Jorge Eiras Barca, from the Environmental Physics Laboratory (EPhysLab) research group, will carry out the project Advancing the Understanding of the Physical Mechanisms Involved in the Development and Persistence of Extreme Heat Stress Events with High Impact on the Agricultural Sector
Campus Auga, the University of Vigo’s strategic specialization initiative at the Ourense campus accredited by the Regional Government of Galicia, launched this year a funding call to support research projects led by researchers with outstanding scientific track records. The call has now been awarded and will fund four projects, including one led by Jorge Eiras of the Environmental Physics Laboratory (EPhysLab) at the Marine Research Centre (CIM) of the University of Vigo.
His project, Advancing the Understanding of the Physical Mechanisms Involved in the Development and Persistence of Extreme Heat Stress Events with High Impact on the Agricultural Sector, aims to deepen our understanding of the physical processes that drive extreme heat stress events threatening agriculture.
The research will combine two complementary approaches: the creation of a catalogue of historical events—based on ERA5 reanalysis data and biometeorological indices cross-referenced with agricultural land-use information—and the quantification of the origin of heat during each event through a pseudo-Lagrangian analysis, which separates temperature anomalies into contributions from advection, subsidence and diabatic processes. The project will ultimately classify these events according to their dominant physical mechanisms, providing valuable applications for forecasting, early warning systems and climate change adaptation strategies for agriculture.
With a total budget of €80,000, the Campus Auga initiative aims to attract and retain research talent, particularly researchers affiliated with the Ramón y Cajal Programme at the Ourense campus, while strengthening the research priorities of Campus Auga.
The grants are funded under the collaboration agreement between the Regional Ministry of Education, Science, Universities and Vocational Training of the Xunta de Galicia and the University of Vigo for the implementation of strategic actions within Campus Auga (2024–2027). Each selected project will receive €20,000 to support research activities during 2026, when the proposed work plan must be carried out.
The CIM holds the CIGUS distinction awarded by the Xunta de Galicia, recognizing the quality and impact of its research. Its activities are co-funded by the European Union through the 2021–2027 European Regional Development Fund (ERDF/FEDER) Programme.
