Fernández et al. (2025) Reconstruction of Torrential Activity in Cerradillas Valley (Sierra de Guadarrama National Park, Spain) Using Dendrogeomorphic Techniques

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Identification

• Journal: Geosciences
• Year: 2025
• Date: 2025-10-16
• Authors: Eduardo Fernández, Juan Manuel Rubiales Jiménez
• DOI: 10.3390/geosciences15100402

Research Groups

Not explicitly stated in the provided text.

Short Summary

This study reconstructs the history of torrential activity in the Arroyo Cerradillas catchment, Sierra de Guadarrama, Spain, using dendrogeomorphological analysis of Scots pine trees, identifying 12 significant events between 1935 and 2003, and highlighting the method's value for completing historical flood records.

Objective

• To reconstruct the history of torrential activity in the Arroyo Cerradillas catchment to better understand event frequency and its triggers.

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: Arroyo Cerradillas catchment, Sierra de Guadarrama, Spain.
• Temporal Scale: 1935 to 2003 (reconstructed chronology).

Methodology and Data

• Models used: Not applicable; the study primarily uses empirical dendrogeomorphological analysis.
• Data sources: Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) trees, analyzed for growth disturbances (scars, reaction wood, abrupt growth changes) to date and assess the intensity of torrential events.

Main Results

• A chronology of 12 significant torrential events was established between 1935 and 2003.
• The reconstructed record shows strong coherence with regional studies while also revealing localized flood events.
• Two previously undocumented event years (1998 and 2003) were added to the regional chronology.
• The 1996 event was identified as having exceptional magnitude.
• The intense signal from 1996 was likely caused by widespread mechanical damage from snow and wind, rather than a direct hydrological flood, demonstrating the complexity of interpreting geomorphic processes in mountain environments.

Contributions

• Provides a systematic historical record of torrential activity for a previously unexplored Mediterranean mountain catchment.
• Confirms the value of dendrogeomorphology as a robust method for completing and extending historical flood records.
• Improves hazard assessments by providing a longer and more detailed chronology of events.
• Adds new event years to the regional flood chronology, enhancing regional understanding of flood frequency.
• Highlights the complex nature of geomorphic process interpretation in mountain environments, particularly regarding non-hydrological triggers for "torrential" signals.

Funding

Not explicitly stated in the provided text.

Citation

@article{Fernández2025Reconstruction,
  author = {Fernández, Eduardo and Jiménez, Juan Manuel Rubiales},
  title = {Reconstruction of Torrential Activity in Cerradillas Valley (Sierra de Guadarrama National Park, Spain) Using Dendrogeomorphic Techniques},
  journal = {Geosciences},
  year = {2025},
  doi = {10.3390/geosciences15100402},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences15100402}
}