Expert analyzes extreme precipitation and impacts on the territory
António Lopes, researcher and professor at the IGOT-ULisboa and TERRA researcher, recently analyzed the impact of the successive storms that hit Portugal, highlighting the exceptional levels of precipitation recorded and their relationship with the territory’s growing vulnerability to extreme weather events.
In his television interview, the researcher explained that the values observed far exceeded what was expected, approaching the maximum limit of weather forecasts, which helps to understand the extent of the floods, inundations, and damage observed in various regions of the country. The analysis shows that episodes of extreme rainfall concentrated in short periods significantly increase the risk of flash floods, landslides, and impacts on infrastructure, especially in urbanized areas with high soil impermeability. These phenomena, which are becoming increasingly frequent in the context of climate change, require structural responses based on land use planning, the adaptation of cities, and the promotion of nature-based solutions.
The TERRA Associate Laboratory emphasizes that strengthening science-informed territorial planning and creating ecological infrastructure capable of regulating the water cycle and reducing risks are essential to increasing the country’s resilience to extreme events.
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