In honor of the 40th anniversary of the World Congress of the International Association for Hydro-Environment Engineering and Research (IAHR), the 5th anniversary of the World Conference on Great Rivers, and the 30th anniversary of the Danube Conference, these prestigious events were combined under the motto "Vienna Water Conferences 2023". Held simultaneously in Vienna from August 21 to 25, 2023, the conference brought together experts from around the world to discuss advances in hydro-environmental engineering and research. Among the participants were two researchers from the Universitat de Girona, who presented their findings on critical environmental issues as part of the PlastikHum project.

Development of Flash Floods in Inundated Environments

Dr. Marianna Soler presented her research on the development of flash floods in inundated environments, a study co-authored with Jordi Colomer, Andrew Folkard, and Teresa Serra. The research focused on understanding how coastal wetlands can mitigate the impact of flash floods, which are becoming more frequent due to climate change. Through a series of laboratory flume experiments, the study analyzed the flow dynamics and sediment deposition in vegetated and non-vegetated wetlands. Results indicated that vegetation, particularly species like Arthrocnemum fruticosum and Juncus maritimus, significantly influences the hydrodynamic regimes and enhances sedimentation, thus reducing flood impact. This work underscores the importance of preserving and restoring vegetated wetlands for flood risk management.

Microplastic Retention by Lagoons Surrounded by Vegetation in Wetland Areas

Dr. Teresa Serra presented her work on microplastic retention in lagoons surrounded by vegetation, conducted in collaboration with Mirco Mancini, Jordi Colomer, and Luca Solari. The study investigated how wetlands, specifically lagoons with emergent aquatic vegetation, can act as buffers for microplastic pollution. Using a laboratory flume setup, various microplastics were introduced along with sediment particles to simulate natural conditions. The research demonstrated that vegetated lagoons significantly enhance the retention of microplastics, with aquatic plants increasing deposition rates compared to non-vegetated scenarios. These findings highlight the role of wetland vegetation in mitigating microplastic pollution and the potential for targeted wetland management to address environmental contamination.

The participation of Universitat de Girona researchers at the Vienna Water Conferences 2023 highlighted the vital contributions of their work in environmental physics and the ongoing efforts to tackle pressing ecological challenges through innovative research.