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The final authenticated version is available online at https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-023-06161-0, LIFE BAETULO (www.life-baetulo.eu) is a European pilot project funded by the EU LIFE Climate Action programme, coordinated by AQUATEC (AGBAR Group) and with a duration of 2.5 years (from July 2020 to December 2022). The main project solution (an integrated early warning system, IEWS) is implemented as a technical and adaptive means to reduce exposure and vulnerability of urban assets and citizens to climate change. IEWS considers major climate change-induced hazards such as floods, combined sewer overflows, storm surges, heatwaves, cold waves, snowfalls, windstorms, air pollution and forest fires. The IEWS platform is built on top of existing infrastructure such as meteorological and weather services, drainage infrastructure monitoring systems and official information channels. It is a multi-risk approach, in contrast with classic sectorial solutions which focus on just one hazard at a time. This paper describes the objectives of the project, the architecture of the IEWS, the methodology used for its validation and the expected results and benefits for the city of Badalona., The LIFE BAETULO project has received funding from the LIFE Program of the European Union under grant agreement (CCA/ES/001180-LIFE BAETULO)., LIFE BAETULO project has received funding from the LIFE Program of the European Union under grant agreement (CCA/ES/001180-LIFE BAETULO)., Peer Reviewed, Postprint (published version)

LIFE BAETULO (www.life-BAETULO.eu) ha sido un proyecto piloto de adaptación al cambio climático liderado por AQUATEC y con presupuesto de 1.2 millones de euros, financiado por la Comisión Europea en el marco del programa LIFE Climate Action. El objetivo del proyecto ha sido el desarrollo y la implementación de un sistema de Alerta Temprana Integral Multirriesgo en la ciudad de Badalona para reducir la exposición y la vulnerabilidad de los ciudadanos frente a los eventos climáticos. La duración de LIFE BAETULO ha sido de dos años y medio (Julio 2020- Diciembre 2022). Tanto la fase de desarrollo como de implementación han contado con la participación de diferentes entidades como el Ayuntamiento de Badalona, el Área Metropolitana de Barcelona y Aigües de Barcelona, también socios del proyecto. Los principales peligros climáticos que permite gestionar el sistema de alerta integral son las inundaciones pluviales urbanas, los desbordamientos del sistema de saneamiento (DSS) (estas dos amenazas principalmente tratadas en este artículo), los temporales marítimos, las olas de calor y de frío, las nevadas, los temporales de viento, los incendios forestales y los episodios de contaminación atmosférica. El proyecto ha proporcionado un sistema capaz de detectar de manera temprana dichos eventuales peligros climáticos y ayudar en la gestión de eventos de crisis asociados a su ocurrencia. Como colofón al proyecto se ha desarrollado también una aplicación móvil como canal de comunicación del sistema con la ciudadanía, operadores y otros actores locales involucrados. BAETULO adopta un enfoque multirriesgo, en contraste con las soluciones sectoriales clásicas que se enfocan en un solo peligro a la vez. Este artículo describe los objetivos del proyecto, la arquitectura de la solución, la metodología de validación y los beneficios para la ciudad de Badalona., El Proyecto LIFE BAETULO se ha llevado a cabo gracias a la financiación del programa LIFE Climate Action LIFE19 CCA/ES/001180-LIFE BAETULO., Peer Reviewed, Postprint (published version)

LIFE BAETULO (www.life-baetulo.eu) es un proyecto piloto europeo cofinanciado por el programa LIFE Climate Action de 2 años y medio de duración (Julio 2020-Diciembre 2022) coordinado por Aquatec en el que, un Sistema Alerta Temprana Integral (y multirriesgo), es aplicado en la ciudad de Badalona (España) con el objetivo de reducir la exposición y vulnerabilidad de los ciudadanos y bienes urbanos a los peligros derivados del clima, proporcionando información y alertas anticipadas que permiten tomar acciones preventivas y correctivas para minimizar los impactos y daños directos e indirectos derivados de los episodios de clima extremo. La presente comunicación describe los objetivos del proyecto, la arquitectura del Sistema de Alerta Integral (SATI) implementado en Badalona y los resultados y beneficios obtenidos., Postprint (published version)

LIFE BAETULO (www.life-baetulo.eu) is a European pilot project funded by the LIFE Climate Action programme of the European Union with 2.5 years duration (from July 2020 to December 2022) and coordinated by AQUATEC (Agbar group). The project aims to implement an integrated and multi-risk early warning system as a technological and adaptation measure to decrease the exposure and vulnerability of citizens and urban assets to the climate change derived hazards including flooding, combined sewer overflows (CSOs), storm surges, heatwaves, cold waves, snowfalls, windstorms, episodes of high air pollution and forest fires. The platform is built on top of existing infrastructures such as meteorological and weather services, drainage infrastructure surveillance system and official information channels. This paper describes the objectives of the project, the architecture of the Integrated Early Warning System (IEWS) implemented in Badalona, the methodology used for its implementation and validation and an anticipation of the expected results and benefits., Postprint (published version)

Climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme events and, consequently, flooding in urban and peri-urban areas. The electrical grid is exposed to an increase in fault probability because its infrastructure was designed considering historical frequencies of extreme events occurred in the past. In this respect, to ensure future energy plans and securing services is of great relevance to determine and evaluate the new zones that may be under risk and its relation to critical infrastructures for such extreme events. In this regard, the electrical distribution system is one of the key critical infrastructures since it feeds the others and with the future plans of zero-emissions (leading to the electrification of transport, buildings, renewable energies, etc.) will become even more important in the short term. In this paper, a novel methodology has been developed, able to analyze flood hazard maps quantifying the probability of failure risk of the electrical assets and their potential impacts using a probabilistic approach. Furthermore, a process to monetize the consequences of the yielded risk was established. The whole method developed was applied to the Barcelona and Bristol case study cities. In this way, two different examples of application have been undertaken by using slightly different inputs. Two main inputs were required: (1) the development of accurate GIS hazard flooding models; and (2) the location of the electrical assets (i.e., Distribution Centers (DCs)). To assess and monetize the flood risk to DCs, a variety of variables and tools were required such as water depths (i.e., flood maps), DCs’ areas of influence, fragility curves, and damage curves. The analysis was performed for different return periods under different scenarios, current (Baseline) and future (Business As Usual (BAU)) rainfall conditions. The number of DCs affected was quantified and classified into different categories of risk, where up to 363 were affected in Barcel, This research was funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Program (RESCCUE project), grant number 700174. The authors want to acknowledge to the RESCCUE project where this research is framed. Also, to all the organizations that transferred the necessary data to carry out this study, in special, Western Power Distribution in UK and Endesa in Spain for the electrical data, Aquatec in Spain and Bristol City Council in UK for the flooding models and to the Bristol and Barcelona city councils for developing the Open Data Portals from where basic data was taken., Peer Reviewed, Postprint (published version)

The sensitive mountain catchment of Portainé (Eastern Pyrenees, Iberian Peninsula) has recently experienced a significant change in its torrential dynamics due to human disturbances. The emplacement of a ski resort at the headwaters led to the surpassing of a geomorphological threshold, with important consequences during flood events. Consequently, since 2008, channel dynamics have turned into sediment-laden, highly destructive torrential flows. In order to assess this phenomenon and to acquire a holistic understanding of the catchment’s behaviour, we carried out a field work-based multidisciplinary study. We considered the interaction of the various controlling factors, including bedrock geology, geomorphological evolution, derived soils and coluvial deposits, rainfall patterns, and the hydrological response of the catchment to flood events. Moreover, anthropogenic land-use changes, its consequential hydrogeomorphic effects and the role of vegetation were also taken into account. Robust sedimentological and geomorphological evidence of ancient dense debris flows show that the basin has shifted around this threshold, giving rise to two different behaviours or equilibrium conditions throughout its history: alternating periods of moderate, bedload-laden flows and periods of high sediment-laden debris flow dynamics. This shifting could have extended through the Holocene. Finally, we discuss the possible impact of climate and global change, as the projected effects suggest future soil and forest degradation; this, jointly with more intense rainfalls in these mountain environments, would exacerbate the future occurrence of dense sediment-laden flows at Portainé, but also in other nearby, similar basins., Peer Reviewed, Postprint (published version)

En el marco del Proyecto europeo RESCCUE, las proyecciones climáticas para la ciudad de Barcelona muestran aumentos significativos de las intensidades máximas de precipitación para el horizonte del 2071-2100. En este trabajo se presenta la evaluación de la resiliencia de los servicios urbanos de la ciudad frente a episodios de inundación para condiciones de lluvia actuales y futuras. El uso de modelos sectoriales e integrados ha permitido valorar la respuesta del sistema de drenaje de la ciudad tanto a nivel de sistema de alcantarillado subterráneo como a nivel superficial analizando el comportamiento hidráulico del conjunto de las superficies urbanas (calles, plazas, parques, etc.). Por otro lado, los parámetros asociados a las inundaciones superficiales (extensión de las zonas inundables, calado y velocidad) han sido empleados para estimar potenciales afectaciones futuras en otros servicios urbanos estratégicos como el tráfico superficial, el sistema eléctrico y el sistema de recogida de residuos., Los autores agradecen el apoyo del proyecto RESCCUE (RESilience to cope with Climate Change in Urban arEas – a multisectorial approach focusing on water), financiado por el programa H2020 de la Unión Europea (Acuerdo No. 700174)., Peer Reviewed, "Russo, B. a1,b, Velasco, M. a2, Monjo, R. c, Martínez-Gomariz, E. d, Sánchez, D. e1, Domínguez, J. L. e2, Gabàs, A.f1, Gonzalez, A.f2 aAQUATEC (SUEZ Advanced Solutions). Paseo de la Zona Franca, 46-48, 08038, Barcelona, España. bGrupo de Ingeniería Hidráulica y Ambiental (GIHA), Escuela Politécnica de La Almunia (EUPLA), Universidad de Zaragoza. Calle Mayor 5, 50100, La Almunia de Doña Godina, Zaragoza, España. cFundación de investigación del Clima (FIC). Gran Via, 22, Dpdo. 7°, Dcha (Escalera 2), 28013, Madrid, España. dCentro Tecnológico del agua (CETaqua). Carretera d’Esplugues, 75, 08940, Cornellà del Llobregat, Barcelona, España. eInstitut de Recerca en Energía de Catalunya (IREC). Jardins de les Dones de Negre, 1, 2ª pl., 08930 Sant Adrià de Besòs, Barcelona, España. fDepartament de Resiliència Urbana. Gerència Adjunta de Mobilitat i Infraestructures, Ecología Urbana, Ajuntament de Barcelona, España. E-mail: a1 brusso@aquatec.es, a2 marc.velasco@suez.com, c fmonjo@fic.org, d eduardo.martinez@cetaqua.com, e1 dsanchezm@irec.cat, e2 jldominguez@irec.cat, f1 agabasm@bcn.cat, f2 agonzalezgom@bcn.cat", Postprint (published version)

Pluvial flooding in Badalona (Spain) occurs during high rainfall intensity events, which in the future could be more frequent according to the latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). In this context, the present study aims at quantifying the potential impacts of climate change for the city of Badalona. A comprehensive pluvial flood multi risk assessment has been carried out for the entire municipality. The assessment has a twofold target: People safety, based on both pedestrians’ and vehicles’ stability, and impacts on the economic sector in terms of direct damages on properties and vehicles, and indirect damages due to businesses interruption. Risks and damages have also been assessed for the projected future rainfall conditions which enabled the comparison with the current ones, thereby estimating their potential increment. Moreover, the obtained results should be the first step to assess the efficiency of adaptation measures. The novelty of this paper is the integration of a detailed 1D/2D urban drainage model with multiple risk criteria. Although, the proposed methodology was tested for the case study of Badalona (Spain), it can be considered generally applicable to other urban areas affected by pluvial flooding., Peer Reviewed, Postprint (published version)

The 1962 Rubí flood was a severe flash flood, the worst to ever take place in Spain, claiming the lives of more than 800 people following 200¿mm of rainfall in 2¿h. Such a high number of casualties can be explained by the very high vulnerability of people who lived in the floodplains of a wandering, ephemeral stream (a wadi) prone to flash floods. Many publications to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the flood have been used as proxy data for the event, especially in terms of social aspects. The meteorological and pluviometric information is reviewed, while other information is only found in grey literature. Recently, the event has been considered an outlier in the panorama of European flash floods. Because of the above, this paper aims to convey all the information to readers and show that it deserves to be raised to an international level as an example of an extreme flash flood. After addressing some misunderstandings, it can be concluded that the event was not an outlier, nor was it extreme, in terms of total rainfall, return period, discharge, discharge per unit basin area, unit stream power and flow velocity. It may be extraordinary because the flood reached very high levels by transporting large amounts of both fine and coarse sediment particles. The stream is steep, ephemeral, lacking an armour layer, and prone to torrential events, in which the large sediment transport played a role in how high the flood levels rose. The use of flooding marks to compute discharges is also discussed. In addition, the paper presents a torrential calculation based on the momentum principle in a control volume., Peer Reviewed, Postprint (author's final draft)

This paper analyses the meteorological conditions and the specific peak flows of 24 catastrophic floods that affected NE Iberian Peninsula in the period 1842–2000. We classify these floods according to the affected area, peak flow magnitude, and damages. Additionally, the NOAA 6 Hourly 20th Century V2 Reanalysis Data Composites have been used to analyze the synoptic conditions during each flood and to evaluate several stability indices, such as the convective available potential energy (CAPE), or the lift index. We found a good correlation between stability indices and the season when the flood occurred. For instance, if maximum CAPE is considered, larger values are found for summer floods, moderate for autumn, and low values during winter floods. We select 5 representative episodes occurred in different seasons and areas to describe in detail the synoptic conditions and to show the temporal evolution of the stability indices. In one the summer floods analyzed in detail, the largest instability, according to all the convective indices, is found. On the contrary, the winter case shows very low values of the convective indices, and autumn cases lay in between. During the other analyzed summer flood instability was low but snow thaw played an important role in producing the flood. Regarding hydrological variables, clear differences between floods occurred at the coast or at the Pyrenees are found. Coastal specific peak flows are larger than Pyrenean ones, especially for small catchment areas. We also combine meteorological (rainfall duration, CAPE), hydrological (specific peak flow) and geomorphological (catchment area) variables to show that for many of the analyzed floods these variables are related: the specific peak flow generally shows larger values when CAPE is also large. However some differences appear depending on the season and area. In those summer floods, where snow thaw played doesn’t played any role, either Pyrenean or coastal, specific peak flow seems to, Peer Reviewed, Postprint (published version)

A multidisciplinary methodology for historical floods reconstruction was applied to 1874 Santa Tecla floods occurred in Catalonia (NE Iberian Peninsula), using both historical information and meteorological data from 20th Century Reanalysis. The results confirmed the exceptionality of the event: the highest modeled specific peak flow was around 14.6 m3 s1 km2 in a 100 km2 catchment and all the modeled total rainfall values were above 110 mm in about six hours, with maximum intensities around 60 mm min1 . The peak-flows peak flows’ return periods were about 260 years and the rainfalls periods were between 250 and 500 years. The meteorological cause of the rainstorms was the flash triggering effect, initiated by the withdrawal of a mass of hot air at mid-levels. A sensitivity analysis on the various sources of error shows that peak flow errors from hydraulic modeling ranged from 5% to 44%, and rainfall errors from hydrological modeling were about 36%., Peer Reviewed, Postprint (published version)

El Mapa para la Prevención de Riesgos Geológicos a escala 1:25.000 (MPRG25M) del Institut Cartogràfic i Geològic de Catalunya es un mapa multi-peligrosidad que incluye la representación de los fenómenos y indicios de actividad, así como las zonas susceptibles y la peligrosidad natural de los procesos generados por la geodinámica externa y interna. En el caso de los riesgos costeros una de las peligrosidades evaluadas es la inundación costera. Tradicionalmente la inundación costera ha sido analizada a través del cálculo del remonte del oleaje mediante ecuaciones empíricas simples. El desarrollo de modelos numéricos permite abordar el problema desde una perspectiva más completa. El artículo muestra la metodología utilizada en el MPRG25M para determinar las zonas potenciales a la inundación a partir de la definición de una serie de escenarios extremos y la combinación de modelos numéricos hidrodinámicos y morfodinámicos en 2DH. Esta aproximación permite una gran resolución espacial y una reproducción del proceso más realista al considerar la playa como un elemento dinámico que interacciona con el oleaje incidente. A modo de ejemplo, la metodología utilizada se presenta para las playas del Golfo de Roses., Postprint (published version)

Study of flood events in long historical chronologies is common in different European basins. The main objective of these kind of studies is to describe climatic variability related to hydrometeorological events, but also to detect and reconstruct extreme meteorological events occurring at very low frequencies. This study shows the firsts results of the construction of the PREDIFLOOD Project database, a large effort to collect all the available information about flood events in Catalonia (NE Iberian Peninsula), previously dispersed in different projects and publications. More than 2700 flood records have been gathered and organized to improve previous flood chronologies of the region. Catalonia is a good territory for this approach because it has different types of fluvial systems: the final part of a large basin (Ebro river), and medium and small catchments, mostly ungauged. Flood factors are also variable: snow thaw, large rainfall events (advective Atlantic processes), torrential rainfall events (convective Mediterranean processes) and all the related effects and impacts. Frequency and seasonality have been analyzed in a selected number of localities with good data quality and multicentennial scale time series. Our first objectives are: a) characterization of climatic patterns, with a comparative approach between strongly different basins to define singularities and b) detection of possible interactions between flood events and human land use, with anomalies strictly related to the increase of exposition and vulnerability of human activities., Peer Reviewed, Postprint (published version)

Floods are among the most dangerous natural hazards in the Western Mediterranean area. Historically, these types of events have generated many affectations over several fields, such as agriculture or infrastructures, and even hundreds of fatalities. The historical archive data allow for a historical (Barriendos et al. 1993) and for a hydraulical and hydrological reconstruction (Balasch et al., 2010, 2011) of floods. However, there are few studies dealing with the meteorological reconstruction of historical floods. Within the early instrumental period (1780-1950), the 20 major floods (according to the affected area, peak and overflow magnitudes, high social damages) since 1870 affecting Catalonia (NE Iberian Peninsula) have been chosen with the aim of characterizing them under a meteorological point of view. By doing this, we improve the understanding of their atmospheric dynamics. For this purpose, the NOAA 3/6 Hourly 20thC V2 Reanalysis Data Composites database has been used to obtain the vertical profile of the air temperature from 1000 hPa to 200 hPa. This database allows us to evaluate several parameters related to convection, such as the Convective Available Potential Energy (CAPE), the Lift Index (LI), the K index (KI), the Vertical, Cross and Total Totals (VT, CT, TT respectively), and wind shear between surface and 1, 3 and 6 km levels, among many others. Moreover, the synoptic condition has been also reconstructed for each flood event. As a preliminary result, the estimated convective parameters as well as the prevailing synoptic conditions that favor convective precipitation have shown a good correspondence with the geographical and hydrological reconstruction. These results will be useful for the synoptic classification of the largest floods occurred in the past, in order to improve their forecasting in the future., Peer Reviewed, Postprint (published version)