Engineering and Environmental Geology of Granada and its Metropolitan Area (Spain)

Abstract

Research Article| August 01, 2012 Engineering and Environmental Geology of Granada and its Metropolitan Area (Spain) JOSÉ CHACÓN; JOSÉ CHACÓN a Department of Civil Engineering, University of Granada, Granada, Spain 1Corresponding author email: jchacon@ugr.es. Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar CLEMENTE IRIGARAY; CLEMENTE IRIGARAY a Department of Civil Engineering, University of Granada, Granada, Spain Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar RACHID EL HAMDOUNI; RACHID EL HAMDOUNI a Department of Civil Engineering, University of Granada, Granada, Spain Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar IGNACIO VALVERDE-PALACIOS; IGNACIO VALVERDE-PALACIOS b Department of Architectural Constructions, University of Granada, Granada, Spain Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar IGNACIO VALVERDE-ESPINOSA; IGNACIO VALVERDE-ESPINOSA b Department of Architectural Constructions, University of Granada, Granada, Spain Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar FRANCISCO CALVO; FRANCISCO CALVO a Department of Civil Engineering, University of Granada, Granada, Spain Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar JORGE JIMÉNEZ-PERÁLVAREZ; JORGE JIMÉNEZ-PERÁLVAREZ a Department of Civil Engineering, University of Granada, Granada, Spain Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar EVA CHACON; EVA CHACON b Department of Architectural Constructions, University of Granada, Granada, Spain Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar PAZ FERNÁNDEZ; PAZ FERNÁNDEZ a Department of Civil Engineering, University of Granada, Granada, Spain Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar JESÚS GARRIDO; JESÚS GARRIDO a Department of Civil Engineering, University of Granada, Granada, Spain Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar FRANCISCO LAMAS FRANCISCO LAMAS a Department of Civil Engineering, University of Granada, Granada, Spain Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Environmental & Engineering Geoscience (2012) 18 (3): 217–260. https://doi.org/10.2113/gseegeosci.18.3.217 Article history first online: 02 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share MailTo Twitter LinkedIn Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation JOSÉ CHACÓN, CLEMENTE IRIGARAY, RACHID EL HAMDOUNI, IGNACIO VALVERDE-PALACIOS, IGNACIO VALVERDE-ESPINOSA, FRANCISCO CALVO, JORGE JIMÉNEZ-PERÁLVAREZ, EVA CHACON, PAZ FERNÁNDEZ, JESÚS GARRIDO, FRANCISCO LAMAS; Engineering and Environmental Geology of Granada and its Metropolitan Area (Spain). Environmental & Engineering Geoscience 2012;; 18 (3): 217–260. doi: https://doi.org/10.2113/gseegeosci.18.3.217 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyEnvironmental & Engineering Geoscience Search Advanced Search Abstract Granada and its metropolitan area lie on the eastern edge of a basin where the foothills rise into the adjacent Sierra Nevada (3,482 m). On the west the valley is bordered by several faulted, Quaternary-age alluvial fans and by dissected terraces of the Genil River. Landscape evolution from about Tortonian to Pleistocene time is reflected by relict Quaternary glaciers preserved on a deeply eroded lower Paleozoic terrain and by terrace remnants and channels resulting from rapid Late Pleistocene and Holocene fluvial incision. This particular geological, geomorphic, and active tectonic setting, combined with a Mediterranean climate under continental influence, and the rapid urban development in the last 60 years have increased exposure to several natural hazards. Urban expansion has increased flash-flood and mass-wasting vulnerability, and seismic risk is similarly increasing with the 1884 Andalusian Earthquake (M 6.3), reflecting the last of several large, ∼500-year recurrence temblors that have affected the area since at least Roman times. Modern Granada and its metropolitan area, with about a half million inhabitants, are currently increasingly challenged by the highest levels of exposure to natural hazards, by strain on traditional society resulting from adapting to the changes produced by the three decades since the advent of democracy (1978) and by the consequences of the deep economic crisis. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.