Sedimentos que Ocultan y Revelan: dinámica sedimentaria y contexto geo-arqueológico del yacimiento del Bronce en la cueva de Ostolo (Navarra) (SORBO)

Abstract

EXtreeM is a pioneering research project that explores the potential of trees as natural sensors for reconstructing and understanding extreme hydrogeomorphic events in the Pyrenees Mountains. By analyzing floods, landslides, debris flows, and avalanches, the project reveals how trees record the impacts of these phenomena within their growth rings and structural features.

Using dendrogeomorphology, EXtreeM studies tree-ring growth patterns and physical disturbances that act as biological archives of past environmental change. These natural records make it possible to detect extreme events that were never documented through traditional monitoring methods, significantly expanding the historical knowledge of mountain hazards.

A central goal of the project is to develop and refine methodologies that improve the accuracy of interpreting these tree-based indicators. This enables the reconstruction of detailed timelines of extreme events, offering valuable insights into their frequency, magnitude, and spatial distribution—especially in mountain regions where instrumental data are scarce or nonexistent.

Beyond advancing scientific understanding, EXtreeM contributes directly to natural hazard assessment and risk reduction. The information generated supports better land-use planning, strengthens risk management strategies, and informs disaster prevention efforts in vulnerable mountainous landscapes.

The project also examines the impact of climate change on extreme hydrogeomorphic processes, investigating how their occurrence and intensity may shift over time. By positioning trees as reliable “natural sensors,” EXtreeM delivers a novel and powerful approach to reading past environmental dynamics while helping societies prepare more effectively for future risks.

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