242-2 RISE-Guadeloupe: An Interdisciplinary Framework for Multi-Hazard Assessment, Risk Reduction, and Resilience in Island Environments

Abstract:

RISE-Guadeloupe is an interdisciplinary research and innovation project dedicated to improving the understanding, assessment, and management of natural hazards in island environments. Located in the Lesser Antilles, Guadeloupe is exposed to multiple interacting hazards, including earthquakes, tsunamis, extreme rainfall, coastal erosion, landslides, and the impacts of climate change. These threats affect both natural ecosystems and human societies, requiring integrated approaches that combine Earth sciences, environmental studies, and social sciences. The project aims to generate new scientific knowledge on the origin, dynamics, and impacts of natural hazards while producing operational tools that support risk reduction and territorial resilience. A major objective is to enhance the characterization of tectonic and tsunami hazards through the development of an integrated database of active faults, the reconstruction of past seismic and tsunami events using sedimentary archives, historical records, and field observations, and the improvement of numerical models of tsunami generation, propagation, and coastal impacts. In parallel, RISE-Guadeloupe investigates erosion processes and sediment transfers under extreme conditions by combining field measurements, monitoring systems, and modeling approaches. These studies will improve understanding of the interactions between watersheds, coastal environments, and marine ecosystems, as well as their influence on shoreline evolution. The project also examines the ecological consequences of natural hazards on terrestrial and marine ecosystems, assessing their vulnerability, recovery capacity, and long-term resilience. A complementary social science component explores risk perception, adaptation practices, historical memory, and societal vulnerabilities, providing valuable insights into the development of locally adapted prevention and adaptation strategies. Beyond its scientific contributions, RISE-Guadeloupe places strong emphasis on operational outcomes and knowledge transfer. The project will deliver integrated data management platforms and, most importantly, a suite of decision-support products, including hazard, exposure, vulnerability, and risk maps specifically designed for public authorities, emergency managers, and crisis-response stakeholders. These cartographic products will facilitate preparedness planning, emergency response, land-use management, and long-term resilience strategies. By combining cutting-edge research with practical decision-making tools,RISE-Guadeloupe will establish a transferable framework for multi-hazard risk assessment and management in island territories, contributing to both regional resilience and international scientific advancement.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 58, No. 5, 2026

doi: 10.1130/abs/2026AM-16938

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