Browsing by Author "Cezar, Lucas"
Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
Results Per Page
Sort Options
- Abstract Book 15th Geoparks ConferencePublication . Castro, Emanuel; Firmino, Gisela; Gomes, Hugo; Cezar, Lucas; Sá, Artur; Silva, Elisabeth; Fernandes, Magda; Vieira, Gonçalo; Loureiro, Fábio; Patrocínio, Filipe; Castel-Branco, João; Azevedo, PatríciaThe UNESCO Global Geoparks (UGGps) are territories of science, education and culture. These develop holistic approaches to sustainable development aiming to create new tools that can reinforce endogenous values and empower local communities. The Estrela Aspiring Geopark was created and implemented based on this reality and principles. Since the beginning, sustainable development of the territory was a priority, considering the uniqueness of the Estrela Mountain area and the importance of the protection and valorisation of its endogenous potential, with emphasis on the geological heritage.
- A Hydrometric Network for Estrela Geopark TerritoryPublication . Cezar, Lucas; Castro, Emanuel; Gomes, Hugo; Loureiro, FábioMountain habitats are usually unique and geographically confined, concentrating endemic and sensitive species. Therefore, these ecosystems are extremely vulnerable to the effects of climate changes. However, mountain streams usually reveal slow climate velocities, playing an important role as refugia for cold-water biodiversity. Consistent climate change predictions show that the Mediterranean region will be highly affected by increasing temperatures and decreasing precipitation. Severe droughts and associated natural hazards are the main concerns for the region, when regarding climate change scenarios. Recent works predict significant changes in water balance for the higher plateau of Serra da Estrela. As a result of the predicted increase of local mean temperature by 4˙C and the predicted decrease of the mean precipitation by 12%, mean streamflow is expected to decline by 15%, and streamflow during the snow-melting season is expected to drop by 40%. These effects will be even more severe, due to increasing water demands for economic activities under a dryer and hotter weather. Estrela Geopark is a high-value territory for Portuguese hydrography. The mountain range is the watershed for the three major basins of Portugal, and three important national rivers—the Alva, the Mondego and the Zêzere — spring in its higher plateau. The higher belt of Serra da Estrela also comprises a set of RAMSAR Wetlands of International Importance. Despite Estrela’s intrinsic hydrologic values, there are currently only 21 active hydrometric stations in the territory of 2.216km2, and only six of those are set above 1000m of elevation. Most of the active stations are set in artificial reservoirs, and are not suitable for evaluating climate change effects on natural highland water resources. In order to build a knowledge basis to understand climate change effects on Estrela Geopark habitats, and to guide local initiatives of adaptation to climate changes, we propose the foundation of a hydrometric network throughout the entire territory, but concentrating efforts on the most vulnerable and historically overlooked surface water ecosystems of the higher plateau of Serra da Estrela.
- Interpreting Late Pleistocene Paleoenvironments through the geosites of the Estrela Geopark, Central PortugalPublication . Gomes, Hugo; Loureiro, Fábio; Cezar, Lucas; Castro, Emanuel; Vieira, GonçaloThe UNESCO Global Geoparks are territories whose geological relevance is the starting point for a territorial development strategy. As territories of the 21st century, we want them to be places of science, culture and education, through a holistic vision, which intends to establish strong connections between the geological and cultural heritage. In this context, the geodiversity of Estrela, the richness of its geosite’s diversity and the scenic character of its landscapes make this territory a unique geography, whose structured approach allows for a solid interpretation of the paleoenvironmental evolution of the Estrela Mountain. The Estrela Geopark, with 2,216 km2, centered on the highest mountain in mainland Portugal (1993 m), is a reference for glacial geomorphology in the southwest European context. The territory shows the most significant glacial, fluvioglacial and periglacial landforms and deposits in Portugal, some of them of international relevance. The Geopark shows a diversity of granites and metasedimentary formations, with evidences of contact metamorphism. The geological history of the Estrela Geopark dates back to the Neoproterozoic, with ages older than 650 Ma, represented by an extensive sequence of metasediments dominated by schists and greywackes. These were deformed by the Variscan orogeny, during which, intrusions of granite batholiths occurred. At the end of the orogeny, the relief was razed by erosive processes that extended until the Miocene, when Variscan faults were reactivated leading to the uplift of the Estrela as a pop-up structure. The summit plateau, showing an elevation close to 2000 m, was key for the development of Estrela’s glaciers during the Pleistocene. These were responsible for a remarkable set of glacial landforms and deposits that drive the geological relevance of the Estrela Geopark. The interaction of the Pleistocene glaciers with the geoheritage reflecting the long geological history of the territory, together with the current geomorphological dynamics, long history of human settlement resulting in rich land use features and traditions, lead to the high international relevance of the territory of Estrela, a UNESCO Global Geopark candidate. The Estrela Geopark inventoried and classified 124 geosites, 40% of them related to glacial and fluvioglacial phenomena and periglacial processes. These include glacial valleys, cirques, glacial overdeepenings, several types of moraines and till outcrops, glacial erratics, glacial polished surfaces, and fluvioglacial deposits. The joint interpretation of landforms and sediments, including the palinological record has been crucial for a better understanding of the paleoenvironmental evolution and significance of the Estrela and of its high sensitivity to climate variability and change as a consequence of its high plateau-dominated morphology, bounded by steep marginal scarps and deeply carved valleys.
- LIVRO DE RESUMOS E GUIÃO DE CAMPO do XXXVIII Curso de Atualização de Professores de GeociênciasPublication . Gomes, Hugo; Fernandes, Magda; Castro, Emanuel; Regina, Almeida; Freitas, Helena; Tracana, Rosa; Cezar, LucasO Geopark Estrela inclui os municípios de Belmonte, Celorico da Beira, Covilhã, Fornos de Algodres,Gouveia, Guarda, Manteigas, Oliveira do Hospital e Seia, sendo constituído por uma área total de 2.216 km2, na qual residem cerca de 170 mil habitantes. A Serra da Estrela possui um vasto património natural, associado à geodiversidade, à biodiversidade e às inigualáveis paisagens naturais, mas apresenta também um riquíssimo património cultural, relacionado com o modus vivendi e com a adaptação das populações, ao longo do tempo, a esta montanha. Nesta viagem pelo Geopark Estrela, percebemos que as paisagens que hoje observamos, nem sempre foram assim… Elas foram modeladas pelos vários acontecimentos que ocorreram ao longo da antiquíssima história geológica da Serra da Estrela, sendo também o reflexo da longa história de ocupação e adaptação humana a um território com características muito particulares.