Author(s): Jorge Vazquez
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Keywords: No Keywords
Abstract: Concerning climate changes, Portugal and especially Alentejo, region where is located the Alqueva Project has a significant vulnerability. In fact, the Alqueva Project area, considering its location and the involving orography, receives very little influence from the fresh and humid Atlantic Ocean winds and is more exposed to the winds coming from the north of Africa and the Sahara Desert. It is agreed that we will have a clear rise of the temperature, more frequent extreme events of warm waves and dry periods with less definition of the seasons, and a probable reduction of precipitation and run-off. The Guadiana River where Alqueva dam is located, starts in Spain, in Ruidera lagoons, at 1 700m altitude, with 110km making up the border line between Portugal and Spain. The total drainage basin covers 66800km2, having only 17% in Portugal (11580km2), with an average rainfall of 550mm. Alqueva Dam is the great water origin of the Alqueva Project - the largest national multipurpose hydraulic project centered on an integrated management of a strategic water reserve, that ensures, large scale regional irrigation, domestic and industrial water supply, reducing risk of extreme events (namely droughts and floods) in the country’s entire southern region, assuring clean energy production, tourism and ludic uses.
Year: 2024