Browsing by Author "Pinos Flores, Juan Andrés"

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Assessment of microscale economic flood losses in urban and agricultural areas: case study of the Santa Bárbara River, Ecuador
(2020) Pinos Flores, Juan Andrés; Orellana Vintimilla, Daniel Augusto; Timbe Castro, Luis Manuel
To reduce and prevent significant economic flood losses, reliable tools are required to estimate potential river inundation effects. This paper focuses on the estimation of direct damages caused by flooding with different return periods in urban and agricultural areas. A univariable deterministic flood loss model was developed to estimate potential damages, based on water depth. This approach involved assessing the mapping of local flood risks based on the combination of historical inundation marks, land-use and economic data. The primary objective of this study is to determine whether it is possible to use accessible data at the municipality level to assess economic flood losses. For the Santa Bárbara River case study, the results reveal that the greatest proportion of damages (approximately 99%) is expected to occur in the urban area. In addition, results showed that the approach is useful for identifying and mapping flooded areas with critical damage. The proposed methodology can be applied to microscale analysis, thereby providing quantitative results for flood risk assessment, the outcomes of which could assist local decision-makers in the prioritization of critical risk areas, and the development of mitigation options and countermeasures. As such, this is the first study to propose and provide an open-access methodology for quantifying flood losses in the inter-Andean region of Ecuador.
Biomasa foliar, desfronde y descomposición de la hojarasca en los rodales de Polylepis reticulata del Parque Nacional Cajas
(2015) Pinos Flores, Juan Andrés; Hampel, Henrietta; Gracía Alonso, Carlos
In this study we analyzed leaf litterfall (falling leaves), leaf turnover and the process of litter decomposition of Polylepisreticulata in 6 permanent unlogged sample plots, 100m², located in the Cajas National Park (Cuenca, Azuay) for a period of 9 months. To measure leaf litterfall, five circular collectors (0.125m² opening; 2mm mesh size) were distributed in each plot and contents collected every 15 days. Decomposition bags (dimensions 15 x 15 cm; 2mm mesh size) with about 20g (dry weight) of litterfall, were placed in the soil covered with moss and litter. The bags were collected in periods of 30, 60, 90, 150 and 210 days. Mean annual litterfall for Polylepisreticulata was 3.85 Tons/ha and leaf turnover was 1.75 years. The maximum leaf production was in the month of May and was 4 times greater than the minimum. In 210 days, the decomposition bags lost 20% of its mass and resulted in a rate of 0.40 year-1.