Responsable of the Joaquín Gómez de Llarena Laboratory (Geo-Q Research Centre, Sociedad de Ciencias Aranzadi)
Editor of the CKQ (Estudios de Cuaternario/ Kuaternario Ikasketak/ Quaternary Studies) Journal, ISSN 2174-3703, published by the Sociedad de Ciencias Aranzadi
ACADEMIC DEGREES
PhD in Geology, University of Exeter (UK), 1986. Supervisor: Professor John W. Murray.
Graduate in Geology, University of the Basque Country (E), 1983. Supervisor: Professor Marcos A. Lamolda.
Degree in Biology: Environmental Geology (2000-2002, 2003-2006), Geology (1988-1999).
UPV/EHU Master in Quaternary: Environmental Changes and Human Fingerprint: Introduction to the Quaternary (Q, 2009-Present).
UPV/EHU Master in Biodiversity, Performing and Management of Ecosystems: Disturbance and pollution of coastal ecosystems; Environmental restoration of dunes and marshes (BEZ, 2007-Present).
UPV/EHU Master in Environmental Pollution and Toxicology: Pollution in estuaries: past, present and future (CTA, 2006-2009).
European Master in Marine Environment and Resources: Pollution in estuaries: past, present and future (MER, 2006-2009).
RESEARCH TOPICS
Recent geology of the coastal area: historical transformation, modern characteristics and environmental regeneration. As a consequence of the great variety of activities (urban, industrial and services) located on the coastal area, implementation of complex management plans is becoming compulsory. Historically this area has experienced an intense human pressure that provoked its continuous physical destruction and a deep chemical and biological transformation. The implementation of environmental conservation and regeneration schemes on particular ecosystems makes necessary to carry out geological studies in order to evaluate their modern characteristics, their historical alteration processes, and the feasibility of environmental improvement proposals.
Quaternary environmental evolution of coastal ecosystems: multiproxy analysis of the sedimentary record. As a result of the frequent, rapid and intense climatic changes that characterize the Quaternary period, coastal environments have experienced dramatic variations during the last two million years. Those sediments that have accumulated on these environments contain a very complete record of the processes and events that occurred during this time interval. The high-resolution multiproxy study of this sedimentary record allows to reconstruct the past features, to understand the present conditions, and to deduce the possible future environmental variability.
Despite an increase in the sea-level rise rate is potencially one of the most devastating impacts of the future climate change on the coastal areas, our knowledge of the climate-ocean relationship at decadal scale is very poor. Climate change influences the coastline at decadal and centennial scales, and these variations of the relative sea level are registered in the coastal sedimentary sequences. The combined study of historical records and high resolution geological reconstructions of the relative sea level is a powerful tool to fill this gap.
RESEARCH PROJECTS
Environmental records of global change: recent changes reconstruction (<100 years) in sea level using coastal sediments, Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (CONACyT) of Mexico, 2012-2015, PL: Ana Carolina Ruiz Fernández (UNAM, MEX).
Formation and Research Unit in Quaternary: Environmental Changes and Human Fingerprint (UFI11/09), University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, 2012-2014, PL: Alejandro Cearreta.
K-EGOKITZEN II: Climate Change and Adaptation (Coastal Environment), Strategic Research in the framework of the Etortek Programme, Basque Government, 2010-2012, PL: Alejandro Cearreta.
TANYA: Natural and anthropogenic transformation of saltmarshes on the Cantabrian coast: response to climate change, Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, 2010-2012, PL: Alejandro Cearreta.
Assessing palaeoenvironmental proxies in the Iberian coast: marsh foraminifera as sea-level indicators, Spanish-Portuguese Integrated Actions, Spanish Ministry of Education and Science, 2008-2009, PL: Alejandro Cearreta.
HAREA: Research Group on Coastal Geology, Basque Government, 2007-2009/ 2010-2012, PL: Alejandro Cearreta.
Paleoenvironmental evolution of the Nazaré coastal plain since the Lateglacial (PaleoNaz), Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology, 2007-2009, PL: Conceiçao Freitas (University of Lisbon, P).
Historical evolution of the Urdaibai marshes: agricultural occupation, environmental regeneration and response to climatic change, Basque Government-UNESCO Professorship, 2007-2008, PL: Alejandro Cearreta.
MicroDyn: Microecology and littoral Dynamics: definition of multi-proxies applicable to Quaternary paleogeographical and paleoclimatic reconstructions, Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology, 2005-2007, PL: Francisco Fatela (University of Lisbon, P).
Sedimentary processes on the Urdaibai lower estuary: from the estuary origin to the environmental regeneration of the estuary mouth, Basque Government-UNESCO Professorship, 2005-2006, PL: Alejandro Cearreta.
WORKS ON CONTRACT
Definition of the Basque Geodiversity Strategy and Geological Sites, TECNA S.L., 2011-2012, PL: Miren Mendia (UPV/EHU).
Geological evaluation of the Environmental Impact Assessment of the Sand Extraction Project in the North sector of the Bilbao Port Zone II, Muskiz City Council, 2011, PL: Alejandro Cearreta.
Assessment on the natural and cultural heritage of the Uribe Kosta-Butron (Biscay) area, Basque Government, 2010, PL: Alejandro Cearreta.
Ecological study of the coastal environment around the Punta Lucero outfall. Campaign 2009, Petronor, 2009, PL: José M. Gorostiaga (UPV/EHU).
Recent sea-level variations on the Basque coast in the framework of the K-Egokitzen/Climate Change: Impacts and Adaptation (Etortek project), Ihobe SA (Public Society for Environmental Management), 2009, PL: Alejandro Cearreta.
Geological study of the environment surrounding the Praileaitz cave, Aranzadi Institute for Project Development, 2007, PL: Arantza Aranburu (UPV/EHU).
Geological study of the Oka estuary sector afected by the Gernika new road (Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve), Basoinsa SL environmental engineering , 2006, PL: Alejandro Cearreta.
Morphodynamical follow-up of the Oka estuary mouth (Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve), Basque Government, 2005-2006, PL: Alejandro Cearreta.
PUBLICATIONS
Irabien, M.J.; Cearreta, A. & Urteaga, M. (in press). Historical signature of Roman mining activities in the Bidasoa estuary (Basque Country, northern Spain): an integrated micropalaeontological, geochemical and archaeological approach. Journal of Archaeological Science.
Monge-Ganuzas, M., Cearreta, A. & Evans, G. (in press). Morphodynamic consequences of dredging/dumping activities along the lower Oka estuary (Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve, southeastern Bay of Biscay, Spain). Ocean and Coastal Management.
Leorri, E.; Cearreta, A.; García-Artola, A.; Irabien, M.J. & Blake, W.H. (in press). Relative sea-level rise in the Basque coast (N Spain): Not simply direct impact on the coastal area. Ocean and Coastal Management.
Alday, M.; Cearreta, A.; Freitas, M.C. & Andrade, C. (in press). Modern and Late Holocene foraminiferal record of restricted environmental conditions in the Albufeira lagoon, SW Portugal. Geologica Acta.
Cearreta, A.; García-Artola, A.; Leorri, E.; Irabien, M.J. & Masque, P. (in press). Recent environmental evolution of regenerated salt marshes in the southern Bay of Biscay: anthropogenic evidences in their sedimentary record. Journal of Marine Systems.
Cearreta, A., García-Artola, A. & Leorri, E. (2011). Las marismas de la Ría de Plentzia (Bizkaia)como archivos de la historia local y global. Lankidetzan Bilduma de Eusko Ikaskuntza, 57, 283-298.
García-Artola, A.; Cearreta, A. & Leorri, E. (2011). Cambios en el nivel marino y transformación ambiental del estuario de la Reserva de la Biosfera de Urdaibai (País Vasco, España) durante el Holoceno y Antropoceno. Boletín de la Real Sociedad Española de Historia Natural, Sec. Geología, 105, 45-51.
García-Artola, A.; Cearreta, A.; Leorri, E. & Irabien, M.J. (2011). Regeneración ambiental de marismas a partir de ocupaciones antrópicas de zonas costeras: interés de su estudio en el escenario actual de ascenso marino. Geogaceta, 50, 161-164.
Leorri, E.; Mulligan, R.; Mallinson, D. & Cearreta, A. (2011). Sea-level rise and local tidal range changes in coastal embayments: an added complexity in developing reliable sea-level index points. Journal of Integrated Coastal Zone, 11, 307-314.
Monge-Ganuzas, M.; Cearreta, A.; Evans, G.; Leorri, E.; Irabien M.J.; García-Artola, A. & Iriarte, E. (2011). Dinámica sedimentaria actual en el estuario del Oka. In: Onaindia, M; Ibabe, A. & Unzueta, J. (eds.), Guía científica de Urdaibai, 407-427, Cátedra UNESCO sobre Desarrollo Sostenible y Educación Ambiental de la UPV/EHU.
Leorri, E.; Fatela, F.; Cearreta, A.; Moreno, J.; Antunes, C. & Drago, T. (2011). Assessing the performance of a foraminifera-based transfer function to estimate sea-level changes in northern Portugal. Quaternary Research, 75, 278-287.
Leorri, E.; Gehrels, W.R.; Horton, B.P.; Fatela, F. & Cearreta, A. (2010). Distribution of foraminifera in salt marshes along the Atlantic coast of SW Europe: Tools to reconstruct past sea-level variations. Quaternary International, 221, 104-115.
Leorri, E.; Cearreta, A.; Corbett, R.; Blake, W.; Fatela, F.; Gehrels, R. & Irabien, M.J. (2010). Identification of suitable areas for high-resolution sea-level studies in SW Europe using commonly applied 210Pb models. Geogaceta, 48, 35-38.
Leorri, E.; Fatela, F.; Moreno, J.; Antunes, C.; Cearreta, A.; Freitas, M. & Andrade, C. (2009). Intertidal foraminifera in the Mira estuary, SW Portugal, and their use as sea-level proxies. Geogaceta, 46, 71-74.
Leorri, E. & Cearreta, A. (2009). Anthropocene versus Holocene relative sea-level rise rates in the southern Bay of Biscay. Geogaceta, 46, 127-130.
Leorri, E. & Cearreta, A. (2009). Recent sea-level changes in the southern Bay of Biscay: transfer fuction reconstructions from salt-marshes compared to instrumental data. Scientia Marina, 73, 287-296.
Cearreta, A. & Mateu, G. (2009). La colección micropaleontológica de Guillem Colom dedicada a los foraminíferos recientes y cuaternarios del Mar Balear. In: Mateu, G. (coord.), La Obra Científica de Guillermo Colom Casasnovas (1900-1993), Instituto Español de Oceanografía-Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, vol. 2, 407-462.
Leorri, E. & Cearreta, A. (2009). Quantitative assessment of the salinity gradient within the estuarine systems in the southern Bay of Biscay using benthic foraminifera. Continental Shelf Research, 29, 1226-1239.
Leorri, E. & Cearreta, A. (2009). El registro geológico de la transformación ambiental de la Ría de Bilbao durante el Holoceno y el Antropoceno. Munibe (supplement), 26, 1-188.
Ríos, J.; Iriarte, E.; Garate, D.; Cearreta, A. & Iriarte, M.J. (2008). The Mendieta site (Sopelana, Biscay province, northern Spain): Palaeoenvironment and formation processes of a Lower Palaeolithic open-air archaeological deposit. Comptes Rendus Paleovol, 7, 453-462.
Leorri, E.; Cearreta, A. & Horton, B.P. (2008). A foraminifera-based transfer function as a tool for sea-level reconstructions in the southern Bay of Biscay. Geobios, 41, 787-797.
Vicente, I.; Leorri, E.; Cearreta, A.; Gehrels, R. & Horton, B. (2008). Salt marsh response to recent sea-level rise acceleration in the southern Bay of Biscay. Geo-Temas, 10, 659-662.
Cuevas, N.; Cearreta, A. & Leorri, E. (2008). Environmental impact provoked by Roman mining activities (2000 years BP) on the coastal area of the Bay of Biscay. Geo-Temas, 10, 607-610.
Cearreta, A.; Leorri, E.; Iriondo, I.; González, M.J. & Aristondo, O. (2008). Quantitative tools for environmental reconstructions of the recent estuarine infill using benthic foraminifera. Geogaceta, 45, 67-70.
Irabien, M.J.; Cearreta, A.; Leorri, E.; Gómez, J. & Viguri, J. (2008). A 130-year record of pollution in the Suances estuary (southern Bay of Biscay): implications for environmental management. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 56, 1719-1727.
Monge-Ganuzas, M.; Cearreta, A. & Iriarte, E. (2008). Consequences of estuarine sand dredging and dumping on the Urdaibai Reserve of the Biosphere (Bay of Biscay): the case of the “Mundaka left wave”. Journal of Iberian Geology, 34, 215-234.
Cearreta, A.; Alday, M; Irabien, M.J.; Etxebarria, N. & Soto, J. (2008). Modern conditions and recent environmental development of the Muskiz estuary: historical disturbance by the largest oil refinery of Spain. Journal of Iberian Geology, 34, 191-213.
Cearreta, A. & Evans, G. (Guest Editors, 2008). Special Issue about the Human Impact on the Coastline. Journal of Iberian Geology, 34, 162 pp.
Leorri, E.; Cearreta, A.; Irabien, M.J. & Yusta, I. (2008). Geochemical and microfaunal proxies to assess environmental quality conditions during the recovery process of a heavily polluted estuary: the Bilbao estuary case (N. Spain). Science of the Total Environment, 396, 12-27.
Leorri, E.; Horton, B. & Cearreta, A. (2008). Development of a foraminifera-based transfer function in the Basque marshes, N Spain: implications for sea-level studies in the Bay of Biscay. Marine Geology, 251, 60-74.
Cearreta, A.; Alday, M.; Freitas, M.C. & Andrade, C. (2007). Postglacial foraminifera and paleoenvironments of the Melides lagoon (SW Portugal): towards a regional model of coastal evolution. Journal of Foraminiferal Research, 37, 125-135.
Cearreta, A.; Monge-Ganuzas, M. & Iriarte, E. (2007). Proyecto de regeneración dunar en Laida (Reserva de la Biosfera de Urdaibai): seguimiento y evaluación geológica. Forum de Sostenibilidad-Cátedra Unesco, 1, 83-93.
Alday, M.; Cearreta, A.; Cachão, M.; Freitas, M.C.; Andrade, C. & Gama, C. (2006). Micropalaeontological record of Holocene estuarine and marine stages in the Corgo do Porto Rivulet (Mira River, SW Portugal). Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 66, 532-543.
Cearreta, A.; Leorri, E. & Santos, L. (2006). The stratigraphic significance of reworked Quaternary microfossils in the Holocene of the Bilbao estuary (northern Spain). Revista Española de Micropaleontología, 38, 207-217.
Monge-Ganuzas, M.; Iriarte, E. & Cearreta, A. (2006). Análisis sedimentario y evolución holocena del estuario superior del Oka en el área de Portuzarra (Gernika-Lumo, Bizkaia). Illunzar, 6, 39-55.
Cearreta, A.; Monge-Ganuzas, M. & Iriarte, E. (2006). Análisis micropaleontológico (foraminíferos) y evolución ambiental holocena del estuario superior del Oka (área de Portuzarra, Gernika-Lumo). Illunzar, 6, 57-68.
Cearreta, A. (2006). La colección micropaleontológica de Guillem Colom dedicada al margen continental noribérico: trabajos para el Instituto Español de Oceanografía en el litoral cantábrico y gallego (1941-1963). In: Mateu, G. (coord.), La Obra Científica de Guillermo Colom Casasnovas (1900-1993), Instituto Español de Oceanografía-Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia, vol. 1, 429-455.
PhD THESIS SUPERVISED
Economic and environmental assessment of the sea-level rise in the Basque coast under different scenarios obtained from the Quaternary geological record, Elisa Sáinz de Murieta, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, scheduled 2013.
Geological record of recent environmental impact in the Basque Country salt marshes: agricultural occupation, environmental regeneration and response to climate change, Ane García Artola, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, scheduled 2012.
Temporal evolution of the sedimentary dynamics in the Oka lower estuary (Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve): a geological tool for Integrated Coastal Zone Management, Manuel R. Monge Ganuzas, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, december 2008.
Holocene micropalaeontological record of the natural and anthropogenic environmental transformation of the Iberian Atlantic coast, María Alday Beato, Universidad del País Vasco/EHU, december 2004.
Environmental transformation of the Bilbao estuary during the Holocene: micropalaeontological record of natural and anthropogenic processes, Eduardo Leorri Soriano, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, november 2003.
MSc THESIS SUPERVISED
Environmental evolution of the Basque estuaries (Urdaibai and Deba) during the Holocene as a consequence of sea-level rise, Sergio Hernández Martín, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, scheduled september 2012.
Microfaunistical and geochemical indicators of the environmental regeneration process in the Bilbao estuary (1997-2012), Nereo Cuesta Abril, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, scheduled september 2012.
Palaeonvironmental reconstruction of the Holocene sedimentary sequence in the Pasajes estuary (Basque Country, Spain): terrestrial and marine microfossils as indicators, Iván Absalón Pérez Herrera, University of Sonora (Mexico), scheduled september 2012.
Environmental reconstruction of the geological record in the Urdaibai salt marshes: sea-level changes, Elisa Sainz de Murieta, Universidad del País Vasco/EHU, Septiembre 2010.
Holocene sedimentary infilling of the Zarautz coastal depression: response to eustatic sea-level rise, Jone Mendicoa Larrauri, Universidad del País Vasco/EHU, Septiembre 2010.
Recent geological record in the Urdaibai salt marshes: response to climate change, Ane García Artola, University of the Basque Country, September 2009.
Environmental recovery monitoring of the Bilbao estuary: geological evidences, Haizea Quintas Mendizabal, University of the Basque Country, September 2009.
Palaeoenvironmental evolution of the Moulay Bou Salham lagoon (Morocco) during the Holocene, Izaskun García Peregrina, University of the Basque Country, September 2009.
Geological proxies of the environmental impact caused by Roman mining activities (2000 yr cal BP) in the Txingudi estuary, Nagore Cuevas Zuazo, University of the Basque Country, September 2008.
Geological record of recent anthropogenic impact on the Urdaibai estuary marshes, Itxaso Vicente Martínez, University of the Basque Country, September 2008.
BSc THESIS SUPERVISED
Environmental evolution of the upper Oka estuary (Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve) during the Holocene as a consequence of sea-level rise, Gonzalo Solar Martínez, University of the Basque Country, November 2007.
