Análisis De Aspectos Que Incrementan El Riesgo De Inundaciones en Colombia

Abstract

Recibido el 11 de febrero de 2013 y aprobado el 12 de abril de 2013 RESUMENEste artículo tiene por objetivo analizar algunos aspectos que potenciaron las inundaciones en Colombia en el periodo 2010/2011. La metodología consistió en la revisión y síntesis de información sobre diferentes enfoques para el manejo de inundaciones, en armonía con la visión ecosistémica y de gestión integral de los recursos hídricos. Los resultados indican que las temporadas de lluvias y el fenómeno La Niña de abril de 2010 a diciembre de 2011 dejaron 5,2 millones de personas afectadas y 683 muertos. Dicho evento es el más crítico en la historia, ya que duplica las pérdidas acumuladas por inundaciones en 30 años. Además de lo anterior, se identifica que el desastre se debió a una suma de factores, entre los que destacan: cambios en la cobertura vegetal; las deficiencias en la gestión del suelo y los recursos hídricos; las debilidades en el diseño y gestión de infraestructura, en los patrones de crecimiento demográfico; los problemas institucionales en la prevención y atención de emergencias; la falta de transparencia y la corrupción; una legislación que carece de metodologías para aplicación, de recursos fiscales y de mecanismos para el seguimiento y medición resultados; entre otros. Una de las conclusiones es la necesidad de incluir nuevos conocimientos del clima en la gestión del riesgo y la planificación pero, sobre todo, es recomendable abordar el manejo de las inundaciones con un enfoque diferente, migrando hacia procesos integrales y con mayor capacidad de adaptación de la sociedad colombiana en los próximos años, mediante una gestión del riesgo de inundación más eficiente, acorde a conceptos modernos y en armonía con los procesos de desarrollo sostenible. PALABRAS CLAVEVariabilidad climática, fenómeno ENOS, cambio climático, inundaciones, gestión del riesgo de desastres. ANALYSIS OF THE ASPECTS WHICH INCREASE THE RISK OF FLOODS IN COLOMBIA ABSTRACTThe main objective of this article is to analyze some aspects that fostered floods in Colombia in the period 2010/2011. The methodology followed was a review and synthesis of information on different approaches to flood management, in harmony with the ecosystemic vision and integrated management of water resources. The results indicate that the rainy season and La Niña phenomenon from April 2010 to December 2011 left 5,2 million people affected and 683 people dead. This has been the most critical event in history, because it doubled the accumulated losses from flooding in 30 years. Besides the above, it has been identified that the disaster was due to a combination of factors, among which are: changes in vegetation cover,

Estimation of monthly rainfall missing data in Southwestern Colombia: comparing different methods

“…This problem affects hydroclimatological analyzes for water resource management and planning purposes. On the other hand, this region presents a complex climatology, due to the influence of climatic phenomena such as El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO), Madden-Julián Waves, Chocó low-level Jet, among others (Canchala et al, 2020a;Cerón et al, 2021b;Puertas & Carvajal, 2008;Rueda & Poveda, 2006;Sedano-Cruz et al, 2013;Torres, 2012), coupled with its proximity to Ecuador and influence of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ).…”

Spatio-temporal analysis of the droughts in Cali, Colombia and their primary relationships with the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) between 1971 and 2011

“…In the past 40 years , it has experienced losses due to socio-natural disasters estimated at more than USD 7.100 billions (Campos et al, 2012). The rainy period of 2010-2012 and the La Niña phenomenon (Blunden et al, 2011) affected 1027 municipalities (Sedano-Cruz et al, 2013), four million people and caused economic losses of approximately USD 7.8 billions (Hoyos et al, 2013a). On the other hand, the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) of 1997-1998 generated damages to the agricultural sector estimated at more than USD 101 millions in the year 2000 in addition to 124 million USD in indirect losses produced by adverse effects on the balance of payments and the absence of exports (Campos et al, 2012).…”

Representative rainfall thresholds for flash floods in the Cali river watershed, Colombia

“…There are different definitions of flash flooding, but that which best represents the hydrological characteristics of a mountainous region such as Cali River basin in Colombia, is that published by the United States National Weather Service, i.e., a flash flood is a rapid increase in the water level of a river or creek above the predetermined flood level that generally occurs within 6 h of the event that caused it. Tropical regions, such as the South America Andes and mountainous countries, are highly susceptible to floods and flash floods due to environmental and socio-economic characteristics (Sedano et al, 2013). In Europe and America, floods are rarely associated with fatalities except in cases of levee failures.…”

“…A recent episode includes the 2010-2011 rainy seasons which impacted 5.2 million people. The flooded cultivation areas exceeded more than one million hectares and economic losses exceeded USD 4870 billion (Sedano et al, 2013). These conditions impose serious threat to the livelihood of vulnerable population.…”

“…Colombia is a country prone to disasters, including severe events such as erosion, landslides, torrential floods, avalanches, flooding, droughts and forest fires. Among all these occurrences floods are the most recurrent (The Word Bank, 2012;Sedano et al, 2013). Located in the equatorial region, the country is influenced by the intertropical confluence zone (ITCZ), which is tightly linked to dynamical processes occurring in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, and in the Amazon rainforest.…”