20 Hydrogeology and Marine/Coastal Geoscience

This session covers aspects related to SGDs & their associated aquifers, including but not limited to: water–rock interaction, coastal aquifer contamination, geochemical transformation, hydrological flows, saline intrusion, coastal estuaries, and environmental, economic, and social SGD-related issues.

Thursday, 23 April 2026
8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
LMH, Meeting Room

Compounded Risks: Natural and Anthropogenic Hazard Interactions in Baja California Basins

Paper number: 20-0
Program: Technical Sessions
Time: 8:00 AM – 8:15 AM

Authors

  • Ena Gamez Presenting Author
    Center for Scientific Research and Higher Education at Ensenada (CICESE), Ensenada, Baja California
  • Thomas Kretzschmar
    Center for Scientific Research and Higher Education at Ensenada (CICESE), Ensenada, Baja California
  • Luis Mendoza
    Center for Scientific Research and Higher Education at Ensenada (CICESE), Ensenada, Baja California

Abstract

Proper urban and territorial planning is essential to keep disaster risk within acceptable levels. Under conditions of climate change, where hydrometeorological extremes are becoming more frequent and severe, the omission of disaster risk in development processes represents a critical vulnerability. It is necessary to have reliable data and assessments, and sufficient capacity to translate risk information into planning and investment decisions.

This study examines the interaction among different hazards in the hydrological basins of Baja California, using an interdisciplinary approach that integrates climatological, geospatial, and environmental data. The objective was to evaluate the spatiotemporal convergence of hydrometeorological hazards and anthropogenic factors of hazard to identify critical zones where combined impacts threaten human settlements and the environment. The assessment focused on recurrent hydrometeorological hazards in the region: floods, Santa Ana winds, and wildfires, and their interactions with anthropogenic stressors, particularly the presence of uncontrolled solid waste dumpsites.

Results include hazard and exposure maps that illustrate potential risk scenarios and highlight the presence of solid waste, which not only increases wildfire risk and flood levels but also poses a vulnerability to sewage systems and human health. The comparative basins of Ensenada and Tijuana showed differences in risk management patterns, the influence of transboundary urban density in Tijuana, and the transportation of solid waste to the coastal watersheds in Ensenada, providing a vision for incorporating channel cleaning and solid waste management in both cities. These findings underscore the compounded risks generated by the intersection of natural and anthropogenic hazards, exacerbated by climate change.

The study concludes that resilience in Baja California’s basins requires the systematic incorporation of multi-hazard risk information into development and investment planning. It emphasizes the role of community participation, adaptive planning, and integrated basin management as essential strategies to reduce vulnerability and ensure sustainable development under increasing climate variability.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 58, No. 3

doi: 10.1130/abs/2026CD-410979

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