Geological and environmental aspects of the development of megacities: the case of Buenos Aires metropolitan area (AMBA), Argentina

Abstract

Buenos Aires has experienced sustained population growth since 1580 and now has some 13 million inhabitants. The paper considers the main environmental problems affecting the Buenos Aires metropolitan area (AMBA)—flooding, water contamination (surficial and subterraneous water), soil degradation (contamination, physical and chemical degradation and agricultural land loss), domiciliary and industrial waste disposal and sanitary landfills, mining-derived problems, expansive soils and atmospheric contamination. It focuses on the geological and geomorphological aspects that have controlled their occurrence.