Germán R. Bértola

Hazard, vulnerability and coastal erosion risk assessment in Necochea Municipality, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina

This contribution determines the coastal erosion risk of Necochea and Quequén cities, Necochea Municipality, Buenos Aires Province (Argentina). Both risk components, hazard and vulnerability, were assessed by the construction of indices. The hazard index is composed of four indicators: the erosion or accretion rate, coastal geomorphology, storm waves effects, and sediment supply. The vulnerability index is comprised of land use/cover, demographic, life conditions, and work and consumption indicators, and includes population census data such as demographic, education, health, sanitary, economic, production, work and population exposure aspects. The analysis concluded that coastal erosion risk ranges from very low to high along the study area, Quequén yielding the highest values. Risk levels vary in both cities based on the uneven spatial distribution of hazard. The risk assessment developed herein constitutes a practical and adequate tool that can be utilized with other elements and tasks in the elaboration of a coastal management program.

Crecimiento urbano y cambios del uso/ cobertura del suelo en las ciudades de Necochea y Quequén, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Urbanization is a territorial and socioeconomic process that induces a radical transformation of land/use cover. It produces great changes in the environment and therefore, is the principal cause of environmental problems and risks. Based on aerial photographs and satellital images, urban growth dynamics and land/use cover change were evaluated at the coastal urban area of Necochea municipality (Argentina). Between 1967 and 2004, urban land/cover use increased from 21,95 to 28,44 % while non urban land/cover use descended. Population growth excedeed urban expansion rate, estimating that the densifi cation of urban occupation is notably higher than the urban sprawl growth.

Consecuencias socio-económicas asociadas a la erosión costera en el Balneario Parque Mar Chiquita, Argentina

Coastal erosion is a natural phenomenon that constitutes a huge environmental problem in the province of Buenos Aires —Argentina—, especially in the Balneario Parque Mar Chiquita. In sight of the magnitude, in this work the socio-economical consequences of the erosive process for the village was analyzed. Aerial photographs were used to evaluate the urban evolution and the property losses to the sea in different periods of time. Towns foundation legislation was also analyzed. Legislation left important gaps regarding the determination of public domine in coastal areas. These gaps were opportunistically used