uso del agua y la

respuesta de la fotosíntesis a la luz, temperatura y conductancia

estomática. También y en combinación con medidas de laboratorio se

muestra la influencia de la fotorrespiración (con electrodo de oxígeno)

y de la fotoinhibición realizando medidas combinadas de fluorescencia

de la clorofila, con determinación de pigmentos y antioxidantes.

También se realiza un estudio exhaustivo en el que se combinan

técnicas de fluorescencia de la clorofila con conductividad eléctrica y

observación de síntomas visibles para conocer los límites de

supervivencia del aparato fotosintético de las tres especies a

temperaturas extremas.

González, A Tesis inédita. Depositada en la

Universidad de La Laguna. 268 pp. 1998

CIENCIAS DE LA VIDA,

FISIOLOGIA VEGETAL,

BOTANICA

The North Atlantic oscillation Se naliza la incidencia de la Oscilación del Atlántico Norte (NAO) en el Santiago, J. Col. Vol. Sci. Pap. ICCAT, 48(3): 240- 1998 atlántico, atún, bonito,


and recruitment of temperate

tunas

reclutamietno de los túnidos templados. Se ha considerado tres

stocks, atún rojo occidental, atún rojo oriental y atún blanco del

Atlántico Norte. El período de tiempo considerado es de 1969-1992;

no se han tenido en cuenta años más recientes debido a la

incertidumbres inherentes a la estima del reclutamiento.

Los análisis de regresión efectuados indican relaciones

estadísticamente significativas entre el NAO y el reclutamiento del

atún rojo oriental al nivel de confianza del 95%; al nivel del 90%, en el

caso del atún blanco; y la no existencia de relación estadísticametne

significativas entre NAO y el reclutamiento del atún rojo occidental.

NAO explica has el 64% de la variabilidad del reclutamiento del atún

blanco y sólo el 20% en el caso del atún rojo oriental; éste último

porcentaje se incremetna hasta un 38% cuando se consideran índice

NAO del año n+a en ver del año n. Condiciones bajo (alto) NAO

aparecen el general asociadas con fuertes (débiles) reclutamientos de

atún blanco y débiles (fuertes) reclutamientos de atún oriental.

249 condiciones ambientales,

nao, oceanografía, pesca,

reclutamiento

Recent structural evolution of

the Cumbre Vieja volcano, La

Palma, Canary Islands:

volcanic rift zone

reconfiguration as a precursor

to volcano flank instability?

The Cumbre Vieja volcano is the youngest component of the island of

La Palma. It is a very steep-sided oceanic island volcano, of a type

which may undergo large-scale lateral collapse with little precursory

deformation. Reconfiguration of the volcanic rift zones and underlying

dyke swarms of the volcano is used to determine the present degree

of instability of the volcano. For most of its history, from before 125 ka

ago to around 20 ka, the Cumbre Vieja volcano was characterised by

a triple (Mercedes Star) volcanic rift zone geometry. The three rift

zones were unequally developed, with a highly productive south rift

zone and weaker NE and NW rift zones: the disparity in activity was

probably due to topographic-gravitational stresses associated with the

west facing Cumbre Nueva collapse structure underneath the western

flank of the Cumbre Vieja. From 20 ka to about 7 ka, activity on the

NW volcanic rift zone diminished and the intersection of the rift zones

migrated slightly to the north. More recently, the triple rift geometry

has been replaced at the surface by a N-S-trending rift zone which

transects the volcano, and by E-W-trending en echelon fissure arrays

Day, S.J., J.C. Carracedo, H.

Guillou & P. Gravestock

Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal

Research, 94:135–167 1999

Cumbre Vieja volcano,

volcanic rift zones, volcanic

vents


on the western flank of the volcano. The NE rift zone has become

completely inactive. This structural reconfiguration indicates

weakening of the western flank of the volcano. The most recent

eruption near the summit of the Cumbre Vieja, that of 1949, was

accompanied by development of a west facing normal fault system

along the crest of the volcano. The geometry of this fault system and

the timing of its formation in relation to episodes of vent opening

during the eruption indicate that it is not the surface expression of a

dyke. Instead, it is interpreted as being the first surface rupture along a

developing zone of deformation and seaward movement within the

western flank of the Cumbre Vieja: the volcano is therefore considered

to be at an incipient stage of flank instability. Climatic factors or strain

weakening along the Cumbre Nueva collapse structure may account

for the recent development of this instability.

Un siglo de temporales en la

Prensa Canaria

Estudio de las catástrofes naturales que asolan periódicamente a la

población y a sus actividades, la prensa se nos presenta como una

fuente de gran significación e importancia.

Mayer, P Vegueta, 4: 267-282 1999 temporales, tormentas

An ocean models response to

NAO like wind forcing

A general circulation ocean model has been used to study the

response of the ocean to North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO)−like

windspeed and windstress forcing anomalies. In sets of experiments

we have applied patterns of windvector, windspeed, and windstress

anomalies modulated by idealized NAO amplitudes.

In one set of experiments we have applied only windspeed or

windstress forcing anomalies and compared them to the case when

both anomalies were applied.

For this experiment we used a NAO period of 12 years. To study the

variation in response when for different forcing periodicities we

performed another set of experiments with NAO periods ranging from

2 to 64 years.

Cullen, H., G. Krahmann & M.

Visbeck

On-line Poster Display of the AGU

Chapman Conference "The North

Atlantic Oscillation" convened by Jim

Hurrell, Yochanan Kushnir and Martin

Visbeck. November, 28- December 1,

2000

2000 NAO, Ocean, Canarias

Relationship between sunspot

number and total annual

precipitation at Izana

(Tenerife): Maximum

precipitation prediction with

three year lagged sunspots?

A possible relationship between sunspot number and total annual

precipitation from the Izana Observatory has been found. The annual

precipitation period ranges from 1916 to 1998, thus including nearly

eight 11-year solar cycles.

When points of total precipitation for a given year at Izana are plotted

on the ordinate axis versus the yearly sunspot number on the abcisa

Calvet, X., M.C. Romero, J.M.

Sancho, P. Ripodas & V.J.

Quintero

ads (Smithsonian Astrophysical

Observatory under NASA) eprint

arXiv:physics/0110083

2001 Izaña Observatory,

precipitation


axis three years back from the precipitation one, nearly all of them lie

in the lower left hand corner of the diagram. This seems to indicate a

relationship between the above mentioned variables.

If this relationship is confirmed it would permit the prediction of a

maximum annual precipitation at Izana three years in advance.

First record of Selene dorsalis

(Gill, 1862) (Osteichthyes:

Carangidae) in the Canary

Islands (Central-east Atlantic)

Primera cita de Selene dorsalis (Gill, 1862) (Osteichthyes:

Carangidae) en las islas Canarias (Atlántico centro-oriental)

Se informa de la captura de un ejemplar de Selene dorsalis (Gill,

1862), especie rara en las aguas al norte de las islas de Cabo Verde y

Senegal. Es la primera cita de esta especie para la ictiofauna de las

islas Canarias.

Castro-Hernández, J.J Bol. Inst. Esp. Oceanogr, 17 (3 y 4):

333-335 2001

Selene dorsalis, Atlántico

centro-oriental, islas

Canarias.

Invasión de viento sahariano y

su impacto en la asistencia

sanitaria urgente

Objetivo: Evaluar la influencia que el polvo sahariano en suspensión

ejerce sobre la demanda asistencial urgente.

Método: Diseño: Estudio descriptivo longitudinal.

Ámbito: Servicio de Urgencias de Hospital Universitario de 3er nivel.

Sujetos: Todos los pacientes (n=705) mayores de 14 años que

solicitaron asistencia urgente por patología médica y que estuvieron

expuestos al polvo en suspensión; como grupo control, todos los

pacientes (n=662) que la solicitaron en el mismo período del año

anterior sin haber estado expuestos a dicho fenómeno atmosférico.

Mediciones: La variable principal dependiente fue el diagnóstico del

paciente al alta; edad y sexo eran las variables secundarias. Se

realizó análisis de la distribución de frecuencias, tablas de

contingencia y Chi-cuadrado con nivel de significación del 5%.

Resultados: En días de polución la frecuencia de crisis asmática fue

8,9%, cerca de 10 veces más que en el grupo control (p<0,05). Tras

dos días de exposición, la atención por broncopatía crónica

reagudizada fue 1,5 veces mayor que en el período control (p<0.05).

Durante el periodo estudiado, los trastornos de ansiedad y dolor

torácico atípico fueron 5 y 7,4 veces más frecuentes, respectivamente

García Carrasco,J., A.

Hernández Vazquez, A. Blasco

de la Fuente, B.C. Rodríguez

Hernandez, E. Rancaño Gila &

S. Núñez Diaz

Emergencias, 13: 372-376 2001

Contaminación ambiental.

Broncopatía crónica. Dolor

torácico. Crisis de ansiedad.

Urgencias


(p<0,05). No se observó un aumento significativo de casos de

cardiopatía isquémica.

Conclusiones: La presencia de polvo sahariano en suspensión

condiciona un aumento de la demanda asistencial urgente por

patología respiratoria, trastornos de ansiedad y dolores torácicos

atípicos. Deberían proponerse medidas para detección precoz e

información a la población de riesgo sobre medidas preventivas.

Influence of the North Atlantic

Oscillation on the Canary

Islands Precipitation

The aim of this paper is to investigate the relationship between the

Canary Island rainfall and the Atlantic large-scale circulation,

characterized by the North Atlantic oscillation (NAO) index. The

Canary Islands are located in the Atlantic subtropical belt under the

direct influence of the Azores high and the trade winds. Their steep

orography makes the islands very sensitive to small variations in a

synoptic situation, thus providing an excellent natural observatory for

the North Atlantic variability associated with changes in pressure

patterns.A significant relationship between rainfall and the NAO is

found for five of the seven Canary Islands. In order to characterize the

physical mechanisms involved, a set of automatic objective techniques

for identification and detection of disturbances is applied to the 1000-

and 500-hPa geopotential from the NCEP-NCAR reanalysis for the

period from 1955 to 1998. This method allows for the identification and

detection of four main synoptic systems-either at the surface or at 500

hPa-that are responsible for 80% of the precipitation over the Canary

Islands: Atlantic surface lows (ASLs), 500-hPa lows (UALs), 500-hPa

troughs over the Canary Islands (TROs), and deep Atlantic lows

(DALs), which affect the entire troposphere. Three of the detected

disturbances (ASLs, TROs, and DALs) exhibit a dipolar structure with

a low pressure center over 35°N associated with a positive anomaly at

higher latitudes, resembling the NAO negative pattern. The analysis of

the variability of the disturbance occurrence and the changes in their

associated anomaly patterns shows that deeper and more frequent

ASLs and TROs affect the Canary Islands during the negative phase

of the NAO. However, UAL disturbances are less frequent, and DALs

do not exhibit significant variations with the NAO phase.The standard

García-Herrera, R., D. Gallego &

E. Hernandez Journal of climate, 14: 3889-3903 2001 NAO, Canary Islands


deviation of the 2.5-8-day bandpass-filtered geopotential height shows

that the maximum variability associated with the NAO occurs over the

Canary Island area, confirming its sensitivity to NAO variations.The

study provides a comprehensive view of the mechanisms involved in

the precipitation generation over the Canary Islands, documenting a

sensitivity to the NAO influences for a group of islands that have been

poorly studied so far.

How are climate and marine

biological outbreaks

functionally linked?

Since the mid-1970s, large-scale episodic events such as disease

epidemics, mass mortalities, harmful algal blooms and other

population explosions have been occurring in marine environments at

an historically unprecedented rate. The variety of organisms involved

(host. pathogens and other opportunists) and the absolute number of

episodes have also increased during this period, Are these changes

coincidental? Between 1972 and 1976, a global climate regime shift

took place, and it is manifest most clearly by a change in strength of

the North Pacific and North Atlantic Pressure systems. Consequences

of this regime shift arc: (1) prolonged drought conditions in the Sahel

region of Africa: (2) increased dust supply to the global atmosphere,

by a factor of approximately Four; 3) increased easterly trade winds

across the Atlantic; (4) increased colian transport of dust to the

Atlantic and Caribbean basins; and (5) increased deposition of iron-

rich colian dust to typically iron-poor marine regions. On the basis of

well-documented climate and dust observations and the widely

accepted increase in marine outbreak rates, this paper proposes that

the increased iron supply has altered the micronutrient factors limiting

growth of opportunistic organisms and virulence of pathogenic

microbes, particularly in macronutrient-rich coastal systems

Hayes, M.L., J. Bonaventura,

T.P. Mitchell, J.M. Prospero,

E.A. Shinn, F. van Dolah & R. T.

Barber

Hydrobiologia, 460: 213–220 2001 disease, dust, habs, iron,

nao, pathogen

Análisis estadístico del calor

en la isla de Tenerife (1950-

2000). Contribución a la

prevención de situaciones de

riesgo

Se realiza el análisis estadístico de la temperatura máxima diaria en

las ciudades de Santa Cruz de Tenerife y La Laguna entre 1950 y

2000 con el fin de detectar las olas de calor habidas y la adecuación

de los umbrales fijados por el Plan Nacional de Predicción y Vigilancia

de Fenómenos Meteorológicos Adversos.

Marzol, V

Publicaciones de la A.E.C. (Asociación

Española de Climatología), serie A, No

2, 365-376 pp.

2001

Temperatura máxima, ola de

calor, confort, riesgo, ciudad,

Canarias

Trends in northern

hemisphere surface cyclone

frequency and intensity

One of the hypothesized effects of global warming from increasing

concentrations of greenhouse gases is a change in the frequency

and/or intensity of extratropical cyclones. In this study, winter

McCabe, G.J., P. Clark Martyn &

M.C. Serreze Journal of Climate, 14(2): 2763-2768 2001

extra tropical cyclones,

Northern Hemisphere


frequencies and intensities of extratropical cyclones in the Northern

Hemisphere for the period 1959–97 are examined to determine if

identifiable trends are occurring. Results indicate a statistically

significant decrease in midlatitude cyclone frequency and a significant

increase in high-latitude cyclone frequency. In addition, storm intensity

has increased in both the high and midlatitudes. The changes in storm

frequency correlate with changes in winter Northern Hemisphere

temperature and support hypotheses that global warming may result in

a northward shift of storm tracks in the Northern Hemisphere.

Caracterización de las masas

de aire en la región

subtropical sobre canarias

Se ha realizado un estudio de la influencia de la inversión del Alisio y

del transporte a larga distancia de masas de aire que afectan a

Tenerife. Para caracterizar la inversión del Alisio se utilizó una serie

larga de datos de sondeos y para conocer la procedencia de las

masas de aire realizamos un análisis estadístico de retrotrayectorias

isentrópicas para los mismos años. Los resultados obtenidos resaltan

dos sistemas de

circulación, uno en la baja troposfera libre y otro en la capa de mezcla

marítima, bien diferenciados y prácticamente desacoplados. Así

mismo queda patente el diferente comportamiento de las masas de

aire procedentes de África en ambos niveles.

Torres, C.J., E. Cuevas, J.C.

Guerra & V. Carreño

V Simposio Nacional de Predicción.

Madrid Madrid 20-23 noviembre 2001 2001 inversión del Alisio, Canarias

Cumbre Vieja Volcano;

potential collapse and

tsunami at La Palma, Canary

Islands

Geological evidence suggests that during a future eruption, Cumbre

Vieja Volcano on the Island of La Palma may experience a

catastrophic failure of its west flank, dropping 150 to 500 km³ of rock

into the sea. Using a geologically reasonable estimate of landslide

motion, we model tsunami waves produced by such a collapse.

Waves generated by the run‐out of a 500 km³ (150 km³) slide block at

100 m/s could transit the entire Atlantic Basin and arrive on the coasts

of the Americas with 10–25 m (3–8 m) height.

Ward, S. N. & S.D Geophys. Res. Lett., 28-17: 3397-3400 2001

Cumbre Vieja Volcano,

tsunami, La Palma, Canary

Islands

The occurrence of Ranzania

laevis off the Island of Gran

Canaria, the Canary Islands,

related to sea warming.

Catches of the slender sunfish Ranzania laevis were reported off the

coastline of the island of Gran Canaria, the Canary Islands, Spain in

May–June 2001, apparently ssociated with a sudden west–east

warming process of the sea surface in the central Atlantic.

Castro, J.J. & A.G. Ramos Journal of Fish Biology, 60(1): 271-273 2002

warming process, unusual

occurrence, Ranzania laevis,

slender sunfish, thermal

oscillation

Slope failures on the flanks of

the western Canary Islands

Landslides have been a key process in the evolution of the western

Canary Islands. The younger and more volcanically active Canary

Islands, El Hierro, La Palma and Tenerife, show the clearest evidence

Masson, D.G., A.B. Watts,

M.J.R. Gee, R. Urgeles, N.C.

Mitchell, T.P. Le Bas & M.

Earth-Science Reviews, 57: 1-35 2002

Canary Islands, Landslides,

Debris avalanches, Slumps,

Debris flows


of recent landslide activity. The evidence includes landslide scars on

the island flanks, debris deposits on the lower island slopes, and

volcaniclastic turbidites on the floor of the adjacent ocean basins. At

least 14 large landslides have occurred on the flanks of the El Hierro,

La Palma and Tenerife, the majority of these in the last 1 million years,

with the youngest, on the northwest flank of El Hierro, as recent as 15

thousand years in age. Older landslides undoubtedly occurred, but are

difficult to quantify because the evidence is buried beneath younger

volcanic rocks and sediments. Landslides on the Canary Island flanks

can be categorised as debris avalanches, slumps or debris flows.

Debris avalanches are long runout catastrophic failures which typically

affect only the superficial part of the island volcanic sequence, up to a

maximum thickness of 1 to 2 km. They are the commonest type of

landslide mapped. In contrast, slumps move short distances and are

deep-rooted landslides which may affect the entire thickness of the

volcanic edifice. Debris flows are defined as landslides which primarily

affect the sedimentary cover of the submarine island flanks. Some

landslides are complex events involving more than one of the above

end-member processes.

Individual debris avalanches have volumes in the range of 50–500

km3, cover several thousand km2 of seafloor, and have runout

distances of up to 130 km from source. Overall, debris avalanche

deposits account for about 10% of the total volcanic edifices of the

small, relatively young islands of El Hierro and La Palma. Some

parameters, such as deposit volumes and landslide ages, are difficult

to quantify. The key characteristics of debris avalanches include a

relatively narrow headwall and chute above 3000 m water depth on

the island flanks, broadening into a depositional lobe below 3000 m.

Debris avalanche deposits have a typically blocky morphology, with

individual blocks up to a kilometre or more in diameter. However,

considerable variation exists between different avalanche deposits. At

one extreme, the El Golfo debris avalanche on El Hierro has few large

blocks scattered randomly across the avalanche surface. At the other,

Icod on the north flank of Tenerife has much more numerous but

Canals


smaller blocks over most of its surface, with a few very large blocks

confined to the margins of the deposit. Icod also exhibits flow

structures (longitudinal shears and pressure ridges) that are absent in

El Golfo. The primary controls on the block structure and distribution

are inferred to be related to the nature of the landslide material and to

flow processes. Observations in experimental debris flows show that

the differences between the El Golfo and Icod landslide deposits are

probably controlled by the greater proportion of fine grained material in

the Icod landslide. This, in turn, relates to the nature of the failed

volcanic rocks, which are almost entirely basalt on El Hierro but

include a much greater proportion of pyroclastic deposits on Tenerife.

Landslide occurrence appears to be primarily controlled by the

locations of volcanic rift zones on the islands, with landslides

propagating perpendicular to the rift orientation. However, this does

not explain the uneven distribution of landslides on some islands

which seems to indicate that unstable flanks are a ‘weakness’ that can

be carried forward during island development. This may occur

because certain island flanks are steeper, extend to greater water

depths or are less buttressed by the surrounding topography, and

because volcanic production following a landslide my be concentrated

in the landslide scar, thus focussing subsequent landslide potential in

this area. Landslides are primarily a result of volcanic construction to a

point where the mass of volcanic products fails under its own weight.

Although the actual triggering factors are poorly understood, they may

include or be influenced by dyke intrusion, pore pressure changes

related to intrusion, seismicity or sealevel/climate changes. A possible

relationship between caldera collapse and landsliding on Tenerife is

not, in our interpretation, supported by the available evidence.

The maximum warmings of

the Pleistocene world climate

recorded in the Canary

Islands

Evidence of the warmest Pleistocene climatic changes is preserved in

the eastern Canary Islands. Although the existence of raised

fossiliferous marine deposits in northern Gran Canaria has been

known since the 19th century, their chronology and significance with

regard to past sea levels and temperatures have remained uncertain.

Here, we show three marine transgressions recorded by raised marine

Meco, J., H. Guillou, J.C.

Carracedo, A. Lomoschitz, A-J.

G. Ramos & J-J. Rodríguez-

Yánes

Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology,

Palaeoecology 185: 197-210 2002

Pleistocene; first interglacial;

penultimate interglacial; last

interglacial; Canary Islands;

radiometric and

palaeomagnetic dating

methods


deposits. The highest (85 m above sea level (masl)) and oldest marine

deposit is interbedded in basaltic lava flows and has been dated using

both palaeomagnetic and radiometric methods. The age of these

deposits, located on the northwest coast of Gran Canaria, near the

town of Agaete, places the marine transgression in a first Pleistocene

interglacial into the Plio–Pleistocene limit. The marine deposit at an

intermediate altitude (35 masl) has been dated using the unspiked K–

Ar method on a pillowed basaltic lava flow. The age of these deposits

in Arucas places the transgression in the penultimate (European

Mindel/Riss sense) interglacial. The deposits at 12 masl in Las Palmas

are attributed to the last Pleistocene interglacial on the basis of their

fossil content, which is similar to that of the Matagorda deposits in

Lanzarote and Matas Blancas in Fuerteventura. Radiometric dating of

a lava flow overlying similar deposits at El Cotillo in Fuerteventura has

been carried out. The molluscan fauna associated with the deposits

permits an estimation of the sea temperatures by reference to their

present biogeographical distributions. The Plio–Pleistocene boundary

coincides at Agaete (end of Olduvai event) with a high sea level

between 1.8 and 1.75 Ma (oxygen isotopic stage (OIS) 63), the dated

marine deposits at Arucas (0.42 Ma) place an interglacial in OIS 11.3

and finally we confirm that, in the Canaries, with only one high sea

level with a Senegalese fauna (OIS 5.5), they are not an outpost for

the Mediterranean Tyrrhenian (deposits with Strombus) oscillations.

Registro del aporte de polvo

de origen sahariano y de la

productividad oceánica en la

Cuenca del Norte de Canarias

y en el Mar de Alborán

El estudio de las conexiones climáticas entre latitudes altas y

tropicales es esencial en Paleoclimatología, tanto para el

conocimiento de los mecanismos causantes de la variabilidad

climática a diferentes escalas temporales, como para la investigación

de los modos de transferencia de dicha variabilidad. En las últimas

décadas se han obtenido y estudiado multitud de registros de las

latitudes altas, mientras que los trabajos paleoclimáticos llevados a

cabo en las bajas latitudes han sido minoritarios. Por tanto, es todavía

poco conocido el papel que juegan los sistemas atmosférico y

oceánico en la transmisión interlatitudinal de los cambios climáticos,

así como la respuesta de las zonas tropicales a los mismos. Para

resolver estas cuestiones es necesario examinar la señal

Moreno Caballud, A

Tesis depositada en Departamento de

estratigrafía, paleontología y

geociencias marinas. 97 pp. Universitat

de Barcelona

2002

Paleoclimatología,

Sedimentología, Geología,

Meteorología


paleoclimática en testigos de latitudes tropicales y subtropicales a

diferentes escalas temporales.

Esta Tesis Doctoral se centra en la reconstrucción de la variabilidad

climática en una sección latitudinal que abarca desde la Cuenca del

Norte de Canarias, en el noroeste de África, hasta el Mar de Alborán,

en el Mediterráneo Occidental. La información paleoclimática ha sido

extraída fundamentalmente a partir del análisis granulométrico y

geoquímico, para elementos mayores y traza, de los sedimentos. La

aplicación de técnicas de análisis espectral sobre las series de datos

ha servido para determinar las ciclicidades de los registros

paleoclimáticos.

Las variaciones en los aportes de polvo de origen sahariano-

saheliano a las cuencas estudiadas se correlacionan con los cambios

climáticos en las áreas fuente. El flujo de polvo eólico a la Cuenca del

Norte de Canarias alcanza sus máximos en los períodos más

húmedos, en relación con los mínimos en el índice de precesión. El

aumento de la meteorización ligado a estos periodos más húmedos

incrementaría, probablemente, la disponibilidad de partículas en el

área fuente susceptibles de ser transportadas por el viento. Por otra

parte, tanto los indicadores de transporte eólico como de

productividad marina superficial revelan que, en la Cuenca del Norte

de Canarias, los alisios se intensificaron en las terminaciones

glaciales, en paralelo con la fusión del manto de hielo de Groenlandia.

Por tanto, nuestros resultados apuntan a una rápida respuesta del

sistema de vientos alisios a los cambios en temperatura y salinidad de

las latitudes altas.

El aporte de polvo del norte de África al Mar de Alborán, durante el

Estadio Isotópico 3, se acentúa al inicio de los periodos fríos de los

ciclos de Dansgaard/Oeschger registrados en los testigos de hielo de

Groenlandia. Consideramos que las variaciones de alta frecuencia de

los gradientes de presión atmosférica en el Atlántico Norte, de un

modo similar a la actuación de la Oscilación del Atlántico Norte actual,


operarían a la escala de los ciclos de Dansgaard/Oeschger. Por tanto,

se impulsaría el establecimiento de un escenario meteorológico que

favorece la llegada de intrusiones saharianas al Mediterráneo a la vez

que promueve una mayor aridez en la región mediterránea y

norteafricana. La paleoproductividad superficial en el Mar de Alborán

también fluctúa ligada a los ciclos de Dansgaard/Oeschger. Los picos

de productividad coinciden con los del registro polínico que muestran

periodos más húmedos. De esta manera, la productividad pudo haber

aumentado con relación a la mayor descarga fluvial con la

consiguiente entrada de nutrientes en la cuenca. Esta hipótesis puede

tener importantes implicaciones en la investigación de los cambios

climáticos a escala submilenaria.

An unusual blood rain over

canary islands (Spain). The

storm of january 1999

An intense storm, including strong winds, a dust storm, ‘blood rain’

and heavy rains affected the Canary Archipelago between 5 and 10

January 1999, producing damage valued at 156 million euros. The

present paper analyses the weather conditions and sedimentological

features of the dust. The resulting data provide a possible explanation

of palaeoclimatic conditions essential for the stabilization of sand

dunes in the eastern parts of the Canary Islands.

Criado, C. & P. Dorta Journal of Arid Environments, 55:765-

783 2003

Blood rain; Dust storm;

Heavy rain; Canary Islands

Temperature and precipitation

changes at La Palma, Canary

Islands (1971-2000)

La Palma is the western-most of the Canary Islands located at a

latitude of 26.8N and 17.9W, about 400km off the Moroccan coast of

north-west Africa. Its oceanic location ensures that it has a mild and

equitable climate throughout the year, with little extremes of

temperature between summer and winter.

The proximity of the semi-permanent Azores high pressure system

means that the usual weather conditions are typically stable and dry,

due to a prevalent subsidence inversion layer frequently found at an

altitude of around 600-1500 metres (La Palma itself reaches up to

2,400 metres in altitude, well above the inversion). However, rainy

conditions can develop when a break in the inversion layer occurs or

the synoptic meteorological conditions weaken the Azores high. The

island`s steep orography also causes considerable local variation in

precipitation.

E. Graham Department of Geosciences. University

of Fribourg 2003

Temperatura, Precipitación,

La Palma

Reconstruction of the

precipitation in the Canary

Records of taxes collected during the seventeenth and eighteenth

centuries contribute to understanding of climatic variability of the

García, R., A. Macías, D

Gallego, E Hernandez, L

American Meteorological Society,

August: 1037-1039 2003

canary islands, centuries,

climatic variability, north


Islands for the period 1595-

1836

subtropical North Atlantic region. Gimeno & P Ribera atlantic oscillation

Precipitations trends in the

Canary islands

A strong decreasing trend in the Canary Islands' precipitation is

detected by studying daily rainfall time series for the second half of the

20th century. An analysis of the extreme events shows that this trend

is due mainly to a decrease in the upper percentiles of the

precipitation distribution. The results suggest that local factors play a

fundamental role on extreme event behaviour.

García-Herrera, R., D. Gallego,

E. Hernandez, L. Gimeno, P.

Rivera & N. Calvo

Int. J. Climatol. 23: 235–241 2003

Canary Islands, trend

analysis, precipitation,

climate extremes

Caracterización del aerosol

sahariano en Gran Canaria

La importancia que la distribución del aerosol mineral tiene sobre el

clima es uno de los temas de creciente interés en ciencias como la

Climatología y Oceanografía. El transporte de polvo desde los

desiertos a distintas regiones geográficas parece influir en los ciclos

biogeoquímicos de elementos traza y nutrientes que pudieran

modificar la productividad de ecosistemas marinos y terrestres. En

particular, las regiones áridas del desierto del Sahara son la fuente

más importante de material particulado mineral a la atmósfera. Este

polvo sahariano transportado por los vientos alisios contiene también,

especies biológicas (bacterias,…) que pueden modificar el equilibrio

de ecosistemas como los corales o afectar a la salud humana. A

pesar de que el Archipiélago Canario está situado en el límite norte de

la zona de máximo transporte de aerosol mineral que determina la

influencia de la Zona de Convergencia Intertropical, es un área

afectada por los episodios de advección de aire sahariano. Este

trabajo presenta la caracterización de la frecuencia y estacionalidad

de estas entradas atmosféricas de aerosol mineral a partir de las

medidas diarias de concentración de material particulado con

captadores de alto volumen situados a 1980 m de altitud en Gran

Canaria. Los filtros son utilizados para determinar las características

químicas y de talla del aerosol mineral. Asimismo, se presentan

resultados sobre los flujos de deposición húmeda y seca. Los

resultados ponen de manifiesto la alta variabilidad interanual de estas

entradas y las diferencias con patrones estacionales medidos en otros

lugares de la región atlántica norte.

Gelado, M.D., P.J. Dorta, M.E.

Torres, J.J. Hernandez, C.

Collado, V.F. Siruela, P.

Cardona & M.J. Rodríguez

1º Encuentro sobre meteorología y

atmósfera de Canarias. Ministerio de

Medio Ambiente, S/C de Tenerife: 155-

157

2003

Polvo, Sahara, Influencia

sobre Canarias, Aerosoles

atmosféricos, Medición, Gran

Canaria

Ecofisiología de la laurisilva

canaria

La situación geográfica de las Islas Canarias influenciadas por los

vientos alisios, ha propiciado que en determinadas zonas de las islas

Morales, D., A.M. González &

Mª Soledad Ecosistemas 2003/1 2003

Ecofisiología, laurisilva

canaria


occidentales, al amparo de un clima suave, húmedo y relativamente

uniforme, se desarrolle una vegetación exuberante, reliquia del

Terciario, conocida como bosque de laureles, laurisilva o monteverde.

En el presente trabajo, se presentan algunos resultados de las

investigaciones que se están llevando a cabo por nuestro grupo de

investigación en colaboración con científicos de otras universidades

europeas. Se estableció un sitio experimental en la vertiente Norte de

Tenerife, en la localidad de Agua-García, donde se han realizado

estudios de su estructura, microclima, respuestas a las condiciones

ambientales mediante medidas de intercambio gaseoso, fluorescencia

de la clorofila, pigmentos y antioxidantes, en tres de las principales

especies de árboles (Laurus azorica, Persea indica y Myrica faya).

También se ha realizado una aproximación al balance de agua,

calculando la transpiración a nivel de bosque a partir de medidas de

flujo de savia, y cuantificando la precipitación directa, la penetrante y

el escurrido cortical.

Altitudinal change in needle

water relations of Pinus

canariensis and possible

evidence of a drought-induced

alpine timberline on Mt. Teide,

Tenerife

The alpine timberline on Mt. Teide, Tenerife, Canary Islands, occurs at

about 1000 m lower elevation than that of continental mountains of

similar latitude. We tested the hypothesis that edaphic and/or climatic

drought are major causes for the timberline depression on this high

subtropical island. Comparative measurements of soil water content,

needle water status, stomatal conductance, carbon isotope signature,

and foliar N concentration were conducted in mature trees of the

timberline species, Pinus canariensis Chr. Smith ex. DC, along an

elevational transect (upper montane forest at 1600 m to the timberline

at 2100 m) in the wet and early dry seasons. The topsoil (0–10 cm)

desiccated completely in the dry season at the timberline but retained

a significantly higher soil moisture at 1600 m where cloud cover is

frequent. Daily maximal stomatal conductance of pine needles

decreased significantly from 1600 to 2100 m in the wet season which

coincided with a higher water vapour saturation deficit of the air and a

drier topsoil at 1800 and 2100 m compared to 1600 m. The δ13C

value of sun-lit pine needles increased by 4.5‰ km-1 from 1600 to

2100 m, which is a greater increase with elevation than has been

found in mountains on continents; this may indicate partial stomatal

Gieger, T. & C. Leuschner Flora, 199: 100-109 2004

δ13C, needle water potential,

seedling establishment, soil

moisture, stomatal

conductance, timberline

depression


closure in high elevation pines. Daily minima of needle water potential

in the dry season increased from

–1.0 to – 1.5 MPa at 1600 m to –2.0 to –2.5 MPa at 1800 and 2100 m.

We conclude that mature P. canariensis trees at the timberline are

seasonally affected by edaphic and probably climatic drought which

contradicts the opinion that drought stress is principally of low

importance in alpine timberline environments. However, neither

drought nor frost stress are likely to cause a critical reduction in vitality

and growth rate of mature pines because the uppermost pine trees

grow up to 14 m in height and have a vital appearance. The carbon

sink limitation hypothesis is not applicable to the isolated pine trees at

the timberline because self-shading and, consequently, lowered root

zone temperatures do not occur. We forward the ‘multiple limitations at

the seedling stage hypothesis’ in order to explain the timberline

depression as resulting from a failure of P. canariensis to regenerate

successfully at high elevations.

Altitudinal change in needle

water relations of Pinus

canariensis and possible

evidence of a drought-induced

alpine timberline on Mt. Teide,

Tenerife

The alpine timberline on Mt. Teide, Tenerife, Canary Islands, occurs at

about 1000 m lower elevation than that of continental mountains of

similar latitude. We tested the hypothesis that edaphic and/or climatic

drought are major causes for the timberline depression on this high

subtropical island. Comparative measurements of soil water content,

needle water status, stomatal conductance, carbon isotope signature,

and foliar N concentration were conducted in mature trees of the

timberline species, Pinus canariensis Chr. Smith ex. DC, along an

elevational transect (upper montane forest at 1600 m to the timberline

at 2100 m) in the wet and early dry seasons. The topsoil (0–10 cm)

desiccated completely in the dry season at the timberline but retained

a significantly higher soil moisture at 1600 m where cloud cover is

frequent. Daily maximal stomatal conductance of pine needles

decreased significantly from 1600 to 2100 m in the wet season which

coincided with a higher water vapour saturation deficit of the air and a

drier topsoil at 1800 and 2100 m compared to 1600 m. The δ13C

value of sun-lit pine needles increased by 4.5 km−1 from 1600 to 2100

m, which is a greater increase with elevation than has been found in

mountains on continents; this may indicate partial stomatal closure in

Gieger, T. & Ch. Leuschner Flora, 199: 100-109 2004

needle water potential,

seedling establishment, soil

moisture, stomatal

conductance, timberline

depression, δ 13 c


high elevation pines. Daily minima of needle water potential in the dry

season increased from –1.0 to – 1.5 MPa at 1600 m to –2.0 to –2.5

MPa at 1800 and 2100 m. We conclude that mature P. canariensis

trees at the timberline are seasonally affected by edaphic and

probably climatic drought which contradicts the opinion that drought

stress is principally of low importance in alpine timberline

environments. However, neither drought nor frost stress are likely to

cause a critical reduction in vitality and growth rate of mature pines

because the uppermost pine trees grow up to 14 m in height and have

a vital appearance. The carbon sink limitation hypothesis is not

applicable to the isolated pine trees at the timberline because self-

shading and, consequently, lowered root zone temperatures do not

occur. We forward the ‘multiple limitations at the seedling stage

hypothesis’ in order to explain the timberline depression as resulting

from a failure of P. canariensis toregenerate successfully at high

elevations.

Instability and Structural

Failure at Volcanic Ocean

Islands and the Climate

Change Dimension

Keating and McGuire (2000) [Island edifice failures and associated

tsunami hazards. In "Landslides and Tsunamis", Birkhauser, Boston,

pp. 899-956] presented and examined evidence for ubiquitous island

edifice failures and their associated tsunami hazards. In this follow-up

review, we examine the status of landslide, debris flow and tsunami

research and find that significant progress has been made in placing

constraints on physical parameters that will facilitate numerical

modeling of tsunami, landslide and debris flow movements. Similarly,

physical modeling has provided an important contribution to our

understanding of slope failure and debris transport, with many features

generated in laboratory experiments clearly identifiable in sonar

images of mass wasting events.In particular, we address published

evidence and proposed models supporting the rule of climate change

toward the generation of ocean island and continental margin

landslides. Evidence presented from the Canary Islands and the

Madeira Abyssal Plain is supportive of such a relationship, while that

from the Hawaiian archipelago provides a weak argument for this

association, primarily due to age-dating limitations. Notwithstanding

these, a comparison of the known rainfall pattern for the Hawaiian

Keatings, B.H. & W.J. McGuire Advances in Geophysics, 47: 175-271 2004

Climate change, Sea-level

change, Slope failure, Island-

edifice failure, Gas hydrates,

Canary Islands, Hawaii


Islands and the distribution of mapped edifice failures, however, reveal

no obvious link between either wet or dry conditions and the

disposition of debris avalanches and slumps. Furthermore,

contemporary observations from the Hawaiian archipelago show that

sub-aerial landslides are common under both wet and dry conditions.

A correlation between climate-related sea-level change and

continental margin slope failures is supported via the mechanism of

methane venting. A comparable link between variations in sea level

and instability and collapse at coastal and island volcanoes may also

be vindicated by correlation between the intensity of volcanic activity in

marine settings and the rate of sea-level change during the late

Quaternary.Our review reiterates strong evidence for abundant slope

failures on the flanks of ocean islands. The existence and nature of a

climate change link remains, however, to be firmly established. It is

likely that this will need to await better constrained age determinations

for submarine slope failures, provided-for example-by an extensive

program of ash-layer dating within sequences associated with

landslides, slumps and debris flows within the marine environment.

We conclude by addressing the hazard implications of future major

collapse in the marine environment, drawing attention to increasing

evidence for a serious future threat to coastal zones from major

landslide-induced tsunamis.

Climatología por satélite de

los aerosoles saharianos y del

fitoplacton en el atlántico

macaronésico

Se estudian comparativamente las climatologías obtenidas desde

satélite del contenido atmosférico de aerosoles Sharianos y del

contenido en fitoplacton de la capa superficial. Los archipiélagos

macaronésicos se sitúan en 4 puntos muy representativos del

Atlántico Subtropical Oriental. Se encuentra periodicidad anual, es la

característica principal de la variabilidad en ambos parámetros en las

fronteras norte y sur del giro subtropical, Azores y Cabo Verde, y en

general de la distribución de fitoplacton en toda el área, no obstante

las tormentas de polvo sahariano en la zona central, Canarias y

Madeira, siguen patrones climatológicos más complejos.

Pérez-Marrero, J., L. Maroto &

O. Llinás Revista de teledetección, 21: 19-23 2004

Teledetección, Clorofila,

Aerosoles, Climatología,

Atlántico Centro-Oriental.

Reconstrucciones climáticas:

el ejemplo de la Oscilación del

Atlántico Norte

En este artículo se presentan diversas reconstrucciones de la

Oscilación del Atlántico Norte. Como ejemplo de las técnicas de

reconstrucción, se incluye la actualización de una serie de la

Puyol, D.G., R. García-Herrera,

A.M. Macías & E. Hernandez Física de la Tierra, 16: 83-92 2004

Reconstrucción climática,

Oscilación del Atlántico

Norte, Canarias, proxy,


precipitación en las Islas Canarias basada en el análisis de su

producción agraria en el periodo 1595-1836. Durante época

instrumental, la precipitación Canaria está fuertemente relacionada

con la Oscilación del Atlántico Norte, por lo que una reconstrucción de

la precipitación en el Archipiélago puede proporcionar información

sobre dicho patrón en un área relativamente poco estudiada hasta la

fecha.

precipitación, producción

agraria

Future climate change of the

subtropical north Atlantic:

Implications for the cloud

forests of Tenerife

This paper is concerned with climate change in the region of the

Canary Islands and the potential implications for the laurel forests of

Tenerife. Frequent orographic cloud formation during the dry season is

of vital importance to the altitudinal distribution of the laurel forests,

because it maintains a semi-humid environment in the otherwise semi-

arid climate of the Canary Islands. The distinctive environmental

conditions in conjunction with the location of the Canary Islands on the

Northern poleward edge of the Hadley Circulation make these

ecosystems potentially highly sensitive to regional changes in climatic

conditions. To explore this sensitivity, we first quantify observed trends

in humidity and temperature across an altitudinal transect at the base

of the Anaga

peninsular, and second, analyse the results of three GCM experiments

(CGCM1, ECHAM4 and CSIRO) to develop alternative climate change

scenarios, and third, use these data to assess likely shifts in the

elevational distribution of the laurel forest climate envelope. We report

a significant increase in relative humidity and decreases in the diurnal

temperature range on Tenerife at altitudes below the trade wind

inversion within the last 30 years during the dry season, which

suggests an increased occurrence of low-level clouds. There is also

partial evidence for a drying trend across the trade wind inversion,

which may be linked to an increased subsidence. Overall, the models

suggest a downward shift of the area climatically suitable for laurel

forests, which may be driven by changes in temperature and moisture

supply in the region as well as by larger-scale changes in the

atmospheric circulation. Our findings contrast with previously

published findings for a tropical montane cloud region, which predict

an upward shift of the cloud base. This suggests, following the

Sperling, F.N., R. Wasingthon &

R.J. Wittaker Climatic Change, 65(1-2): 103-123 2004


assumptions inherent in the models applied, that the ecological

consequences of climate change for cloud forests may be linked to

their relative location in the Hadley Circulation.

Blitzkrieg in a marine

invasion: Caulerpa racemosa

var. ylindracea (Bryopsidales,

Chlorophyta) reaches the

Canary Islands (north-east

Atlantic)

On the basis of morphological and genetic studies (rDNAITS1, 5.8S,

ITS2, and a 18S rDNAintron), we confirm here that Caulerpa

racemosa var. cylindracea (Sonder) Verlaque, Huisman et

Boudouresque, a southwestern Australian taxon recently introduced

into the Mediterranean Sea also occurs in the Canary Islands. This is

the first report of C. racemosa var. cylindracea in the Atlantic. It was

observed for the first time in the Canary Archipelago in 1997–1998.

The speed and regional scale of expansion (north Atlantic Ocean and

the Mediterranean Sea) of this invasive species appear to be among

the most dramatic ever recorded. The possible outcome of this

introduction in the Atlantic is discussed.

Verlaque, M., J. Afonso-Carrillo,

M.C. Gil-Rodriguez, Ch. Durand,

Ch.F. Boudouresque & Y Le

Parco

Biological Invasions 6: 269–281 2004

Atlantic, Bryopsidales,

Canary Islands, Caulerpa

racemosa, introduced

species, invasive algae, 18S

intron, ITS1–ITS2, marine

invasion, range expansion

Breve revisión a la oscilación

del Atlántico Norte y su

influencia sobre la península

ibérica y Canarias

La Oscilación del Atlántico Norte (NAO en sus siglas en inglés)

consiste en una oscilación atmosférica de masa entre el anticiclón

subtropical de las Azores y la región de bajas presiones cerca de

Islandia. Se trata de la mayor fuente de variabilidad tanto estacional

como interdecadal de la circulación atmosférica sobre el continente

europeo y, por ende, sobre la Península Ibérica, especialmente en

invierno, cuando es más pronunciada. Varios estudios han mostrado

la importancia de NAO en el clima invernal de todo el Hemisferio

Norte, particularmente en el sector Atlántico/Europa (Hurrell, 1995;

Hurrell, 1996; Rogers, 1997, Qian et al., 2000), siendo dicho

fenómeno el centro de atención de numerosos estudios monográficos,

sirvan como ejemplos Hurrell et al. (2001) y Gimeno et al. (2004), en

inglés y español respectivamente.

Añel, J.A., L. de la Torre, L.

Gimeno & R. Nieto RAM 2005

Oscilación del Atlántico

Norte, Península Ibérica,

Canarias

Tropical Cyclone Report

Tropical Storm Delta

Delta was a late-season tropical storm of subtropical origin. After

losing tropical characteristics, the cyclone caused casualties and

storm- to hurricane-force winds in the Canary Islands.

Beven, J National Hurricane Center 2005 Tropical Cyclone, Tropical

Storm Delta, Canary Islands

Frecuencia, estacionalidad y

tendencias de las

advecciones de aire sahariano

en Canarias

Las masas de aire sahariano, acompañadas habitualmente por polvo

en suspensión, afectan con asiduidad a las Islas Canarias y sus

manifestaciones más extremas suponen un riesgo climático de primer

orden. En este trabajo se expone cual es la frecuencia concreta, qué

resultados muestran las primeras mediciones de material litogénico y

Dorta, P., MªD Gelado, JJ

Hernandez, P Cardona, C

Collado, S. Mendoza, MªJ

Rodriguez, S Siruela & MªE

Torres

Investigaciones Geográficas, 38: 23-45 2005 Aire sahariano, calima,

riesgo climático, Canarias


qué tendencias indican los análisis realizados mediante combinación

de Climatología Sinóptica y análisis estadístico para una serie de 28

años.

Sahara air incursions and

dust deposition over the

Canary Islands and its impact

on the terrestrial and oceanic

environment

The Sahara, the largest desert in the world is a source of dry hot air

and also dust. Its position, very close to the Canary archipelago has a

hard influence on the climate of this area because of the inexhaustible

supply of dust and the high temperatures have adverse effects on the

environments and socioeconomic aspects such as health, forest fires

frequency, crops. This paper examines this topic quantitatively.

Dorta-Antequera, P., Mª.D.

Gelado-Caballero, C. Criado-

Hernández, P. Cardona-

Castellano, C. Collado-Sánchez,

J.J. Hernández-Brito, S.

Mendoza-Rodríguez, M.E.

Torres-Padrón, M.J. Rodríguez-

Somoza & V.F. Siruela-Matos

El Patrimonio Mundial Natural: Los

Espacios Naturales, Desarrollo,

Sostenibilidad y Ética: 276-282

2005

Sahara Dust, Tropical

Continental Air Mass, Canary

Islands

Seasonal and intraspecific

variation of frost tolerance in

leaves of three Canarian laurel

forest tree species

The effect of freezing temperatures was studied in leaves of three tree

species growing in the laurel forest of the Canary Islands, relictic

vegetation of Tertiary Mediterranean flora. The decrease in

photochemical capacity of PSII (Fv/Fm) was compared with visual

assessment to determine the degree of frost damage 24 h after

treatment. The study was carried out in sun and shade leaves, and in

two different seasons, to obtain information about the intraspecific and

seasonal variability of frost resistance of these three species. Our

results showed that the studied species are sensitive to freezing

temperatures, Laurus azorica being the most resistant species,

undergoing damage at -10 ºC, while Persea indica and Myrica faya

were damaged at -6 ºC and -4 ºC, respectively. In the warm season,

sun leaves were less resistant to freezing temperatures than in the

cold season and these leaves showed lower resistance than shade

ones. The frost resistance shown by these species was lower than

that of most Mediterranean woody species. However, the existence of

other Mediterranean woody plants, with similar sensitivity to freezing

temperatures, indicates that low temperatures were probably not the

main cause in the past of their present confinement.

González-Rodriguez, A Mª., Mª

S. Jiménez &D. Morales Ann. For. Sci. 62: 423–428 2005

chlorophyll fluorescence /

Laurus azorica / Persea

indica / Myrica faya / visual

damage

La tormenta tropical "Delta"

en Canarias

Durante los días 28 y 29 de noviembre las Islas Canarias se vieron

azotadas por una perturbación de origen tropical que fue bautizada

con el nombre de Delta por el CNH, Centro Nacional de Huracanes de

EEUU. El INM siguió desde el primer momento a esta perturbación

singular, sobre todo en los días previos cuando las trayectorias

Instituto Nacional de

Meteorología (AEMET)

Ministerio de Medio Ambiente, Instituto

Nacional de Meteorología. 16 pp. 2005

Tormenta Tropical Delta,

Canarias, Agencia Estatal de

Meteorología


previstas de la tormenta tropical apuntaban, con cierto grado de

incertidumbre, hacia las Islas Canarias. La vigilancia y seguimiento se

acentuó cuando las predicciones señalaban a las Islas Canarias como

una zona que potencialmente podría ser afectada, sobre todo por

vientos muy intensos. Las zonas más activas con precipitaciones de

tipo convectivo pasaron lejos del archipiélago, aunque en él se

registraron también

precipitaciones generalizadas.

High Prevalence of Asthma

Symptoms in the Canary

Islands: Climatic Influence?

The worldwide variation in asthma prevalence prompted us to carry

out a study to assess the variability of asthma-related symptoms in

young adults on the islands of Gran Canaria and Tenerife. We used

the questionnaire used in the European Community Respiratory

Health Survey with the addition of two questions on smoking and

ancestors from the Canary Islands. In each island, this questionnaire

was distributed to a random sample of 5000 subjects aged 20-44

years. Of the 10,000 subjects, 9,506 (95.06%) were considered

eligible. We obtained 7,132 (75.03%) responses. The prevalence of

the different symptoms was wheezing 25.3%, nocturnal thoracic

tightness 18.0%, awakened by an attack of shortness of breath 13.1%,

attack of nocturnal coughing 33.3%, attack of asthma 4.3%, current

asthma treatment 6.2%, and nasal allergies 18.0%. Women and

smokers showed a significantly higher prevalence of asthma

symptoms. No significant difference in symptoms was found between

subjects whose ancestors were of Canarian origin and those with

ancestors born outside the Canaries. As has been observed on other

islands (Great Britain and New Zealand), asthma is common in

individuals from 20 to 44 years of age in the Canaries. We

hypothesize that climatic conditions play an important role in the

prevalence of asthma symptoms.

Julia, G., P. Cabrera, O. Acosta,

P. Martín, J. Batista, F. Alamo, F

Rodriguez de Castro & J.M.

Antó

Journal of asthma, 42: 507-511 2005

asthma symptoms,

prevalence, epidemiology,

climate

Human Rickettsia felis

Infection, Canary Islands,

Spain

We report the first cases of human infection by Rickettsia felis in the

Canary Islands. Antibodies against R. felis were found in 5 adsorbed

serum samples from 44 patients with clinically suspected rickettsiosis

by Western blot serology. Fleas from 1 patient's dog were positive for

R. felis by polymerase chain reaction.

Pérez-Arellano, J.L., F. Fenollar,

A. Angel-Moreno, M. Bolaños,

M. Hernández, E. Santana, M.

Hemmersbach-Miller A.M.

Martin & D. Raoult

Emerging Infectious Diseases, 11(12):

1961-1964 2005

Human Rickettsia felis

Infection, Canary Islands,

Spain

Ciguatera Fish Poisoning, To the Editor: Ciguatera outbreaks usually occur in the area between Pérez-Arellano, J.L., O.P. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 11(12): 2005 Ciguatera Fish Poisoning,


Canary Islands 35[degrees] north and 35[degrees] south latitude, mainly in the

Caribbean, Indo-Pacific islands, and the Indian Ocean (1-5) (Figure).

Occasionally, ciguatera poisoning has been reported outside disease

endemic areas, such as the Bahamas, Canada, or Chile, but no case

had been described in the West African region until now. European

and Spanish cases have been rarely described and are mainly

associated with seafood imported from disease-endemic regions (6).

Luzardo, A.P. Brito, M.

Hernández, M. Zumbado, P.

Carranza, A. Angel.Moreno,

R.W. Dickey & L.D. Boada

1981-1082 Canary Islands, Emerging

Infectious Diseases

Bloom of the marine

diazotrophic cyanobacterium

Trichodesmium erythraeum in

the Northwest African

upwelling

A bloom of the non-heterocystous diazotrophic cyanobacterium

Trichodesmium erythraeum Ehrenberg is reported in the Canary

Islands Archipelago during August of 2004, the warmest period of a

meteorological series recorded by the National Institute of

Meteorology (Spain) since 1912. Samples showed massive

occurrences of T. erythraeum (1000 filaments ml–1) in different

sectors of northern and southern waters off the central Canary Islands.

Water analyses also showed a relatively low presence of inoflagellates

and diatoms. Quasi-true colour satellite images of dust storms,

elevated sea surface temperature (the warmest satellite-derived

record), chlorophyll a and geostrophic current fields showed satellite-

derived optical positives of Trichodesmium in an African upwelling

advective, jet-drifting westward current off the south Canary Islands.

Analyses for cyanotoxins using HPLC found microcystins, which was

confirmed by immunoassay, at concentrations from 0.1 to 1.0 µg

microcystin-LR equivalents (g–1 dry weight of bloom material). A T.

erythraeum bloom such as that observed in August 2004 in the NW

African Upwelling does not appear to have been recorded for the area

previously. The bloom may have developed due to the exceptionally

warm weather and/or to the massive dust storms from the Sahara

Desert observed in the NE Atlantic in August 2004.

Ramos AG, Martel A, Codd GA,

Soler E, Coca J, Rdo A,

Morrison LF, Metcalf JS, Ojeda

A, Suarez S, Petit M

Mar Ecol Prog Ser 301: 303-305 2005

Cyanobacteria ·

Trichodesmium erythraeum ·

Remote sensing · NW

African Upwelling · Advective

jet · Toxicity

Recent invasion of the tropical

Atlantic by an Indo-Pacific

coral reef fish

The last tropical connection between Atlantic and Indian–Pacific

habitats closed c. 2 million years ago (Ma), with the onset of cold-

water upwelling off southwestern Africa. Yet comparative morphology

indicates more recent connections in several taxa, including

reefassociated gobies (genus Gnatholepis). Coalescence and

phylogenetic analyses of mtDNA cytochrome b sequences

demonstrate that Gnatholepis invaded the Atlantic during an

Rocha, L.A., D.R. Robertson,

C.R. Rocha, J.L. van Tassell,

M.T. Craig & B.W Bowens

Molecular Ecology, (j.1365-

294X.2005.02698.x) 2005

Agulhas leakage,

biogeography, dispersal,

mtDNA, phylogeography


interglacial period ∼145.000 years ago (d= 0.0054), colonizing from

the Indian Ocean to the western Atlantic, and subsequently to the

central (∼100.000 years ago) and eastern Atlantic (∼30.000 years

ago). Census data show a contemporary range expansion in the

northeastern Atlantic linked to global warming.

Decadal changes in the

Canary Upwelling System as

revealed by satellite

observations: Their impact on

productivity

Satellite-derived sea-surface temperature (SST) data were used to

study the variability of the Canary Upwelling Ecosystem-CUE (12 to

43N) over the last two decades of the 20th century. The analysis

reveals well known patterns of climatology and seasonal variability in

this upwelling system. In contrast to quasi-regular decadal oscillations

of SST anomalies observed in the open ocean, the coastal variability

during the 1980s–1990s was better described as a decadal scale shift

of the upwelling regime intensity. The analysis of the upwelling index

and coastal zonal gradient of SST showed that this shift occurred

earlier (1992) in the northern part of the CUE (off western Iberia) and

some years later (1995) off the northwest African coast. The long-term

variability of upwelling-favorable wind forcing during the examined

period provides reasonable explanations for the observed shift of the

upwelling intensity and its timing for the whole CUE. Finally, changes

in the productivity of several small pelagic fish species observed for

the same period suggest that there was a response of the ecosystem

to these changes.

Santos, A.M.P., A.S. Kazmin &

A. Peliz

Journal of marine research, 63(2): 359-

379 2005

High prevalence of asthma

symptoms in the Canary

Islands: Climatic influence?

The worldwide variation in asthma prevalence prompted us to carry

out a study to assess the variability of asthma-related symptoms in

young adults on the islands of Gran Canaria and Tenerife. We used

the questionnaire used in the European Community Respiratory

Health Survey with the addition of two questions on smoking and

ancestors from the Canary Islands. In each island, this questionnaire

was distributed to a random sample of 5000 subjects aged 20-44

years. Of the 10,000 subjects, 9,506 (95.06%) were considered

eligible. We obtained 7,132 (75.03%) responses. The prevalence of

the different symptoms was wheezing 25.3%, nocturnal thoracic

tightness 18.0%, awakened by an attack of shortness of breath 13.1%,

attack of nocturnal coughing 33.3%, attack of asthma 4.3%, current

asthma treatment 6.2%, and nasal allergies 18.0%. Women and

Serda, C.J., P.C. Navarro, P.M.

Perez, J.B. Martin, F.A.

Santana, F.R. de Castro &

J.M.A. Boque

Journal of Asthma, 42(6): 507-511 2005

asthma symptoms,

prevalence, epidemiology,

climate


smokers showed a significantly higher prevalence of asthma

symptoms. No significant difference in symptoms was found between

subjects whose ancestors were of Canarian origin and those with

ancestors born outside the Canaries. As has been observed on other

islands (Great Britain and New Zealand), asthma is common in

individuals from 20 to 44 years of age in the Canaries. We

hypothesize that climatic conditions play an important role in the

prevalence of asthma symptoms.

Riesgos Catastróficos en las

Islas Canarias. Una Visión

Geográfica

Las consecuencias negativas que los Riesgos Catastróficos han

originado sobre la población de las Islas Canarias, durante el periodo

1995-2005 han sido notables. Por un lado, hay que anotar un

importante número de víctimas mortales y cuantiosas pérdidas

económicas en bienes materiales y recursos medioambientales,

causado por la acción de Lluvias Intensas, Vientos Fuertes y Olas de

Calor, los cuales sesgaron la vida de cincuenta y dos personas. La

vulnerabilidad -como proceso interactivo que une los Riesgos

Naturales con la sociedad; de tipo socio-económica y por motivos de

edad-, ha sido el principal el factor que ha originado que los peligros

naturales se hayan convertido en Riesgos Catastróficos. A esta

vulnerabilidad hay que sumar una percepción de sobre-confianza de

la población con dichos peligros, que ha generado una infravaloración

de los graves daños que pueden causar éstos. Los daños causados

por Riesgos Tecnológicos han presentado un, considerable, menor

daño en la población de las Islas, gracias a las grandes medidas de

seguridad que, al igual que ocurre en otros países desarrollados, se

han adoptado para minimizar y reducir aquel

Arrans, M Anales de Geografía, 26: 167-194 2006

Riesgos Naturales, Riesgos

Tecnológicos, Factores

geográficos, Fallecidos

Effect of climatic change in

children with atopic eczema

BACKGROUND: Climate and sunlight (ultraviolet radiation) influence

activity of atopic eczema.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of moving from a

subarctic/temperate climate to a sunny subtropical climate on

children's atopic eczema.

METHODS: Children, 4-13 years, with severe atopic eczema were

randomized to stay 4 weeks in Gran Canary (index patients = 30) and

Byremo, G., G. Rod & K.H.

Carlsen Allergy 2006

atopic eczema; climate

change; quality of life;

SCORing of Atopic

Dermatitis; serum

eosinophilic cationic protein;

Staphylococcus aureus;

sunlight


home in Norway (controls = 26), with a follow up of 3 months.

SCORing of Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) was primary variable, and

secondary were Children's Dermatology Life Quality Index (CDLQI),

Staphylococcus aureus skin colonization and pharmacological skin

treatment.

RESULTS: SCORing of Atopic Dermatitis decreased from 37.2 (29.4-

44.9) to 12.2 (9.0-15.4) [mean (95% confidence intervals)] after 4

weeks and 21.2 (17.2-25.1) 3 months thereafter in index patients (P <

0.0005), much less in controls.Children's Dermatology Life Quality

Index in the index group improved from 8.7 to 2.2 and 4.5 after 4

weeks and 3 months (P < 0.0005), not in controls. Bacterial skin

colonization with S. aureus decreased in the index group from 23/30

(77%) to 12/30 (40%; P = 0.001) and 12/30 (40%; P = 0.005) after 1

month and 3 months, and the use of local steroids decreased in index

patients but not in controls.

CONCLUSIONS: The change from a subartic/temperate to a

subtropical climate for 4 weeks improved significantly skin symptoms

(SCORAD) and quality of life, even for 3 months after return.

Evolución futura del clima

canario

EL CAMBIO CLIMÁTICO EN CANARIAS. Ciclo de conferencias

organizadas por la Academia Canaria de Ciencias Cuevas, E Instituto Nacional de Meteorología 2006 Conferencia

Efectos y repercusiones de la

tormenta tropical Delta en los

bosques de Anaga (Tenerife).

Desde una perspectiva geográfica, se analizan los efectos de la

tormenta tropical Delta sobre el bosque. Los daños fueron

potenciados principalmente por factores topográficos y fitoedáficos.

En función de la exposición, los efectos se clasifican en directos y

secundarios. Su reparto espacial fue muy variado y afectó a distintos

tipos de formación forestal: pinar, eucaliptal y monteverde. Se

estudian también sus consecuencias geomorfológicas y se interpreta

la evolución futura de la cubierta forestal y sus posibilidades de

riesgo.

González, M.L., L Fernández-

Pello & F Quirantes Eria, 71: 253.268 2006

Tormenta tropical Delta, tipos

y distribución de los daños

forestales, factores de

vulnerabilidad, recuperación

de la laurisilva.

Reproduction in an endemic

bird of a semiarid island: a

food-mediated process

We analyse the effects of rainfall, temperature, food availability and

nest predation on the between-year variation in reproduction of the

Canary Islands stonechat Saxicola dacotiae, a bird species endemic

of the semiarid island of Fuerteventura (Canary Islands, Spain). We

Illera, J.C. & M. Diaz Journal of avian biology, 37: 447-456 2006


monitored the reproductive performance and output of the species

across its whole distribution area during three consecutive breeding

periods, also measuring rainfall, temperature and food (arthropod)

availability on the ground monthly. Rainfall varied from 27.3 mm in

2000–2001 (dry year) to 124.5 mm and 125.1 mm (average years),

respectively, in the 2001–2002 and 2002–2003 breeding seasons. The

onset of breeding closely matched variation in the onset of the

autumn-winter rains among years. Arthropod availability was strongly

and positively related to rainfall one month before. Reproductive

investment (number of clutches and clutch size) was correlated to

arthropod availability both among years and among sites within years.

Stonechat pairs bred once or did not breed at all in the dry year

whereas they bred twice in the other two years. Clutch size was

smaller in the dry year and larger in the second as compared with the

first in the other two years. Reproductive investment largely

determined reproductive output (number of fledglings) as there were

no significant spatial or temporal variation in hatching success (90%

on average) or nest predation (29% on average, mostly due to feral

cats Felis catus). Within- and among years variability in temperature or

predation did not match variability in the onset, length or reproductive

investment and output recorded throughout the study years. These

results suggest that variability in annual fecundity in the Canary

Islands Stonechat was mainly driven by rainfall through a food-

mediated process.

El paso de Delta por Canarias Presentación referente a el paso de la tormenta Delta por Canarias. J.L. Hernández, L. Alvarez, R.

Verniere ACANMET 2006

Delta, Meteorología, Cambio

Climático

Los riesgos de las lluvias

torrenciales en las islas de la

Macaronesia (Azores,

Madeira, Canarias y Cabo

Verde)

En este artículo se realiza un análisis comparativo de las

precipitaciones diarias de las islas de Terceira (Azores), Madeira

(Madeira), Tenerife (Canarias) y Santiago (Cabo Verde) con el fin de

caracterizar la pluviosidad en los cuatro archipiélagos de la

Macaronesia. Se examinan así mismo los episodios diarios de lluvias

más intensas, su duración y frecuencia, para determinar la

vulnerabilidad de esos archipiélagos ante fenómenos meteorológicos

extremos de ese tipo.

Marzol, M.V., A. Yanes, C.

Romero, E. Brito de Azevedo, S.

Prada & A. Martins

Asociación Española de Climatología, 5:

443- 452 2006

Precipitaciones torrenciales,

riesgo, Azores, Madeira,

Canarias, Cabo Verde

Los riesgos de las lluvias En este artículo se realiza un análisis comparativo de las Marzol, M.V., A. Yanes, C. Clima, Sociedad y Medio Ambiente (Ed. 2006 Precipitaciones torrenciales,


torrenciales en las islas de la

Macaronesia (Azores,

Madeira, Canarias y Cabo

Verde)

precipitaciones diarias de las islas de Terceira (Azores), Madeira

(Madeira), Tenerife (Canarias) y Santiago (Cabo Verde) con el fin de

caracterizar la pluviosidad en los cuatro archipiélagos de la

Macaronesia. Se examinan así mismo los episodios diarios de lluvias

más intensas, su duración y frecuencia, para determinar la

vulnerabilidad de esos archipiélagos ante fenómenos meteorológicos

extremos de ese tipo.

Romero, E. Brito de Azevedo, S.

Prada & A. Martins

Cuadrats et al), AEC, Zaragoza, págs.

443-452

riesgo, Azores, Madeira,

Canarias, Cabo Verde

Lluvias e inundaciones en los

centros turísticos de Gran

Canaria: el caso de San

Bartolomé de Tirajana

El sur de Gran Canaria ha sido intensamente transformado por las

instalaciones turísticas que, desde 1962, se han realizado. Entre las

consecuencias ambientales de este proceso destacan las

inundaciones. El objetivo de este trabajo es determinar si existe

relación entre las implantaciones turísticas y el incremento, en las

últimas décadas, de los daños producidos por las inundaciones. Para

ello se ha realizado un análisis diacrónico entre 1962 y la actualidad,

comparando la evolución entre los episodios de lluvia intensa y los

problemas generados. Los resultados señalan que el reciente

incremento de los perjuicios, derivados de las inundaciones, se

explica por la forma en que se han realizado los crecimientos urbanos

y las infraestructuras turísticas a ellos asociados.

Mayer, P., E. Pérez-Chac´n &

L.E. Romero

Investigaciones geográficas, 41: 155-

173 2006

turismo, inundación, lluvias

intensas, daños, Gran

Canaria

Global risk from extreme

geophysical events: threat

identification and assessment

In an increasingly interconnected world, any single geophysical hazard

is capable of having consequences far beyond the range of immediate

physical effects. Most recently, this was demonstrated by the 2004

Asian tsunami, which took the lives of citizens from 57 different

nations, and by Hurricane Katrina in August 2005, which raised fuel

prices worldwide and contributed to a record UK trade deficit in the

month following the devastation of New Orleans. On an altogether

wider scale, global geophysical events (GGEs) are natural

phenomena capable of having wholesale deleterious consequences

for the world's environment, economy and society. These may arise (i)

due to a global physical effect, such as an episode of severe planetary

cooling in response to a volcanic ‘super-eruption’ or large comet or

asteroid impact, or (ii) as a result of subsidiary ramifications for the

global economy and social fabric of a cataclysmic regional event, such

as an Atlantic- or Pacific-wide ‘mega-tsunami’, or a more spatially

confined event at a strategically sensitive location, for example the

McGuire, W.J Phil. Trans. R. Soc. (A), 364: 1889-1909 2006

global geophysical event;

super-eruption; mega-

tsunami; asteroid impact;

earthquake


awaited major Tokyo earthquake. While very infrequent, the wide-

ranging—and potentially ruinous—consequences of a GGE for the

well-being of the international community make it essential that they

are seriously considered within any comprehensive assessment of

natural threats.

Saharan Dust Impacts and

Climate Change

AFRICAN DUST

Huge quantities of mineral dust are carried from sources in North

Africa to the western Atlantic Ocean every year. Satellite images often

show immense dust clouds emerging from the coast of West Africa

(Figure 1). Th ese dustladen air masses are carried across the Atlantic

Ocean by the Trade Winds and reach the Caribbean about a week

later. Measurements of wind-borne dust on Barbados, West Indies

(13° 10’ N, 59° 32’ W), show the presence of high concentrations of

dust much of the year (Figure 2), starting in the spring and extending

through the fall. During this period, substantial concentrations of dust,

tens of micrograms per cubic meter of air, are measured almost every

day. During intense dust events, dense hazes cover the region, and

dust concentrations can exceed 100 µg m-3.

Prospero, J Oceanography, 19(2): 60-61 2006 Climate Change, Saharan

Dust

Contrasting biogeography of

endemic and alien

terrestrial species in the

Canary Islands

Contraste biogeográfico de las especies terrestres endémicas y

exóticas de las

Islas Canarias

Los organismos endémicos y exóticos forman parte de las dos caras

de una misma moneda puesto que la conservación de ambos grupos

posee implicaciones para la conservación que están fuertemente

interrelacionadas. Las islas son ricas en especies endémicas y

también muy vulnerables a las invasiones por especies exóticas.

Hemos analizado la bio-geografía y la taxonomía de las especies

terrestres endémicas y exóticas de las islas Canarias que incluyen

hongos, líquenes, briófitos, plantas vasculares, artrópodos, moluscos,

anélidos y vertebrados. Utilizando la base de datos para plantas

también hemos testado la hipótesis de que existe una menor similitud

taxonómica entre especies exóticas y nativas que entre endémicas y

nativas no endémicas. A pesar de que en las Islas Canarias la riqueza

y densidad de especies endémicas (28% de la flora y fauna) es mayor

que la de las especies exóticas (3%), esta tendencia depende del

Vila, M. & M. López-Darias Orsis, 21: 91-101 2006

invasiones biológicas,

homogeneización biótica,

plantas y animales no

nativos, semejanza

taxonómica.


grupo de organismos y de la isla considerada.

Por ejemplo, más de la mitad de los anélidos presentes en las islas

son exóticos o la flora de Fuerteventura posee tantas especies

endémicas como exóticas. El análisis confirma la hipótesis de que en

la flora canaria hay más familias de especies vegetales que

exclusivamente poseen especies exóticas (34) que familias con sólo

especies endémicas

(5). Además, ni las especies vegetales exóticas ni endémicas

constituyen una representación al azar de la taxonomía de la flora: la

mayor parte de especies exóticas se encuentran sobre-representadas

en ciertas familias. No obstante, las especies endémicas se

encuentran sobre o sub-representadas en ciertas familias en

comparación con las especies nativas no endémicas.

Characterization of sea

storms along the coast of

Tenerife, the Canary Islands

The aim of this paper is to state the impact of two sea storm patterns

along the coast of Tenerife. They are both linked to two specific

atmospheric conditions – one to swell events such as the one that

took place between 26 and 30 December 1998, and the other one to

sea waves such as those from 7 to 8 January 1999. Buoys and Wana

models provided by Puertos del Estado (General Direction of Coasts)

were used to obtain scale and directional swell data from 1985 to

2003. Analysis of average annual Hm, Hmax, Tp, wave length, wave

direction and wind speed and direction values were used to

characterise storm conditions. A first approach refers 98 possible

storm events. Then, two storms are chosen and the sharp hourly

variations of swell parameters are studied during their lifespan. The

interest of such study lies in the fact that over half the perimeter of the

island is densely populated and the urban planning system should

consider the risk from storms.

Yanes, A., M.M. Marzol & C.

Romero

Journal of Coastal Research, 48: 124-

128 2006

Storm, swell, sea, Tenerife,

Canary Islands

Caracterización de las

intrusiones de polvo africano

en Canarias

En numerosas zonas desérticas, y bajo determinadas condiciones

meteorológicas, partículas crustales de polvo son emitidas hacia

capas medias y altas de la troposfera pudiendo llegar a viajar durante

días y alcanzar zonas muy alejadas de la región fuente. En la región

subtropical oriental del Atlántico Norte el estudio de la contaminación

natural es especialmente importante, ya que los episodios de intrusión

de material particulado africano son muy frecuentes y en ocasiones

Alonso-Perez, S

Tesis depositada en Departamento de

Física de la Universidad de La Laguna.

278 pp + 2 anexos.

2007

región subtropical oriental del

Atlántico Norte, Islas

Canarias, escenarios

meteorológicos


muy intensos. Altas concentraciones de estos aerosoles afectan a la

salud de las personas, el clima, las comunicaciones (debido al

descenso de la visibilidad) y a las actividades agrícolas y ganaderas.

De entre los diferentes tipos de aerosoles presentes en la atmósfera

son precisamente los aerosoles minerales los que tienen una mayor

repercusión en la contaminación en Canarias. Las islas Canarias

constituyen un escenario excelente para el estudio del impacto de

este fenómeno en la calidad del aire ambiente en dicha región.

Por otro lado, los aerosoles juegan un papel muy importante en el

balance radiativo terrestre. Canarias es un lugar excepcional para

realizar estudios focalizados en este tema, tanto por su localización

geográfica como por la disponibilidad de un amplio despliegue de

instrumentación (LIDAR, fotómetros solares, captadores de alto

volumen y analizadores ópticos) en la capa de mezcla marina y en la

troposfera libre.

En este trabajo multidisciplinar se caracterizan los episodios de

intrusión de masas de aire con elevada carga de polvo africano en

Canarias desde el punto de vista de su impacto en niveles de

partículas, origen del material particulado y escenarios meteorológicos

a escala sinóptica que favorecen estos episodios. Asimismo, se

aborda el estudio de la relación de estos episodio con índices de

teleconexión, evaluación de tendencias temporales de los episodios

de polvo y utilización de los isótopos 137Cs, 40K y 7Be como

trazadores de estos episodios. Además, se presentan los resultados

de la validación para Canarias del sistema de predicción y alerta de

episodios de polvo africano que desde 2003 se encuentra operativo

para toda España.

Un estudio sobre las

temperaturas extremas en

Canarias

No existe un criterio uniforme para su definición. Las olas de frío y

calor son producto de un fuerte y anormal enfriamiento o

calentamiento del aire motivado por la invasión de una masa de aire

muy fría o muy cálida, según el episodio del que se trate, que se

extiende sobre un amplio territorio y durante un periodo de tiempo

prolongado.

En el caso de olas de calor, los servicios meteorológicos europeos

utilizan para describirlas umbrales basados en la temperatura del aire

Cardos, C., E. Barrera & R.

Sanz

Calendario Meteorologico 2007.

Ministerio de Medio Ambiente. Instituto

nacional de meteorología

2007 Olas de calor y frío,

Canarias, Meteorología


y en la duración del episodio cálido; también emplean índices que

combinan la humedad y temperatura del aire, como el conocido heat

index, o incluso las situaciones meteorológicas a escala sinóptica.

Otras variables como la velocidad del viento y la temperatura media

radiante se están integrando en índices más ambiciosos como UTCI

(Universal Thermal Climate Index), PET (Physiological Equivalent

Temperature), OUT_SET* (Outdoors Standard Effective Temperature)

y PT (Perceived Temperature), este último utilizado de manera

operativa en el Deutscher Wetterdienst.

El hecho de que las olas de calor afecten considerablemente a la

salud de las personas y produzcan daños materiales (impactos sobre

recursos agropecuarios e hídricos) y sociales (migración del turismo y

aumento del consumo energético), abre la problemática

a un ámbito interdisciplinar donde la fisiología o la economía juegan

un rol tan importante como la meteorología.

Catálogo de riesgos

climáticos en Canarias:

amenazas y vulnerabilidad

A pesar de la supuesta suavidad climática, los fenómenos

meteorológicos adversos tienen graves consecuencias en Canarias.

Aún así los estudios sobre estas cuestiones son sólo parciales. Es por

ello por lo que en este trabajo se pretende analizar los riesgos

climáticos más importantes haciendo especial mención a los últimos

años. Se señalan las amenazas climáticas a las que está expuesto el

archipiélago y se muestran los umbrales máximos esperados en cada

uno de los fenómenos catalogados como riesgos. Asimismo, se

exponen una serie de reflexiones sobre la vulnerabilidad. Como se

verá, aunque el clima representa el principal atractivo turístico, las

islas no están exentas de las manifestaciones atmosféricas más

extremas y la vulnerabilidad aumenta año tras año.

Dorta, P Geographicalia, 51: 133-160 2007

Canarias, riesgo climático,

vulnerabilidad, fenómeno

meteorológico adverso

Notas de la Conferencia “El

cambio climático, causas y

problemática en Canarias“

Emilio Cuevas Instituto Nacional de Metereología -

Ministerio de Medio Ambiente 2007

Incendios forestales y

humanos en Canarias

Los incendios forestales son tan antiguos como la propia historia de

los bosques, cuyos inicios podríamos remontar hasta el Devónico

Medio, hace 390 millones de años con la aparición de Archaeopteris,

un protohelecho gigantesco.

Fernández-Palacios, J.M., J.R.

Arévalo, J.D. Delgado, R.Oto, G.

Morales & J. Mendez

Makaronesia, 9: 106-115 2007

Incendios forestales,

Incendios humanos,

Canarias

Eventos climáticos a pequeña Las capturas de atún blanco (Thunnus alalunga) en el Archipiélago Ganzedo, U., I. Arregui, I. Col. Vol. Sci. Pap. ICCAT, 60(2): 527- 2007 Albacore, Thunnus alalunga,


escala y la pesca del atún

blanco (Thunnus alalunga) en

las Islas Canarias

Canario vienen determinadas por diferentes eventos meteorológicos

que influyen en las condiciones

oceanográficas del Archipiélago. Estos factores a su vez condicionan

la presencia del atún blanco en las aguas canarias.

Tras analizar las capturas de atún blanco registradas entre 1965 a

2003, se observó que determinados eventos meteorológicos

relacionados con la posición geográfica del centro barométrico del

anticiclón de las Azores índice NAO, en este caso un índice NAO

positivo, favorece la presencia de juveniles de esta especie en el área

FAO 34. Sin embargo, la falta de relación entre las capturas en las

islas canarias y el resto del área FAO 34, nos hizo suponer que

ciertos eventos meteorológicos influirían, de modo diferente, en las

capturas en las islas canarias.

En invierno del 2002 se registraron las capturas por unidad de

esfuerzo (CPUE) diarias y la posición geográfica donde se efectuaron

por parte de la flota artesanal de cebo vivo durante toda la costera y

además se hizo un seguimiento de las condiciones océano-climáticos

de la zona. A la inversa de lo que ocurre en el resto de área FAO 34,

un índice NAO negativo facilitaría la entrada del cardumen,

manteniéndose en las estructuras mesoescalares al sur de las islas.

Sancristóbal & J.J. Castro 539 climatic events, Canary

Islands

Counting Atlantic Tropical

Cyclones Back to 1900

Climate variability and any resulting change in the characteristics of

tropical cyclones (tropical storms, subtropical storms, and hurricanes)

have become topics of great interest and research within the past 2

years [International Workshop on Tropical Cyclones, 2006].An

emerging focus is how the frequency of tropical cyclones has changed

over time and whether any changes could be linked to anthropogenic

global warming.

Landsea, W EOS, 88(18): 197-208 2007 Atlantic Tropycal Cyclones,

Atlantic Ocean,

El cambio climático en

Canarias. Síntesis y límites

del conocimiento actual. VII

Conferencia Atlántica de

Medio Ambiente 2007 en

Fuerteventura

Luis Balairón Ruiz VII Conferencia Atlántica de Medio

Ambiente 2007 2007


Population viability of the

narrow endemic

Helianthemum juliae

(CISTACEAE) in relation to

climate variability

Narrow endemic plants are highly vulnerable to extinction as a result

of human disturbance and climate change. We investigated the factors

affecting the population viability of Helianthemum juliae, a perennial

plant endemic to the Teide National Park on Tenerife, Canary Islands.

One population was demographically monitored from 1992 to 2001

and analysed using matrix projection models to determine finite rates

of increase and critical stages in the life cycle. Lambda values varied

between 0.697 and 1.740, and were highly positively correlated with

annual precipitation, but not with temperature. Survival of adults had

the highest elasticity, and summed elasticities of the growth and

fecundity transitions correlated positively with lambda and

precipitation. Most of the mortality in the population seemed drought-

related, and no other threats were identified. Deterministic simulations

showed population increase, but introducing environmental

stochasticity by modelling variation in precipitation from existing data

of the past 85 years revealed high extinction probabilities (0.74–0.83

in the next 100 years). This plant is likely to be at risk under scenarios

of global warming. Our simulations suggest that augmenting the

population would only delay extinction. A more viable option for long-

term conservation seems to be the introduction of populations at more

humid locations within the Teide caldera.

Marrero-Gomez, M.V., J.G.B.

Oostermeijer, E. Carqué-Álamo

& A. Bañares-Baudet

Biological Conservation, 134(4): 552-

562 2007

Endangered plants;

Extinction; PVA; Population

dynamics; Conservation;

Global warming; Canary

islands

Importancia de la variabilidad

climática en las pesquerías y

biología de la merluza

europea Merluccius

merluccius (Linnaeus, 1758)

de la costa Noroccidental

Africana

El impacto de los cambios de escala climática sobre la producción

pesquera mundial es una cuestión relevante científica y

económicamente, ya que algunas de las principales pesquerías

marinas muestran variaciones temporales en sincronía con

oscilaciones climáticas. Por esta razón, en años reciente se ha puesto

mayor atención en investigar de qué forma responden los

ecosistemas marinos a la variabilidad climática natural, y cómo este

conocimiento puede ser incorporado en la gestión de los recursos

pesqueros. Sin embargo, dilucidar el impacto del clima sobre las

pesquerías no es una tarea sencilla, porque se trata de un proceso

holístico de gran escala que interactúa con multiplicidad de factores

locales que determinan en última instancia el impacto sobre las

poblaciones explotadas.

Por lo tanto, el objetivo principal de este trabajo de tesis fue analizar

Meiners, C. G.

Tesis inédita. Intituto Español de

Oceanografia y Universidad Politécnica

de Cataluña. 187 pp.

2007

Merluza europea, Merluccius

merluccius, Costa

noroccidental africana,

Pesquerías, Biología,

Variabilidad climática


de forma amplia la importancia relativa de la variabilidad del clima

descrita por la Oscilación del Atlántico Norte (NAO) en la evolución de

las pesquerías y la dinámica de población de la merluza europea en la

costa Noroccidental Africana. Para entender la necesidad de explorar

la hipótesis climática como fuente de variación principal, primero se

proporcionan elementos de discusión acerca de los conceptos de

referencia que sustentan tal posibilidad, en tres líneas principales. En

el CAPÍTULO 1, se analiza comparativamente la biología y dinámica

poblacional entre la merluza europea de la costa Noroccidental

Africana y las poblaciones de la especie que se distribuyen en el

Atlántico norte y Mediterráneo. En el CAPÍTULO 2, se describe y

analiza la estructura y evolución de las pesquerías dirigidas a esta

especie en el área de estudio, haciendo énfasis en la variabilidad no

explicada por las evaluaciones del stock llevadas a caobo hasta el

momento. En el CAPÍTULO 3, se presenta una descripción del

entorno climático y ambiental de la costa Noroccidental Africana, y se

discute acerca del potencial de influencia que la variabilidad de este

entorno pudiera tener en la biología, dinámica poblacional y las

pesquerías de la merluza europea en esta área geográfica en

particular.

Posteriormente, en el CAPÍTULO 4 se estableció que la abundancia

de merluza europea está correlacionada significativa y positivamente

con el índice NAO. La variabilidad de la abundancia de juveniles es

explicada por la NAO en un 35‐45% con un año de desfase y entre 45

y 60% la de adultos tempranos y adultos grandes, con 2 y 3 años de

desfase respectivamente. El desfase del impacto, permite utilizar el

índice NAO como trazador del crecimiento anual de la merluza

europea, cuya magnitud fue el doble de la estimada en trabajos

anteriores en el área. El proceso que presumiblemente vincula la

variabilidad climática descrita por la NAO y la abundancia por grupos

de talla de la merluza europea, es la extensión espacial y temporal de

los afloramientos inducidos por viento. El estrés de viento explica el

83% de la variabilidad de la biomasa de fitoplancton y ambos

parámetros se correlacionaron positivamente con el índice NAO del


mismo año. Es decir, que la abundancia de juveniles está

directamente relacionada con un régimen oceanográfico y productivo

favorable asociado con fases positivas de la NAO.

Como consecuencia de lo anterior, en el CAPÍTULO 5 se exploró la

contribución relativa de la señal climática a la dinámica del

reclutamiento de la especie a través de índices derivados de las

pesquerías y de campañas científicas. Se determinó que el

reclutamiento a la pesquería sucede a lo largo de todo el año, con

máximos en primavera y verano, pero con estacionalidad débil. El

reclutamiento varía en fase con la NAO del año previo (25‐82% de la

variabilidad explicada). El mecanismo de respuesta ecológico a las

variaciones de la NAO, fue la ampliación‐contracción de la Ventana

de Reclutamiento (VR). Durante una fase positiva de la NAO, se

reclutan varias cohortes en un mismo año, en tanto que durante una

fase negativa, el número e intensidad de cohortes reclutadas

disminuye sensiblemente. La señal climática en el reclutamiento es

robusta, recurrente y persistente independientemente del nivel de

esfuerzo de pesca.

Finalmente, en el CAPÍTULO 6 se incorporó el índice NAO como un

parámetro ambiental en un modelo stock‐reclutamiento, que mejora el

ajuste de los datos con respecto a los modelos clásicos. El factor

NAO determina la dispersión del reclutamiento a un mismo nivel del

stock reproductor, previo a la sobrecompensación de la curva de

reclutamiento. Esto representa un paso muy importante hacia la

incorporación de la variabilidad ambiental inducida por el sistema

climático en la evaluación de los stocks demersales de la costa

Noroccidental Africana.

The North Atlantic Oscillation

and ecology: links between

historical time-series, and

lessons regarding future

climate warming

Indices of the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) have been very useful

for explaining interannual variability in many ecological time series.

We suggest that this is based on a combination of 3 factors: (1) the

strong relationship between NAO and meteorological conditions in

winter; (2) qualitative changes in environmental conditions in response

to winter conditions, especially temperatures; and (3) the central

Straile, D. & N. Chr Stenseth Climate Research, 34: 259-262 2007

NAO · Winter ecology ·

Range expansion · Heat

stress · Climate indices ·

Climate change


importance of those conditions for the distribution and population

dynamics of species in temperate and boreal regions. The increase in

winter temperatures associated with a shift of NAO towards its positive

phase in recent years has resulted in a relief from winter stress for

many species and populations. This has reduced mortality rates

during winter, thereby influencing local population dynamics and

allowing, for example, the northward expansion of many species. In

contrast to winter warming, the recent increase in summer

temperature has had fewer ecological consequences, as it has not

been large enough to cause an increase in heat stress to critical levels

during summer. The difference in the ecological consequences of

winter and summer warming also explains why reductions in the

ranges of species have been observed less often than expansions

during the past few decades. However, with further warming, summer

heat stress might become an increasingly important determinant of the

response of species to climate warming. This suggests that studies

analysing the effects of the winter NAO on species dynamics and

distributions will give us only a limited perspective on the further

consequences of climate warming.

Winter jet stream trends over

the Northern Hemisphere

Trends in the speed and probability of winter jet stream cores over the

Northern Hemisphere were measured for 1958–2007, and related

changes in the thermal structure of the troposphere were identified.

Eddy-driven jet (EDJ) core speeds and probabilities increased over

the midlatitudes (40–60°N), with changes as large as 15% (speed)

and 30% (probability). These increasing trends are collocated with

increases in baroclinicity driven by a spatially heterogeneous pattern

of height change consisting of large-scale warming with cooling

centres embedded poleward of 60°N. The cooling centres reduced

high-latitude baroclinicity, making jet cores poleward of 60°N less

frequent and weaker. Over the west and central Pacific, subtropical jet

stream (STJ) core probabilities remained relatively constant while core

speeds increased by as much as 1.75 m/s decade−1 in association

with Hadley cell intensification. The STJ shifted poleward over the east

Pacific and Middle East, and an equatorward shift and intensification

of the STJ were found over the Atlantic basin–contributing to an

Strong, C. & R.E. Davis Quaterly Journal of the Royal

Meteorological Society, 133: 2109-2115 2007

general circulation, climate

change, global warming


increased separation of the EDJ and STJ. Copyright © 2007 Royal

Meteorological Society

Winter jet stream trends over

the Northern Hemisphere

Trends in the speed and probability of winter jet stream cores over the

Northern Hemisphere were measured for 1958–2007, and related

changes in the thermal structure of the troposphere were identified.

Eddy-driven jet (EDJ) core speeds and probabilities increased over

the midlatitudes (40–60 °N), with changes as large as 15% (speed)

and 30% (probability). These increasing trends are collocated with

increases in baroclinicity driven by a spatially heterogeneous pattern

of height change consisting of large-scale warming with cooling

centres embedded poleward of 60 °N. The cooling centres reduced

high-latitude baroclinicity, making jet cores poleward of 60 °N less

frequent and weaker. Over the west and central Pacific, subtropical jet

stream (STJ) core probabilities remained relatively constant while core

speeds increased by as much as 1.75 m/s decade−1 in association

with Hadley cell intensification. The STJ shifted poleward over the east

Pacific and Middle East, and an equatorward shift and intensification

of the STJ were found over the Atlantic basin–contributing to an

increased separation of the EDJ and STJ. Copyright 2007 Royal

Meteorological Society

Strong, C. & R.E. Davis Q. J. R. Meteorol. Soc. 133: 2109–2115 2007 general circulation; climate

change; global warming

El efecto de los temporales de

viento en la laurisilva de

Anaga (Tenerife, I. Canarias).

La tormenta Delta de

noviembre de 2005

El efecto de los temporales de viento en la laurisilva de Anaga

(Tenerife. I. Canarias). La tormenta Delta de noviembre de 2005

La accidentada topografía del Macizo de Anaga y la localización de la

laurisilva en los relieves más expuestos contribuyen a que los daños

forestales inmediatos de los temporales sean notorios. La relación de

este efecto con la magnitud del vendaval está cada vez más

condicionada por el aumento de la madurez del bosque debido al

abandono de los aprovechamientos forestales. 18 meses después de

la tormenta Delta el bosque evidencia un proceso de autosucesión y

el fin del enriquecimiento del sotobosque con especies herbáceas

heliófilas. Esta dinámica indica que a medio y largo plazo las

consecuencias serán exclusivamente fisonómicas. Tras comprobar la

recurrencia histórica de estos fenómenos atmosféricos, el objetivo

final de la investigación iniciada con este trabajo es valorar la

importancia de los temporales de viento en la dinámica del paisaje

Arozena, M.E., P. Dorta, J.M.

Panareda & E. Beltrán Scripta Nova, vol. XII, art. 267 2008

temporal de viento, laurisilva,

dinámica forestal, Tenerife,

Anaga


forestal de Anaga.

Influencia del calentamiento

global sobre la biodiversidad

marina de las islas Canarias

Los posibles efectos del cambio climático derivado del calentamiento

global sobre los ecosistemas marinos han sido objeto de amplia

discusión científica en los últimos años. Aunque todavía no se tienen

muchos conocimientos relativos a algunos de

los efectos previsibles que pueden ser más negativos, como por

ejemplo la incidencia del incremento de la radiación ultravioleta en el

plancton o de la disminución del pH del agua sobre los esqueletos de

los organismos, sí existe ya un conocimiento amplio, basado en

procesos bien conocidos originados en diferentes zonas de los mares,

sobre el efecto de la primera manifestación de dicho fenómeno de

cambio climático, es decir, el calentamiento del agua.Diversos

trabajos han puesto de manifiesto que el incremento de la

temperatura del mar en zonas subtropicales y templadas está

influyendo sobre los organismos marinos de diferentes formas: 1)

aparición de nuevas especies de origen meridional, procedentes por

lo tanto de latitudes más cálidas; 2) incremento de las poblaciones de

las especies nativas termófilas mediante reclutamientos muy exitosos

o llegada de individuos foráneos; 3) desaparición o enrarecimiento de

especies de origen septentrional, es decir, de afinidades más frías; y

4) cambios en la fenología de las especies (migraciones, épocas de

reproducción, crecimiento, duración de la fase larvaria, etc.).

Brito, A

En J.Afonso "Naturaleza amenazada

por los cambios en el clima". Actas III

Semana Científica Telesforo Bravo,

Instituto de Estudios Hispánicos de

Canarias: 141-161 dorta

2008

El sistema de alerta de

tormentas de polvo y arena

para Europa, África y Oriente

próximo de la organización

meteorológica mundial

Cuevas, E., J.M. Baldasano, C.

Perez, X. Querol, M.A. Martinez,

S. Nickovic & L. Barrie

AME, 20:30-35 de la región atlántica

norte 2008

Tormentas de polvo, Región

Atlántica Norte, Canarias

La flora y la vegetación

canaria ante el cambio

climático actual

En la actualidad, utilizando parámetros climáticos e índices

bioclimáticos es posible analizar los posibles efectos que el cambio

climático actual podría tener sobre la flora y vegetación canaria

considerando una proyección futura para el periodo 2.070 – 2.100.

Como consecuencia de la previsible elevación de las temperaturas y

disminución estimada de las precipitaciones, los pisos bioclimáticos

(cada uno de los tipos de medio, definidos por caracteres climáticos,

que se suceden altitudinalmente) sufrirán desplazamientos. Así, los

del Arco, M

En J.Afonso "Naturaleza amenazada

por los cambios en el clima". Actas III

Semana Científica Telesforo Bravo,

Instituto de Estudios Hispánicos de

Canarias: 105-140.

2008


termotipos (definidos por los valores térmicos) tenderán hacia un

ascenso y los ombrotipos (definidos por las precipitaciones) hacia la

aridización. Estos cambios producirían un desplazamiento paralelo de

los diferentes tipos de la vegetación potencial canaria asociada a los

mismos, lo que supondrá una reducción generalizada de la superficie

que ocupan excepto para los ambientes más áridos y para el pinar.

Por otra parte, la tendencia de cambio que muestra el anticiclón de las

Azores y otros datos climáticos indican que las áreas de nubes de las

vertientes de barlovento podrían reducirse, con la consiguiente

merma de la laurisilva. La respuesta de los principales tipos de

vegetación potencial al cambio previsto será más lenta que la

velocidad del cambio, lo que favorecería la expansión de

comunidades arbustivas de sustitución más dinámicas. Estas

consideraciones acerca de la flora y la vegetación pueden

encontrarse también en Del Arco (2008) y ser ampliadas para otros

aspectos ligados al cambio climático en Canarias en Méndez &

Vázquez (2008).

Climate change projections

for the Mediterranean region

We present a review of climate change projections over the

Mediterranean region based on the most recent and comprehensive

ensembles of global and regional climate change simulations

completed as part of international collaborative projects. A robust and

consistent picture of climate change over the Mediterranean emerges,

consisting of a pronounced decrease in precipitation, especially in the

warm season, except for the northern Mediterranean areas (e.g. the

Alps) in winter. This drying is due to increased anticyclonic circulation

that yields increasingly stable conditions and is associated with a

northward shift of the Atlantic storm track. A pronounced warming is

also projected, maximum in the summer season. Inter-annual

variability is projected to mostly increase especially in summer, which,

along with the mean warming, would lead to a greater occurrence of

extremely high temperature events. The projections by the global and

regional model simulations are generally consistent with each other at

the broad scale. However, the precipitation change signal produced by

the regional models shows substantial orographically-induced fine

scale structure absent in the global models. Overall, these change

Giorgi, P. & P. Lionello Global and Planetary Change, 63(2-3):

90-104 2008

climate change,

Mediterranean climate,

precipitation change,

temperature change


signals are robust across forcing scenarios and future time periods,

with the magnitude of the signal increasing with the intensity of the

forcing. The intensity and robustness of the climate change signals

produced by a range of global and regional climate models suggest

that the Mediterranean might be an especially vulnerable region to

global change.

The key role of the sea urchin

Diadema aff. antillarum in

controlling macroalgae

assemblages throughout the

Canary Islands (eastern

subtropical Atlantic): An

spatio-temporal approach

Diadema aff. antillarum performs a key role in organizing and

structuring rocky macroalgae assemblages in the Canary Islands.

Densities of D. aff. antillarum higher than 2 individuals m2 are found to

drastically reduce non-crustose macroalgal cover to below 30% and

wave exposure appears as a major factor determining sea urchin

density, which decreases with exposure level. Substrates containing

>20% sand limit urchin to under 1 individual m2 but high relief rocky

habitats show higher density. Moreover, several anthropogenic factors

(number of islanders and tourists per coastal perimeter, and number of

operational fishing boats) were positively correlated with urchin

abundance. A trend of increasing urchin density through time was

found, although well structured marine systems found at Mar de Las

Calmas Marine Protected Area and at the no-take area of La Graciosa

Marine Protected Area do not seem to follow this

general trend.

Hernandez, J.C., S. Clemente,

C. Sangil & A Brito

Marine Environmental Research 66:

259–270 2008

Canary Islands, Diadema aff.

antillarum, Non-crustose

macroalgae, Spatio-temporal

variability, Urchin-stable-

state, Lobophora-stable-

state, MPA

Downscaling future climate

change: Temperature

scenarios for the

Mediterranean area

For the assessment of Mediterranean temperature under

anthropogenically forced climate conditions canonical correlation

models are established for the 1948-98 period between highly

resolved Mediterranean temperatures and large-scale North-Atlantic-

European 1000hPa-/500hPa-geopotential height fields. Predictor

output from two different global general circulation model runs

(ECHAM4/OPYC3 and HadCM3), both forced with B2 scenario

assumptions according to the Special Report on Emission Scenarios

(SRES), is used to assess Mediterranean temperature changes in the

21st century. The results show a temperature increase for the whole

Mediterranean area for all months of the year in the period 2071-2100

compared to 1990-2019. The assessed temperature rise varies

depending on region and season, but overall substantial temperature

changes of partly more than 4C by the end of this century have to be

Hertig, E & J. Jacobeir Global and Planetary Change, 63(2-3):

127-131 2008

climate change, statistical

downscaling, temperature

assessments, Mediterranean

area


anticipated under enhanced greenhouse warming conditions.

Research frontiers in climate

change: Effects of extreme

meteorological events on

ecosystems

Climate change will increase the recurrence of extreme weather

events such as drought and heavy rainfall. Evidence suggests that

modifications in extreme weather events pose stronger threats to

ecosystem functioning than global trends and shifts in average

conditions. As ecosystem functioning is connected with ecological

services, this has far-reaching effects on societies in the 21st century.

Here, we: (i) present the rationale for the increasing frequency and

magnitude of extreme weather events in the near future; (ii) discuss

recent findings on meteorological extremes and summarize their

effects on ecosystems and (iii) identify gaps in current ecological

climate change research.

Jentsch, A. & C. Beierkuhnlein C. R. Geoscience, 340: 621–628 2008

Biodiversity, Drought,

Precipitation, Experiment,

Ecosystem service

High resolution modelling

results of the wind flow over

Canary Islands during the

meteorological situation of the

extratropical storm Delta (28-

30 November 2005)

On 28–29 November 2005 an extratropical storm affected the Canary

Islands causing significant damage related to high average wind

speeds and intense gusts over some islands of the archipelago. Delta

was the twenty-sixth tropical or subtropical storm of the 2005 Atlantic

hurricane season. It represents an unusual meteorological

phenomenon for that region, and its impacts were underestimated by

the different operational meteorological forecasts during the previous

days of the arrival of the low near Canary Islands.

The aim of this study is to reproduce the local effects of the flow that

were observed over the Canary Islands during the travel of the Delta

storm near the region using high-resolution mesoscale meteorological

simulations. The Advanced Research Weather Research &

Forecasting Model (WRF-ARW) is applied at 9, 3 and 1 km horizontal

resolution using ECMWF forecasts as initial and boundary conditions.

The high-resolution simulation will outline the main features that

contributed to the high wind speeds observed in the archipelago.

Variations in vertical static stability, vertical windshear and the intense

synoptic winds of the southwestern part of Delta with a warm core at

850 hPa were the main characteristics that contributed to the

development and amplification of intense gravity waves while the

large-scale flow interacted with the complex topography of the islands.

Jorba, O., C. Marrero, E.

Cuevas & J.M. Baldasano Adv. Sci. Res., 2: 81-87 2008

Canary Islands, extratropical

storm Delta

Temporal characteristics and The study of fog dynamics in the island of Tenerife began in 1993 at Marzol, V Atmospheric Research, 87: 352-361 2008 Fog water; Sea of clouds;


fog water collection during

summer in Tenerife (Canary

Islands, Spain)

six sites. The analysis of the relationship between fog and several

meteorological parameters was conducted at the site located at

Anaga. Anaga is located at the summit of a mountain range, at an

altitude of 842 m and 3.5 km away from the north-western coastline of

the island. The study uses hourly data of the three summer months

(June, July and August) that were collected over a period of nine years

— from 1996 to 2005. The mean summer (June–August) rainfall was

found to be 21.2 mm whilst the total volume of fog water collected was

879.9 l m− 2; the daily average fog water collection was 9.5 l m− 2

day− 1, and the hourly average about 0.4 l m− 2 h− 1. Although these

amounts were recorded with wind speeds of between 8 and 12 m s−

1, the correlation between water collected and wind speed is not

statistically significant. In spite of this, the volume of fog water

collected and wind speed showed a very distinct daily behavioural

pattern, their frequency and speed reaching their minimum at 12 a.m.

and their maximum from 7 p.m. to 8 a.m. GMT. The importance of this

research is that it shows that the fog in the Canary Islands occurs

more frequently and makes a more significant contribution to the

growth of vegetation in the summer (the dry season) than in the

winter, when fog accompanies rainfall.

Wind speed; Laurel forest;

Canary Islands

Historia geológica del Clima

en Canarias

Esta historia geológica del clima en Canarias surge por la necesidad

moral de rectificar la información errónea aparecida en

Paleoclimatología del Neógeno en las Islas Canarias: Geliense.

Pleistoceno y Holoceno (Meco et alii 2006) sobre el estadio isotópico

marino 5.1 montado sobre una datación radiométrica (83 ka) de unos

basaltos con lavas almohadilladas asociados a un depósito marino

fosilífero aparecido en La Isleta en la isla de Gran Canaria. Estos

depósitos, cuya fauna se ha estudiado con más detalle, son de época

mio-pliocena. De hecho, esto lo supimos desde el primer momento y

su descripción formaba parte de los contenidos en Paleoclimatología

del Neógeno en las Islas Canarias: Mioceno y Plioceno (Meco et alii

2005) pero, al tener conocimiento de la datación cuando ya estaba el

volumen (2005) en la imprenta y con las prisas siempre malas que

ello producía se eliminó de ese volumen y su nueva interpretación ya

errónea, basada sólo en la edad radiométrica y en una escasa fauna

Meco, J Editado por J. Meco 2008 historia geológica, clima,

Canarias,


con aparente variabilidad, se incluyó en el otro volumen (2006).

Ahora, aprovechando la tecnología futura ya a nuestro alcance

aportamos esta versión digital, unificada, corregida y aumentada.

The sun could be having a

15% or 20% effect on climate

change

Global warming is mainly caused by greenhouse gas emissions

resulting from human activities; however, current climatic variations

may be affected “around 15% or 20%” by solar activity, according to

the researcher Manuel Vázquez from the Canary Islands’ Astrophysics

Institute (IAC) at the Sun and Climate Change conference, organised

as part of the El Escorial summer courses by Madrid's Complutense

University

Physorg Physorg 2008

Fog Water Collection in a

Subtropical Elfin Laurel Forest

of the Garajonay National Park

(Canary Islands): A Combined

Approach Using Artificial Fog

Catchers and a Physically

Based Impaction Model

Fog precipitation has long been assumed as an additional water

source in the relic laurel ecosystems of the Canary Islands, located at

500–1400 m MSL. However, to what extent fog water can contribute to

the laurel forest water balance is not yet clear. Combining data from

artificial fog catchers and a physically based impaction model, the

authors evaluated the potential contribution of fog water captured by

needle-leafed Erica arborea L. trees in a selected watershed of the

Garajonay National Park (La Gomera Island) for a 2-yr period

(February 2003–January 2005). Fog water collection was measured

with artificial catchers at four micrometeorological stations placed at

1145, 1185, 1230, and 1270 m MSL. Average fog water collection was

only significant at the highest measurement site (one order of

magnitude greater than at lower altitudes), totaling 496 L m−2 yr−1

during the 2-yr period. The average fog water yield in the first and

second annual periods ranged between 0.2–5.0 and 0.1–2.1 L m−2

day−1, respectively. Rainfall exhibited seasonality, distinguishing

between rainy and dry seasons, while fog water collection was

distributed more evenly throughout the year. Regarding fog water

captured by the vegetation, the impaction model predicted a significant

amount of fog water potentially collected by a single E. arborea tree,

on the order of 1810–2090 L yr−1. Taking tree population density into

account, the yearly average water contribution to the soil surface by

wind-driven fogs was 251–281 mm, whereas annual rainfall was 635

and 1088 mm, respectively. The hourly course of micrometeorological

variables shows a 58% reduction in global radiation under foggy

Ritter, A., & C.M. Regalado Journal of Hydrometeorology, 9: 920-

935 2008

Fog, Water budget,

Precipitation, Vegetation–

atmosphere interactions, Soil

moisture


conditions and a concomitant 3°–6°C mean temperature decrease

compared to fog-free periods. Thus, limiting evapotranspiration may

also be a relevant effect of fog in this subtropical elfin cloud forest.

Reconstructing the demise of

Tethyan plants: climate-driven

range dynamics of Laurus

since the Pliocene

Climate changes are thought to be responsible for the retreat and

eventual extinction of subtropical lauroid species that covered much of

Europe and North Africa during the Palaeogene and early Neogene;

little is known, however, of the spatial and temporal patterns of this

demise. Herein we calibrate ecological niche models to assess the

climatic requirements of Laurus L. (Lauraceae), an emblematic relic

from the Tethyan subtropical flora, subsequently using these models

to infer how the range dynamics of Laurus were affected by Plio-

Pleistocene climate changes. We also provide predictions of likely

range changes resulting from future climatic scenarios.

Rodriguez-Sanchez, F & J

Arroyo

Global Ecology and Biogeography, 17:

685-695 2008

Bioclimatic envelope, climate

change, ecological niche

modelling, glacial refugia,

Lauraceae, Macaronesian

islands, niche conservatism,

Pleistocene, range limits,

Tertiary

La isla de calor en Las palmas

de Gran Canaria

En este artículo se analizan las temperaturas del aire en la ciudad de

Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Mediante la realización de transectos

urbanos se han podido estudiar las principales pautas del régimen

higrotérmico urbano. Los resultados obtenidos ponen de manifiesto

que Ciudad Alta se comporta como un enclave fresco, frente a las

temperaturas más cálidas que se alcanzan en Ciudad Baja. En este

último sector se ha podido comprobar la existencia de una isla de

calor, de carácter bifocal e intensidad moderada (3.4º C de media

anual), que alcanza su mayor intensidad durante los meses

invernales. Los factores que condicionan esta distribución espacial de

las temperaturas pueden establecerse a doble escala. A una escala

de poco detalle, el principal factor de control de la diferenciación

térmica es la altitud; a mayor detalle, las temperaturas están

determinadas por los usos del suelo y la intensidad del tráfico.

Ruiz-Flaño, P., L. Romero, P.

Máyer & A Hernandez Boletín de la AGE, 47: 157-173 2008

clima urbano, isla de calor,

transectos urbanos, régimen

térmico estacional

Heat waves in the Canary

Islands

Although the Canaries are near the African continent, they enjoy a

mild climate. This is mainly due to two circumstances: the prevailing

regime of the alisio — which is Spanish for trade winds — and the cold

Canaries current which flows along the northwest coast of Africa and

makes the waters of the Atlantic Ocean rather cool. The alisio

originates in the eastern side of the Azores anticyclone and reaches

the

Canary Islands after flowing over cool waters, providing the

Sanz, R., C. Cardós & E.

Narrera AEMET, INM 2008 Heat waves, Canary Islands


archipelago with higher levels of humidity and milder temperatures

than those normally associated with its geographical latitude. Even

though summer temperatures rarely rise very high and winters are

mild, heat waves and hot spells are not unusual at any time of the

year. Four main synoptical patterns have been identified. None of

them seems to be more frequent now than in the past.

21st century climate change

scenario for the

Mediterranean using a

coupled atmosphere–ocean

regional climate model

The SAMM (Sea Atmosphere Mediterranean Model) has been

developed to study the climate evolution of the Mediterranean and

European regions for the 21st Century. SAMM is a new concept of

AORCM (Atmosphere-Ocean Regional Climate Model), where a

global atmosphere model is locally coupled with a regional ocean

circulation model. It consists of the global spectral AGCM ARPEGE-

Climate model, whose variable resolution is maximum in the

Mediterranean region (50km), which has been coupled to the

Mediterranean Sea limited area OGCM OPAMED (10km). A 140-year

numerical experiment starting in 1960 was run with the AORCM. Up to

year 2000, forcing was prescribed from observed values, whereas

forcing following a SRES-A2 scenario was applied beyond 2000. In

order to ensure the model stability, a simple monthly heat flux

correction on air-sea exchanges was applied. The present-climate

validation proves that the AORCM is comparable to the state-of-the-art

European Atmosphere Regional Climate Models (ARCM) at the same

resolution. At first order, the climate change impact over Europe

simulated by the AORCM is comparable with ARCM simulations.

However the AORCM significantly amplifies the climate change signal

over large parts of Europe with respect to the corresponding ARCM:

the warming is higher in all seasons and in many areas of Europe (up

to 25% of the signal), winters are wetter over northern Europe and

summers drier over southern and eastern Europe (up to 50% of the

signal). These differences are highly significant and the choice

between coupled and non-coupled regional models could be an

additional source of uncertainty when evaluating the climate change

response over Europe. The factors responsible for these differences

are discussed. Among them, the response of the Mediterranean SST,

better simulated by the high resolution Mediterranean Sea model of

Somot, S., F. Sevault, M.

Dñequé & M. Crepón

Global and Planetary Change, 63(2-3):

112-126 2008

climate change, regional

climate modelling, air–sea

coupling, Europe,

Mediterranean, coupled

model


the AORCM, seems to be preponderant. Further mechanism studies

and model inter-comparisons are however required to legitimate the

present results.

Variability in the Position and

Strength of Winter Jet Stream

Cores Related to Northern

Hemisphere Teleconnections

Numerous teleconnections have been identified based upon spatial

variability in sea level pressure or lower-tropospheric geopotential

height fields. These teleconnections, which are commonly strongest in

winter when the mean meridional temperature gradient is large,

typically are neither derived from nor linked to changes in the jet

stream. Here, winter tropospheric jet stream cores over the Northern

Hemisphere (NH) are recovered from 6-hourly gridded data and

interannual variability in winter jet core position, speed, and pressure

are investigated in the context of NH teleconnections. Common

methods for researching jet stream speed and position variability may

yield unrepresentative results because jet core pressure variability is

ignored (only one isobaric surface is evaluated) or pressure variability

effects are smoothed (values are vertically averaged across several

isobaric surfaces). In this analysis, data are extracted at the surface of

maximum wind, thus controlling for jet core pressure variability and

allowing for a more representative tracking of three-dimensional jet

core variations.

In the extratropics, the leading pattern of variability in jet core

frequency is correlated with the Arctic Oscillation index (AOI) and

appears as an oscillation about the spiral-shaped mean configuration

of the winter jet stream. In contrast to previous research, the authors

find no evidence of Pacific jet deceleration during positive AOI. The

second leading mode of variability appears as a split (merged) winter-

mean jet stream in the east Pacific together with a merged (split)

winter-mean jet stream over North America, a pattern of change that

correlates with the Pacific-North American pattern and is reflected in

the amplitude of the long-wave ridge over western North America.

Strong, C. & R.E. Davis Journal of Climate, 21: 584-592 2008

climatology, global,

circulation, jet, jet stream,

ncep, principal, component,

reanalysis, teleconnection

Presencia de Cacyreus

marshalli Butler, [1898] en la

isla de Tenerife, Islas

Canarias, España y otros

registros de interés sobre

Se proporciona una nueva cita de C. marshalli Butler, [1898] para la

isla de Tenerife y se incluyen otros registros de interés sobre varios

Rhopalocera endémicos de la isla, analizándose el estado de sus

poblaciones. Se evalúa en profundidad el status de Pieris cheiranthi

(Hübner, [1808]) y se proponen medidas para su conservación.

Acosta-Fernandez, B SHILAP Revta. Lepidop, 37: 155-159 2009

Lepidoptera, Papilionoidea,

Cacyreus marshalli, nueva

cita, Tenerife, Pieris

cheiranthi, conservación,

Islas Canarias, España


Rhopalocera endémicos de la

isla (Lepidoptera:

Papilionoidea).

Sub-regional ecosystem

variability in the Canary

Current upwelling

The Canary Current upwelling ecosystem (CanC) constitutes one of

the four main eastern boundary upwelling ecosystems (EBUEs) of the

world, thus hosting high productivity and fisheries. Recent

observations indicate that the CanC region as a whole has been

experiencing a progressive warming and a decrease in productivity

over the last decades. This overall trend is however not directly

reflected in the fisheries of the region. Here we update recent results

and previous reviews on the CanC, covering aspects from the physical

environment to fish populations and fisheries on a range of time

scales. We approach these topics, when possible, through a

comparative exploration of the biogeographical characteristics of

different sub-regions comprising this ecosystem. This review shows

that variability in coastline configuration, shelf width, coastal upwelling,

nutrient fertilization, productivity, or retentive vs. dispersive physical

mechanisms, among other factors, may help explain sub-regional

differences in fish distributions and abundances in the CanC.

Nevertheless, the lack of systematic information on the regional

variability of physical and biological processes hampers an integrated

understanding of the relative contribution of natural vs. human-induced

variability in the populations of at least small-pelagic fishes

and their associated fisheries.

Arístegui, J., E.D. Barton, X.A.

Álvarez-Salgado, A.Mi.P.

Santos, F.G. Figueiras,

S. Kifani, S. Hernández-León, E.

Mason, E. Machú & H. Demarcq

Progress in Oceanography 2009

Cinco siglos de la temperie

canaria: cronología de

efemérides meteorológicas

El presente documento es una recopilación en orden cronológico de

las principales efemérides meteorológicas que han tenido lugar en

Canarias a lo largo de la historia, ya sean sequías, temporales de

agua y/o viento y olas de calor o frío. Asimismo, hemos incluido las

temidas plagas de langosta, que aunque en si no constituyen un

fenómeno meteorológico, si están íntimamente asociadas a

advecciones saharianas y han sido origen de hambrunas por

destrucción de cosechas. El interés no radica exclusivamente en el

conocimiento de los fenómenos acaecidos, también es fuente de

sucesos históricos o del inicio de tradiciones de gran arraigo popular.

Al final del documento se anexa un cuadro con los valores extremos

Arroyo, J Informe inédito de ACANMET. 13 pp 2009 Informe, meteorología,

Canarias


de algunas variables de los principales observatorios de Canarias de

la Agencia Española de Meteorología (AEMET). Indicar que estamos

ante un documento vivo, que será actualizado con el devenir de

nuestra meteorología.

Colonization patterns and

genetic structure of peripheral

populations of the trumpeter

finch (Bucanetes githagineus)

from Northwest Africa, the

Canary Islands and the Iberian

Peninsula

Aim: This paper has three aims: (1) to reconstruct the colonization

history of two peripheral populations of the trumpeter finch (Bucanetes

githagineus) presumably originating from the same source, one the

result of an ancient expansion process and the other recently

established and still expanding; (2) to estimate the importance of key

events, such as past and current gene flow and bottlenecks, in both

expansion processes and their contribution to the present population

structure and genetic diversity; and (3) to find out whether two

peripheral populations that established at widely differing times also

differ in terms of genetic diversity.

Location: Northwest Africa (assumed source population), Canary

Islands (long-established peripheral) and south-eastern Iberian

Peninsula (recently established peripheral).

Methods: Bayesian analysis of population structure, individual

assignment tests, F-statistics, maximum likelihood migration

estimates, genetic diversity indices and bottleneck tests were

calculated with microsatellite data from 194 trumpeter finches from five

breeding and two seasonal non-breeding sites.

Results: Our data support the existence of two subpopulations

(Canary Island and Ibero-African) as the most likely population

structure. Seasonal sites in the Iberian Peninsula had the highest

percentage of birds assigned to other, mainly Iberian, sites. Pairwise

FST values showed that the Canary Island localities were very similar

to each other, but differed from the rest. Gene flow estimates within

subpopulations were only slightly higher in the Canary Island

population than in the Ibero-African one. Gene diversity indices were

similar at all localities. Canary Island sites show evidence of

bottlenecks, whereas the Ibero-African sites do not.

Barrientos, R., L. Kvist, A.

Barbosa, F. Valera, G.M. Lopez-

Iborra & E. Moreno

Journal of Biogeography, 36: 210–219 2009

Assignment testing; birds;

bottleneck; dispersal; F-

statistics; gene flow;

microsatellite; nomadic;

peripheral population; range

expansion


Main conclusions: Our data show that, at present, birds from the

Canary Islands are genetically differentiated from those in North Africa

and continental Spain. We could not unequivocally confirm the African

origin of Canary populations because the contrary is also plausible.

The Iberian Peninsula seems to have repeatedly received individuals

from North Africa, which would have led to the relatively high genetic

diversity found in these recently established localities and prevented

bottlenecks. Movements of individuals towards sites outside their

current range during the non-breeding season are likely to precede the

establishment of new breeding sites at the periphery of the distribution

range.

Aproximación al cálculo de la

lluvia horizontal y a su

incidencia en la recarga del

sistema acuífero de Tenerife

(Hidrología y gestión del

agua)

En Tenerife, por su clima y relieve, existe un importante potencial para

captar el agua de niebla, comúnmente denominada lluvia horizontal;

sin embargo, no se había cuantificado este potencial, ni tampoco se

sabía cuánto representa el aporte de este recurso en el conjunto de la

isla, captado de forma natural, y cuál era su incidencia en la recarga

del sistema acuífero insular.

Desde principio de los años noventa el Consejo Insular de Aguas de

Tenerife (CIATF) ha venido desarrollando un Modelo distribuido de

Hidrología Superficial para la isla (MHS) que permite obtener

información, para distintos niveles de agregación temporal y espacial,

acerca de cada una de las variables climáticas que conforman el

balance hidrológico. En el formato inicial del MHS la lluvia horizontal

participaba en el balance de forma indirecta, complementando -con un

valor preestablecido y no suficientemente justificado- el aporte que la

lluvia convencional hace a la reserva hídrica del suelo para el

consumo de la vegetación. Esta simplificación no dejaba de ser una

limitación en la resolución del balance a la hora de definir el valor de

la recarga; cuestión ésta que suscitaba incertidumbre y desconfianza

en los que defendían su importancia cuantitativa.

Desde hace varias decenas de años han sido muchas las

experiencias relacionadas con esta variable climática, en especial, en

lo relativo a su captación de forma artificial. Pero también los factores

ligados a la ocurrencia del fenómeno, tales como el mar de nubes, la

Braojos, J.J. & E. Garcia

Expuesto en CEDEX con motivo de

unas Jornadas sobre Ingeniería del

Agua 2009

2009 lluvia horizontal, Tenerife,

hidrología, gestión del agua


humedad relativa, la velocidad del viento, la morfología de los

elementos naturales de captación (sobre todo la vegetación arbórea)

han sido objeto de análisis y estudio. Y de igual importancia, o si cabe

mayor, lo han sido los experimentos realizados bajo la cubierta de

distintas especies vegetales, a partir de los cuales se han obtenido

referencias, locales pero muy significativas, de la magnitud de este

aporte hídrico al suelo de la isla.

Por otro lado, se cuenta con una red meteorológica densa y bien

distribuida que dispone de series representativas de aquellas

variables climáticas más asociadas a este tipo de lluvia, tales como la

humedad relativa máxima y la velocidad del viento, entre otras. Así

mismo, los sistemas de información geográfica (SIG) permiten el uso

y manejo de la información territorial que es determinante en la

captación del recurso; muy especialmente la ubicación y densidad del

principal elemento captador: la vegetación.

A partir de tales disponibilidades desde el CIATF se ha construido,

dentro del MHS, un submodelo matemático que - alimentado con las

variables climáticas de humedad relativa máxima, velocidad del viento

en días húmedos y número de días de lluvia convencional, así como

con los parámetros relativos al territorio (altura, cota de cresta,

orientación, pendiente)- ha permitido, en primer lugar, definir el

potencial climático de Tenerife para captar precipitación de niebla; en

segundo lugar, considerando a la vegetación como el elemento

natural principal de captación, se ha definido la cuantía y distribución

territorial de la lluvia horizontal que recibe la isla, y finalmente se ha

estimado la incidencia de este recurso en la recarga al subsuelo.

En esta comunicación, que se inicia con una breve referencia del

MHS, se describe el proceso de cálculo de cada uno de los tres

bloques citados; la exposición relativa a los dos primeros, se ha

construido de forma secuencial de acuerdo al orden de participación

en el proceso de cada uno de los elementos que intervienen en la

captación de este recurso.

Generación de escenarios

regionalizados de cambio

climático para España

El presente informe resume la primera fase del proyecto del Instituto

Nacional de Meteorología (INM), actualmente Agencia Estatal de

Meteorología (AEMet), de generación de proyecciones regionalizadas

Brunet, M., M.J. Casado, M. de

Castro, P. Galán, J.A. López,

J.M. Martín, A. Pastor, E.

AEMET, Ministerio de Medio Ambiente y

medio rural y marino. 158 pp. 2009

Escenarios, Cambio

Climático, España,


de cambio climático para suministrar a los diferentes sectores

sensibles a las condiciones climáticas. En esta fase primó la urgencia

de proporcionar unas primeras estimaciones de la evolución del clima

en el siglo XXI con resoluciones temporales y espaciales que

pudieran ser útiles para los diferentes modelos de impacto. Esta

necesidad motivó que se utilizasen tanto las bases de datos ya

disponibles como los métodos suficientemente probados en otros

contextos y que no se abordasen largos desarrollos que pudiesen

retrasar la disponibilidad de este primer suministro de datos de

proyecciones regionalizadas.

Este informe tiene el carácter de documento de acompañamiento de

los datos, en el que además de explicar los métodos de generación

de los datos, se explican sus limitaciones en un contexto lo más

amplio posible. Dentro de estas explicaciones se han incluido

secciones dedicadas a describir las incertidumbres del proceso de

generación de proyecciones climáticas y secciones dedicadas a

discutir cuestiones metodológicas. Esta es la primera entrega de un

proceso continuo de revisión periódica de las proyecciones regionales

con los mejores datos procedentes de modelos globales, las mejores

observaciones y las mejores técnicas de regionalización.

La segunda fase del proyecto busca involucrar a la mayor parte de la

comunidad científica española activa en este campo. En esta segunda

fase ya no es tan prioritaria la inmediatez de los resultados como el

desarrollo de nuevos métodos y la apuesta decidida por una

investigación de calidad que respalde las proyecciones climáticas

futuras con una mayor comprensión de las condiciones climáticas

presentes y pasadas.

Petisco, P. Ramos, J.

Rbalaygua, E. Rodríguez, I

Sanz & L. Torres

Changes in net N

mineralization rates and soil N

and P pools in a pine forest

wildfire hronosequence

The concern that climate change may increase fire frequency and

intensity has recently heightened the interest in the effects of wildfires

on ecosystem functioning. Although short-term fire effects on forest

soils are well known, less information can be found on the long-term

effects of wildfires on soil fertility. Our objective was to study the 17-

year effect of wildfires on forest net mineralization rates and

extractable inorganic nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) concentrations.

We hypothesize that (1) burned forest stands should exhibit lower net

Duran, J., A. Rodríguez, J.M.

Fernández-Palacios & A.

Gallardo

Biol Fertil Soils, 45: 781–788 2009

Pinus canariensis -

Ammonification rate -

Nitrification rate - Soil

ammonium - Soil nitrate -

Soil phosphate - Forest fire


mineralization rates than unburned ones; (2) these differences would

be greatest during the growing season; (3) differences between soil

variables might also be observed among plots from different years

since the last fire; and (4) due to fire-resistant geochemical processes

controlling P availability, this nutrient should recover faster than N. We

used a wildfire chronosequence of natural and unmanaged Pinus

canariensis forests in La Palma Island (Canary Islands). Soil samples

were collected during winter and spring at 22 burned and unburned

plots. We found significantly higher values for net N mineralization and

extractable N pools in unburned plots. These differences were higher

for the winter sampling date than for the spring sampling date. Unlike

extractable N and N mineralization rates, extractable P levels of

burned plots exhibited a gradual recovery over time after an initial

decrease. These results demonstrate that P. canariensis forest soils

showed low resilience after wildfires, especially for N, and that this

disturbance might induce long-term changes in ecosystem functioning.

El polvo mineral desértico en

el balance radiativo Tierra-

Atmósfera

García, O., A.M. Diaz,

F.J.Expósito, J.P. Diaz, M.

Hernández y C. Cardós

AME, 26: 33-36 2009 Atmósfera, Polvo mineral,

balance radiativo

Methane and Carbon Dioxide

Continuous Measurements at

Izana GAW Station (Spain)

Izaña Observatory is located at 2360 m above see level, on Tenerife

(Canary Islands). Carbon dioxide and methane atmospheric mixing

ratios have been continuously measured at Izaña since June 1984.

During nighttime (20GMT-08GMT), in situ measurements are

representative of free troposphere background conditions. This is due

to the following facts: a) usually a strong subtropical temperature

inversion layer is located at a lower altitude than Izana station; b)

Izana station is located on the top of a crest, so during the night period

downslope wind produces (by mass conservation) the arrival of free

troposphere air to Izana.

In this paragraph, the content of this report is outlined. Measurement

instruments and methods are summarized in section 2. In April 2005,

we have started to rebuid (and improve) in Fortran 90 a numerical

code for processing raw data to mixing ratios, and analysing them. A

preliminary version of the new methane data processing scheme,

Gómez-Pelaez, A.J., R. Ramos

& J Pérez de la Puerta

Inédito.

IzanaCH4CO2_ReportGaw168_13th_m

eeting_expert_CO2_2005

2009


which we have applied to the data period 2003-2004, is presented in

section 3. Carbon dioxide (1984-2002) and methane (1984-2004)

nighttime daily mean mixing ratio time series are analyzed (in section

4) using the usual decomposition in three terms: interannual trend,

annual cycle, and residual, but using a method different from the

previous literature. Finally, in section 5 we summarize near future

plans for implementing and developing new techniques for data

processing and analysis, and for implementing new greenhouse gas

measurement programs: N2O and SF6.

Trombas marinas y su

climatología en Canarias.

Hernandez, M., C. Cardós, E.

Barrera & R. Sanz AME, 25: 34-37 2009

Trombas marinas,

Climatología, Canarias

The long-term ecology of the

lost forests of La Laguna,

Tenerife (Canary Islands)

We report the first analysis of the long-term ecology of Tenerife, in

order to establish a pre-colonization base-line and to assess the effect

of human activity and the role of climatic variation on vegetation during

the Late Holocene.

L. Nascimento, K.J. Willis, J. M.

Fernandez-Palacios, C. Criado

& R. J. Whittaker

Journal of Biogeography 36: 499-514 2009

Canary Islands, Carpinus,

forest ecology, Holocene

vegetation change, human

impact, island ecology,

palaeoecology, Quercus,

Tenerife

Global climate change, range

changes and potential

implications for the

conservation of marine

cetaceans: a review and

synthesis

Global climate change has already resulted in an increase in oceanic

water temperatures in some areas and is predicted to lead to further

increases throughout much of the world in the foreseeable future. One

possible response of cetacean species to these increases in water

temperature is that species’ ranges may change. Here, I rovide a

framework for assessing which cetacean species’ ranges are likely to

change as a result of increases in water temperature and whether they

will expand, shift oleward or contract based on their current

distributions. Based on this framework, it is predicted that the ranges

of 88% of cetaceans may be affected by changes in water

temperature resulting from global climate change. For 47% of species,

these changes are anticipated to have unfavourable implications for

their conservation, and for 21% the changes may put at least one

geographically isolated population of the species at high risk of

extinction. This framework suggests that certain characteristics put

some species at greater risk from such changes than others. These

include a range that is restricted to non-tropical waters (including

temperate species) and a preference for shelf waters. These

MacLeod, C.D Endang Species Res, 7: 125-136 2009

Global climate change ·

Cetaceans · Species ranges ·

Niche conservatism · Range

changes · Conservation


characteristics are shared by most porpoises and Lagenorhynchus

species and by all members of the genus Cephalorhynchus. As a

result, species in these taxa are potentially at particular risk from

changes in range in response to increasing water temperatures.

However, further research is required to assess whether these

predictions are, indeed, correct.

Cambio climático y riesgos

climáticos en España

España es un territorio de riesgo. La variedad de peligros naturales,

especialmente climáticos, que pueden afectarle unido al alto grado de

ocupación humana en algunas de sus regiones, convierten al territorio

español en espacio geográfico con riesgo natural elevado en el

conjunto de Europa. El riesgo natural se ha convertido en un

problema territorial que afecta ya con regularidad elevada a la

sociedad y economía española. Y los modelos de cambio climático

nos presentan un panorama poco alentador para las próximas

décadas del presente siglo, puesto que inciden en la profundización

del carácter extremo de nuestras condiciones climáticas,

especialmente en las regiones del mediterráneo y del sur peninsular.

Spain is territory of risk. The variety of natural hazards, specially

climatic ones, which can affect it joined to high degree of human

occupation in some of his regions, turn Spanish territory in

geographical space with raised natural risk in the set of Europe.

Natural risk has turned into a territorial problem that affects already

regularly raised up to Spanish society and economy. And climatic

change models present a slightly encouraging panorama for next

decades of the present century, since affect in the deepening of the

extreme character of our climatic conditions, specially in

Mediterranean regions and in the south of Iberian peninsula.

Olcina, J Investigaciones geográficas, 49: 197-

220 2009

Riesgo climático, Cambio

climático, Medidas de

mitigación, Cartografía de

riesgo, Ordenación del

territorio, Climatic risk,

Climatic change, Measures

of mitigation, Risk maps,

Spatial planning

Fog reduces transpiration in

tree species of the Canarian

relict heath-laurel cloud forest

(Garajonay National Park,

Spain)

The ecophysiologic role of fog in the evergreen heath-laurel ‘laurisilva’

cloud forests of the Canary Islands has not been unequivocally

demonstrated, although it is generally assumed that fog water is

important for the survival and the distribution of this relict

paleoecosystem of the North Atlantic Macaronesian archipelagos. To

determine the role of fog in this ecosystem, we combined direct

transpiration measurements of heath-laurel tree species, obtained with

Granier’s heat dissipation probes, with micrometeorological and

Ritter, A., C.M. Regalado, G.

Aschan Tree Physiology, 29(4):517-528 2009

climate change, cloud

immersion, Granier probes,

sap flow, solar radiation

reduction, transpiration

monitoring


artificial fog collection measurements carried out in a 43.7-ha

watershed located in the Garajonay National Park (La Gomera,

Canary Islands, Spain) over a 10-month period. Median ambient

temperature spanned from 7 to 15 °C under foggy conditions whereas

higher values, ranging from 9 to 21 °C, were registered during fog-free

periods. Additionally, during the periods when fog water was collected,

global solar radiation values were linearly related (r 2 = 0.831) to those

under fog-free conditions, such that there was a 75 ± 1% reduction in

median radiation in response to fog. Fog events greatly reduced

median diurnal tree transpiration, with rates about 30 times lower than

that during fog-free conditions and approximating the nighttime rates

in both species studied (the needle-like leaf Erica arborea L. and the

broadleaf Myrica faya Ait.). This large decrease in transpiration in

response to fog was independent of the time of the day, tree size and

species and micrometeorological status, both when expressed on a

median basis and in cumulative terms for the entire 10-month

measuring period. We conclude that, in contrast to the turbulent

deposition of fog water droplets on the heath-laurel species, which

may be regarded as a localized hydrological phenomenon that is

important for high-altitude wind-exposed E. arborea trees, the cooler,

wetter and shaded microenvironment provided by the cloud immersion

belt represents a large-scale effect that is crucial for reducing the

transpirational water loss of trees that have profligate water use, such

as those of the ‘laurisilva’.

GPS Monitoring of the

Tropical Storm Delta along the

Canary Islands Track,

November 28-29, 2005

In this article we analyze the variations of the Zenith Tropospheric

Delay (ZTD) and its components, Zenith Hydrostatic Delay (ZHD) and

Zenith Wet Delay (ZWD) recorded by the GPS reference stations in

the area of the Canary Islands during the passing of the tropical storm

Delta on November 28 and 29, 2005. During this event, we observed

that all GPS stations experienced significant increases of the ZWD

value of over 100 mm and a decrease in the ZHD values of about 30

mm. The increase of the normal ZWD values was detected several

hours prior to the manifestation of the weather phenomena on the

ground. We also noticed a connection between the maximum ZWD

values observed and the temporal distribution of the rain. The

Seco, A., P.J. González, F.

Ramírez, R. García, E. Prieto,

C. Yagüe & J. Fernandez

Pure and Applied Geophysics, 166(8-9):

1519-1531 2009

GPS - troposphere -

precipitable water - ZTD -

cyclon


observed variations of the tropospheric slant directional gradients

correlate significantly with the variations in direction and intensity of

the observed winds. The relation noted between the ZWD values and

the tropospheric slant delay gradients with meteorological observables

highlights the convenience of using existing or new GPS networks

when studying weather phenomena such as severe cyclones.

Aeolian dust in Europe:

African sources and European

deposits

A conceptual model is presented for the provenance and dispersal

patterns of small dust that falls on Europe. Generally its sources are in

North Africa, and it is distributed across all Europe. Several key

sources can be distinguished: ‘Sahelian’ dust comes largely from the

old Lake Chad region—this is a clay-rich unimodal material. ‘Saharan’

dust comes from the great sand sheets—it contains small

monomineralic particles and may have a bimodal size range. Three

simple deposition zones can be recognised; a D1a zone where

sufficient dust is deposited to form a discrete soil layer (not well

classified as a Rendoll), in the extreme south of Europe; a D1b zone

where the airborne dust simply provided a silty admixture to soil

systems—across Middle Europe; and a northern zone D1c where the

dust is a fugitive cloud, but very occasionally forms noticeable

deposits. Two particle formation methods can be noted. Particle

control in Sahelian dust is via the sedimentation in the original lake.

This gives an open structure which can be modelled using a simple

Monte Carlo approach. The open structure ensures that only small

particles are produced; size control is via particle packing. A chipping

mechanism can produce fine quartz particles from sandy deserts. The

aeolian energy is, by and large, not sufficient to cause major impact

fracturing but small mineral chips can be produced in the small dust

size (fine and very fine silt), which go into high-level suspension and

travel to Europe and beyond. The Saharan material can have a wider,

more variable size distribution than the Sahelian material. The Canary

Islands ‘loess’ is largely Sahelian material; the Cape Verde Islands

deposits, from the nearby sandy regions, are Saharan deposits. Large

dust has fallen on Europe, and produced widespread loess deposits.

Large dust is essentially an ‘in-continent’ deposit; small dust comes

from outside—from Africa.

Stuut, J-B., I Smalley & K.

O’Hara-Dhand Quaternary International, 198: 234-245 2009 aeolian dust, Europe,


Loess-like and palaeosol

sediments from Lanzarote

(Canary Islands/Spain) —

Indicators of

palaeoenvironmental change

during the Late Quaternary

On Lanzarote (Canary Islands) Quaternary Saharan dust and

weathered local volcanic material were trapped in Miocence to

Pliocene valleys dammed by younger volcanic edifices. These

sediments show sequences of alternating reddish/clayey and loess-

like yellowish/silty material. In order to investigate if reddish/clayey

layers contain material derived from local pedogenesis and if so,

which pedogenetic processes were active, we performed

sedimentological, micromorphological and environmental magnetic

analyses. The analyses demonstrate that these layers contain material

derived from local soils. These soils were characterised by clay

formation, rubefication and the formation of superparamagnetic

particles during periods of enhanced soil moisture. Thus, they can

serve as natural archives in order to reconstruct the terrestrial

palaeoclimatic history of Lanzarote. The distribution of soil material in

the profiles shows that cold periods of the Late Quaternary were

characterised by more humid conditions than today. Using

palaeontological remains and a comparison with recent soils on

Tenerife, we can roughly estimate maximal palaeoprecipitation values

during more humid periods.

Suchodoletz, H., P. Kühn, U

Hambach, M. Dietze, L Zóller &

D. Faust

Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology,

Palaeoecology 278: 71–87 2009

Canary Islands; Saharan

dust; Pedogenesis;

Geomorphology; Palaeosols;

Micromorphology;

Environmental magnetism;

X-ray diffraction; Soil

moisture

Land snail fossils suggest

subtropical, semiarid eastern

Canary Islands were cooler,

wetter 50,000 years ago

Fossil land snail shells found in ancient soils on the subtropical

eastern Canary Islands show that the Spanish archipelago off the

northwest coast of Africa has become progressively drier over the past

50,000 years.

Yanez, Y

Research presented at the 2009 annual

meeting of the Geological Society of

America.

2009 fossil land, Canary Islands

Global Phytoplancton decline

over the past century

In the oceans, ubiquitous microscopic phototrophs (phytoplankton)

account for approximately half the production of organic matter on

Earth. Analyses of satellite-derived phytoplankton concentration

(available since 1979) have suggested decadal-scale fluctuations

linked to climate forcing, but the length of this record is insufficient to

resolve longer-term trends. Here we combine available ocean

transparency measurements and in situ chlorophyll observations to

estimate the time dependence of phytoplankton biomass at local,

regional and global scales since 1899.Weobserve declines in eight out

of ten ocean regions, and estimate a global rate of decline of ,1% of

the global median per year. Our analyses further reveal interannual to

decadal phytoplankton fluctuations superimposed on long-term trends.

Boyce, D.G., M.R. Lewis & B.

Worm Nature, 466: 591-596 2010


These fluctuations are strongly correlated with basin-scale climate

indices, whereas long-term declining trends are related to increasing

sea surface temperatures. We conclude that global phytoplankton

concentration has declined over the past century; this decline will need

to be considered in future studies of marine ecosystems, geochemical

cycling, ocean circulation and fisheries

Sobre la presencia de

hidrocorales del género

Millepora (Hydrozoa:

Milleporidae) en el atlántico

oriental subtropical (Islas

Canarias) y su relación con

eventos climáticos

Se registra por primera vez la presencia de hidrocorales del género

Millepora en el Atlántico Oriental subtropical (Tenerife, islas Canarias),

once grados de latitud al norte de su

límite septentrional conocido en las islas de Cabo Verde. El moderado

desarrollo de las colonias, su rápida velocidad de crecimiento y la

localización restringida a un espacio muy limitado permiten interpretar

que se trata de un proceso de colonización reciente, que puede estar

relacionado con el evento climático extremo ocurrido en el verano de

2004, favorecido por el aumento de la temperatura del mar canario en

los últimos tiempos.

Brito, A., A. Rodriguez, O.

Monterroso, A.J. González, S.

Clemente, J.C. Hernández &

F.J. Viera

Rev. Acad. Canar. Cienc., XXI)3-4): 35-

44 2010

Hidrocoral, Millepora,

Atlántico Oriental subtropical,

islas Canarias, evento

climático extremo

Spatial and seasonal

variations in stem CO2 efflux

of Pinus canariensis at their

upper distribution limit

We calculated stem CO2 efflux (E S) of Pinus canariensis at a

timberline site in Tenerife, Canary Islands, from March 7, 2008 and

February 9, 2009. E S varied markedly throughout the year. Although

E S generally followed the seasonal trends in temperature, we

observed seasonal adjustment of E S in both E S normalized to

temperature (E S10) and the temperature sensitivity (Q 10) resulting in

lower E S10 values during the warm and dry season as compared

during the cold and wet season; the latter corresponding with the

period of stem growth. The Q 10 by contrast, was higher during the

warm and dry summer than during the cold and wet season, an

observation suggesting that climate extremes such as summer

drought in the Mediterranean may override the observation that Q 10

declines with increasing temperature. As concurrent measurements

estimating the potential impact of sap flow on E S revealed no

interaction in P. canariensis, the Q 10 values were used along with E

S10 and stem temperature records to predict annual total E S and for

partitioning total E S into its maintenance (E m) and a growth (E g)

component.

Brito, P., D. Morales, G. Wieser

& M.S. Jiménez Trees 2010

Stem respiration - Canary

Islands Pine - Timberline -

Mediterranean climate -

Summer drought - Stem

growth

Conservation of oceanic Current threats to the planet's biodiversity are unprecedented, and Caujapé-Castells, J , Tye, A., Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution 2010 World islands, Threat factors,


island floras: present and

future global challenges

they particularly imperil insular floras. In this investigation, we use the

threat factors identified by the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment as

the main drivers of biodiversity loss on islands to define and rank 13

current, continuing threats to the plant diversity of nine focal

archipelagos where volcanic origin (or in the Seychelles a prolonged

isolation after a continental origin) has produced a high degree of

endemicity and fragility in the face of habitat alteration. We also

conduct a global endangerment assessment based on the numbers of

insular endemic plants in the endangered (EN) and critically

endangered (CR) IUCN categories for 53 island groups with an

estimated 9951 endemic plant species, providing a representative

sample of the world's insular systems and their floristic richness. Our

analyses indicate that isolation does not significantly influence

endangerment, but plant endemics from very small islands are more

often critically endangered. We estimate that between 3500 and 6800

of the estimated 70,000 insular endemic plant species worldwide

might be highly threatened (CR+EN) and between ca. 2000 and 2800

of them in critical danger of extinction (CR). Based on these analyses,

and on a worldwide literature review of the biological threat factors

considered, we identify challenging questions for conservation

research, asking (i) what are the most urgent priorities for the

conservation of insular species and floras, and (ii) with the knowledge

and assets available, how can we improve the impact of conservation

science and practice on the preservation of island biodiversity? Our

analysis indicates that the synergistic action of many threat factors can

induce major ecological disturbances, leading to multiple extinctions.

We review weaknesses and strengths in conservation research and

management in the nine focal archipelagos, and highlight the urgent

need for conservation scientists to share knowledge and expertise,

identify and discuss common challenges, and formulate multi-

disciplinary conservation objectives for insular plant endemics

worldwide. To our knowledge, this is the most up-to-date and

comprehensive survey yet to review the threat factors to native plants

on oceanic islands and define priority research questions.

Crawford, D. J., Santos-Guerra,

A., Sakai, A., Beaver, K., Lobin,

W., Florens, F. B. V., Moura, M.,

Jardim, R., Küffer, C

and Systematics 12, 107-130. Endangerment, Conservation

research, Conservation

policies, Global network

On the occurrence of the The occurrence of a hydrocoral of the genus Millepora has been Clemente, S., A. Rodriguez, A. Coral Reefs (Publishen online) DOI 2010 Millepora sp, Hydrocoral,


hydrocoral Millepora

(Hydrozoa: Milleporidae) in

the subtropical eastern

Atlantic (Canary Islands): is

the colonization related to

climatic events?

recorded for the first time in the eastern subtropical Atlantic (Tenerife,

Canary Islands), at a latitude of 118 N of its previously known

northernmost limit of

distribution in the Cape Verde Islands. The moderate development of

the colonies, their fast growth rate and very restricted location indicate

a recent colonization process, possibly related to an extreme climatic

event that took place in the summer of 2004, adding to the rising

seawater temperatures in the region during recent years.

Brito, A. Ramos, O. Monterroso

& J.C. Hernandez

10.1007/s00338-010-0681-7 First record, Canary Islands,

Extreme climatic event

The acridian plagues, a new

Holocene and Pleistocene

palaeoclimatic indicator

Five palaeosols, intercalated within the Quaternary dune beds of

Fuerteventura and Lanzarote (Canary Islands), off the Moroccan

coast, mark wetter climatic episodes. In all of them, billions of calcified

insect ootheca testify to past occurrences of Acridian plagues, such as

those reaching the western Sahara following heavy rainfall events

over the Sahel. The most massive infestation is in the Holocene, and

should coincide with the climax of Saharo–Sahelian humidity at the

peak of the present interglacial.

Meco, J., N. Petit-Mairie, J.

Ballester, J.F. Betaccort &

A.J.G. Ramos

Global and Planetary Change 2010

Acridian plagues;

palaeoclimatic indicator;

Pleistocene; Holocene;

Canary Islands

Soil temperature regimes from

different latitudes on a

Subtropical Island (Tenerife,

Spain)

We studied the soil temperature regimes of the volcanic island of

Tenerife (Canary Islands, Spain), which is situated in the Atlantic

Ocean between 27 and 28° N. The island is 2034 km2 in size and its

highest point is 3718 m above sea level. Direct temperature

measurements were taken during a 4-yr period at 103 sites, at a depth

of 50 cm, in altitudinal sequences from the north and south slopes of

the island. In contrast to continental situations, soil temperature

regimes from all latitudes are found within a small area of the island.

Seven of the nine regimes considered by Soil Taxonomy have been

identified—hyperthermic, thermic, mesic, isohyperthermic, isothermic,

isomesic, and cryic-and are widely distributed according to elevation

and orientation. In the mid-altitude zone on the north face, which is

influenced by the trade winds, regimes typical of tropical regions were

found, while above 3000-m elevation, a high-latitude regime was also

described. The wide diversity of soil temperatures in such a small area

is explained by the variability of a range of factors, including elevation,

the orientation of the mountain systems, and the influence of the trade

winds. In addition to recording the presence of temperature regimes

from different latitudes in a subtropical island, we documented a cryic

Rodríguez, M., J. Neris, M.

Tejedor & C. Jiménez Soil Sci. Soc. Amer., 74: 1662-1669 2010 soil temperature, Tenerife


regime at this latitude for the first time.

Long-term changes in

insolation and temperatures at

different altitudes

Over the past few years, ground- and space-based atmospheric

measurements have revealed a large inter-decadal variability in the

amount of radiation reaching the Earth’s surface, also known as global

dimming and brightening. However, the underlying physical causes of

these

changes remain unexplained. Clouds and aerosols, or their

interactions, could both be responsible for the insolation changes,

which in turn may impact the radiative balance of the planet. Here,

making use of the special topology and clean environment of the

Canary Islands, we compare trends in sunshine duration and

temperature series, as a function of altitude. The temperature dataset

is constituted by a series of mean, minimum and maximum

temperatures, and daily temperature ranges. We find that the

insolation and temperature trends are identical at sea level and at

more than 2 km height, but the changes in diurnal temperature range

are not, suggesting a possible urban heat effect at the sea level

location, as well as a possible different influence of clouds and/or

aerosols at different altitudes. We also find that during the summer,

especially at the high altitude site, there is a clear correspondence

between daytime insolation and nighttime cloud-free atmospheric

extinction measurements. This suggests that atmospheric aerosol

concentrations are the major contributor to the variations in the flux of

solar radiation

reaching the ground at high altitude sites over the Canary Islands.

Sanroma, E., E. Palle & A.

Sanchez-Lorenzo Environ.Res. Lett., 5: 024006 (6 pp) 2010

sunshine, dimming,

brightening, temperature,

climate, clouds, aerosols

Caracterización de las masas

de aire en la región

subtropical sobre Canarias

Se ha realizado un estudio de la influencia de la inversión del Alisio y

del transporte a larga distancia de masas de aire que afectan a

Tenerife. Para caracterizar la inversión del Alisio se utilizó una serie

larga de datos de sondeos y para conocer la procedencia de las

masas de aire realizamos un análisis estadístico de retrotrayectorias

isentrópicas para los mismos años. Los resultados obtenidos resaltan

dos sistemas de circulación, uno en la baja troposfera libre y otro en la

capa de mezcla marítima, bien diferenciados y prácticamente

desacoplados. Así mismo queda patente el diferente comportamiento

de las masas de aire procedentes de África en ambos niveles.

Torres, C.J., E. Cuevas , J.C.

Guerra & V. Careño Informe inédito 2010

Inversión del Alisio, Tenerife,

Canarias


Altitudinal distribution

patterns of bryophytes in the

Canary Islands and

vulnerability to climate

change

We report the pattern of bryophyte distribution through the elevation

gradient of three Canary Islands (Fuerteventura, Tenerife and

Gomera) assessing their vulnerability risk to climate change. We

considered a conservative scenario of upslope climatic shift of 200–

400 m and a drop in the upper limit of the cloud belt from 1500 to 1000

m. Climate change vulnerability was analyzed from the overlap

between the predicted shift in isotherms or cloud-belt edges and the

current species range, following the Colwell and colleagues's model.

Liverworts show narrower ranges and tend to live at lower elevations

than mosses. Perennials and long-lived shuttle species establish in

the upper localities. Many perennials and most of the long-lived shuttle

species grow in cloud forests. Many annual shuttle species and

colonists establish in the lowest localities. Colonists also occupy the

harsh summit in the highest islands.

In accordance with the Colwell model, most elements of this bryoflora

appears vulnerable to rapid climatic change. Upland extinction and

contraction challenges the bryoflora on the driest, lowest island

Fuerteventura; range-shift gaps do this on the highest island Tenerife.

Liverworts tend to be more vulnerable to range-shift gaps; mosses are

more vulnerable to upland extinction. On the lowest island, perennials

and long-lived shuttle species are more vulnerable to upland

extinction; perennials are also vulnerable to range-shift gaps.

Colonists are most vulnerable to upland contraction or extinction on

the high islands Gomera and Tenerife. Annual shuttle species tend to

be more vulnerable to lowland attrition on these high, most humid

islands. Many elements of the bryoflora of the upper limit of the cloud

forests appear to be vulnerable, while most of the flora of other cloud

forest areas presumably will not be so affected, with the exception of

the most restricted species.

A simple model illustrates the feasibility of preliminary assessments of

climate change on organisms which show a lack of published detailed

information on their distribution and biology. This assessment gains by

Loret, F. & J.M. González-

Mancebo Flora; XX: XX-XX 2011

Cloud forest; Global change;

Island ecology; Macaronesia;

Species distribution


incorporating estimates of biological attributes.

Los recursos hídricos en

Tenerife frente al cambio

climático

Junto con una laboriosa y ordenada puesta al día de toda la

información hidrometeorológica de la isla, el Consejo Insular de Aguas

de Tenerife (C.I.A.Tfe.) ha venido desarrollando un modelo distribuido

de simulación de hidrología de superficie (MHS) que a su vez es la

entrada de un modelo de flujo subterráneo (MFS), como herramientas

básicas para la evaluación y planificación de los recursos hídricos.

Téngase en cuenta que aún hoy el 90 % de los mismos son de

procedencia subterránea.

Recientemente se han completado las series de datos

hidrometeorológicos de los últimos 60 años, cuya evolución refleja un

aumento progresivo de las temperaturas (a razón de 0,02ºC/año en

los últimos 20 años) y un descenso de la precipitación total media (- 4

mm/año).

La modelización (MHS) sobre celdas de 1 km2 lleva a la conclusión

que la precipitación eficaz insular media, que mayoritariamente se

traduce en la recarga natural del sistema subterráneo, ha descendido

del orden de un 20% en los últimos 20 años.

Del análisis de las magnitudes anteriores no se puede afirmar

taxativamente que el cambio climático sea ya una realidad en

Tenerife, pero dichos indicadores apuntan que sus efectos en esta

isla pueden ser muy trascendentes.

Braojos, J.J., I. Farrujía & J. D.

Fernández Consejo Insular de Aguas de Tenerife

Consejo Insular de Aguas de

Tenerife, Recursos hídricos,

Cambio Climático

Documents

Fecha elaboración del documento: 09/12/2011 Escrito …climaimpacto.eu/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/CI1A_-Recopilacion-de... · Los incendios en el ... Se establece una parcela experimental