Out of all the natural hazards that occur in Greece, the two that are the most important to address are floods and earthquakes. This is so because floods are the most frequently occurring natural hazards in Greece while earthquakes are the most frequently occurring natural disaster in Greece.
Floods are the most dangerous in Greece because they occur the most frequently, making up over thirty-seven percent in frequency of natural hazards, the most commonly occurring hazard. Floods alone cost Greece the equivalent of 55 million American dollars in terms of Average Annual Loss by hazard.(1) Earthquakes are the second most commonly occurring natural hazard in Greece, making up about twenty-eight percent of natural hazards. Earthquakes also makes up more than half of all hazard related mortalities, as well over half of the economic issues caused by hazards in Greece. To put it into perspective, Greece spends an average of 5,509,110 American dollars in terms of Average Annual Loss. (2) Greece also has the highest seismicity of all European countries, as well as sixth in the world. Because these two hazards are the most frequent and most costly natural hazards that occur in Greece, those are the ones I feel should be considered priorities.
Floods in Greece not only occur from the ocean levels, but also commonly from river flooding. River floods occur in Greece from heavy rainfall which have been increasing in many parts of Greece. (3) Coastal flooding for Greece is also very common because Greece has over 9000 miles of coastline. (4) This kind of flooding in Greece is becoming much more common because it is caused partially by the rise in the levels in the Mediterranean Sea which is what surrounds the Greek islands. (5)
Earthquakes in Greece occur because of its location over a divergent plate boundary on the Aegean Sea plate. Because the northern part of the Aegean Plate and Eurasian plate move away from each other at their boundary, it is considered a divergent boundary. That movement causes constant seismic activity for Greece. (6) Volcanic eruptions also are the cause of earthquakes because they can be caused by an accumulation of gassy magma, which then cause the ground to open from emission of steam. The opening of the earth from these emissions of steam sometimes causes seismic activity from the force of it. (7)
To address the hazard of flooding, I would make sure to have a constant observational team monitoring sea and river levels, especially after there is a heavy rainfall or significant seismic activity near bodies of water. There would be emergency services on call in case of a flood that would not only broadcast warning messages to the people, but also work to get them out if they are trapped. To address the hazard of earthquakes in Greece, I would have a daily, twenty-four hour seismograph team that observe the seismic activity, especially near fault lines. As with flooding, I would also have a emergency team for both warning preemptively and then helping citizens during and after an earthquake.
The places where I would target help first for in Greece in terms of for flooding would be the coastal cities that are below sea level, so cities like Attica, Athens, and Zakynthos, Central/Western Greece, which are commonly affected by floods. (8) The parts of Greece that would need the most help because of their high risk of earthquakes are Athens, as well as eastern cities that are near the Aegean Sea Plate. (9)
After seeing all the high risk areas for both flooding and earthquakes in Greece, I would find an area as far away from the coastlines as possible to minimize building my house in a place where coastal flooding could reach it. I would also build in an area away from rivers because of the increasing frequency of river flooding, as well as an area that is above sea level so if there was river flooding nearby, it would not flow down to my house. I would also try to find a part of Greece that is a good distance from a fault line to minimize the severity of damage, if any, caused by earthquakes.
Sources:
Source 1 and 2: http://www.preventionweb.net/countries/grc/data/
Source 3: http://floodlist.com/europe/greece-floods-messinia-thermaikos-september-2016
Source 4: https://www.visitgreece.gr/en/greek_islandsSource
Source 5: https://www.climatechangepost.com/greece/coastal-floods/
Source 6: https://www.revolvy.com/topic/Divergent%20boundary&item_type=topic
Source 7: https://www.britannica.com/science/volcano
Source 8: http://floodlist.com/europe/greece-floods-zakynthos-november-2016
Source 9: https://watchers.news/2012/01/28/increasing-seismic-activities-in-aegean-sea-greece-with-tectonic-summary/
Saturday, May 20, 2017
Tuesday, April 25, 2017
Greece and Coastal Hazards
Greece is made up of about six thousand small islands divided into seven groups, though only two hundred and twenty seven of them are actually inhabited. With all these smaller islands, the country of Greece has over 16,000 kilometers, or 9,941 miles worth of coastline. (1) There are also over 1,200 beaches found on the Greek coastlines, which attract thousands of tourists annually, increasing the risk of danger with coastal hazards.
Greece also experiences coastal erosion because of the constant wave actions occurring the smaller islands. Coastal erosion alone is not the only issue as it is damaging the large ecosystems that reside in marine parts of Greece, as well as causing the people living in coastal cities to become displaced as it become worse. (4) There is also known cliff erosion in Greece, mostly in the eastern part of the North Aegean sea coast, as well as near the city of Alexandroupolis. The cliff erosion in this area has been found to cause deposition of sediment into the ocean and coast. (5)
In terms of coastal and cliff erosion, Greece unfortunately does not have much in the form of coordinated laws or mitigation strategies put into place because it is caused by a natural processes, only encouraging those living in Greece to opt to move more inland instead. If anything, the Ministry of the Environment, Physical Planning and Public Works, the Ministry of Mercantile Marine and the Ministry of Economy and Finance fund coastal projects and are in charge of spatial planning for residential and commercial development. (6)
Greece luckily does have mitigation strategies for coastal flooding, relying heavily on the Water Framework Directive, and on its assessment and management of flood risks. They have implemented a number of measure such as land usage regulations, insurance, emergency measures, and damage assessment. They have also developed flood risk and hazard maps to help plan potential new developments accordingly, as well as emergency routes. There are altimeters in place that calculate ocean levels that serve as warnings for the emergency services. (7)
Sources:
Image Source 1: http://www.greek-islands.us/map-greece/
Image Source 2: http://www.wikiwand.com/en/Aegean_Islands
Source 1: http://www.visitgreece.gr/en/greek_islandsSource
Source 2: http://www.climatechangepost.com/greece/coastal-floods/
Source
3: https://ec.europa.eu/maritimeaffairs/sites/maritimeaffairs/files/docs/body/greece_climate_change_en.pdf
Source 4: http://coastalerosionf.blogspot.com/2010/11/coastal-erosion-of-greece.html?m=1
Source 5: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/16849142/
Source 6: https://ec.europa.eu/maritimeaffairs/sites/maritimeaffairs/files/docs/body/greece_climate_change_en.pdf
Source 7: http://ec.europa.eu/ourcoast/print.cfm?articleID=344
One of coastal hazard in risk of occurring in Greece is coastal floods because of the rising sea levels caused by climate change. The Mediterranean Sea in particular has been rising at a rate of 1.2-1.5 millimeters a year before 1960 then lowering to 1.3 millimeters a year after that. However the newest study from satellite altimetry showed the average could rise up to 5 millimeters per decade. (2) However even that being said, the risk is not as high as one would expect because Greece's tidal ranges are really quite small given the region of the world it is in. The reason this could be an issue however is that if coastal flooding were to occur, it would affect the 80% of Greece's industrial activities that occur on the coasts and 90% of touristic and recreational activities. (3)
Greece also experiences coastal erosion because of the constant wave actions occurring the smaller islands. Coastal erosion alone is not the only issue as it is damaging the large ecosystems that reside in marine parts of Greece, as well as causing the people living in coastal cities to become displaced as it become worse. (4) There is also known cliff erosion in Greece, mostly in the eastern part of the North Aegean sea coast, as well as near the city of Alexandroupolis. The cliff erosion in this area has been found to cause deposition of sediment into the ocean and coast. (5)
In terms of coastal and cliff erosion, Greece unfortunately does not have much in the form of coordinated laws or mitigation strategies put into place because it is caused by a natural processes, only encouraging those living in Greece to opt to move more inland instead. If anything, the Ministry of the Environment, Physical Planning and Public Works, the Ministry of Mercantile Marine and the Ministry of Economy and Finance fund coastal projects and are in charge of spatial planning for residential and commercial development. (6)
Greece luckily does have mitigation strategies for coastal flooding, relying heavily on the Water Framework Directive, and on its assessment and management of flood risks. They have implemented a number of measure such as land usage regulations, insurance, emergency measures, and damage assessment. They have also developed flood risk and hazard maps to help plan potential new developments accordingly, as well as emergency routes. There are altimeters in place that calculate ocean levels that serve as warnings for the emergency services. (7)
Sources:
Image Source 1: http://www.greek-islands.us/map-greece/
Image Source 2: http://www.wikiwand.com/en/Aegean_Islands
Source 1: http://www.visitgreece.gr/en/greek_islandsSource
Source 2: http://www.climatechangepost.com/greece/coastal-floods/
Source
3: https://ec.europa.eu/maritimeaffairs/sites/maritimeaffairs/files/docs/body/greece_climate_change_en.pdf
Source 4: http://coastalerosionf.blogspot.com/2010/11/coastal-erosion-of-greece.html?m=1
Source 5: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/16849142/
Source 6: https://ec.europa.eu/maritimeaffairs/sites/maritimeaffairs/files/docs/body/greece_climate_change_en.pdf
Source 7: http://ec.europa.eu/ourcoast/print.cfm?articleID=344
Thursday, April 6, 2017
Greece: Extreme Weather
I have decided to stick with blogging with my usual country of Greece because I have truly been enjoying learning about this country. Along with events like earthquakes and volcanoes, Greece also has the risk over extreme weather hazards such as tornadoes, storms, heat waves, etcetera. This week, the extreme weather event I have chosen for Greece is the tornado.
A tornado is defined as "a violent rotating column of air pendant from cumulonimbus cloud and nearly always observable as a funnel cloud or tuba" (1) Though tornadoes are often associated as happening primarily in the Mid West region of the United States, they also occur in Greece, in smaller frequency.
(Image 1)
As shown in the image above, tornadoes in Greece tend to stick around the coasts, many of which occurring in the Greek island of Crete. The image also shows the waterspout activity in Greece. Waterspouts are "a funnel-shaped or tubular portion of a cloud over the ocean or other body of water that, laden with mist and spray, resembles a solid column of water reaching upward to the cloud from which it hangs" (2) Waterspouts often occur in Greece because it is surrounded by water almost completely. In the twentieth century, there were only thirty three occurrences of tornadoes/waterspouts, none of which were too destructive or deadly. (3) However that being said, Greece has also experienced tornadoes in the twenty first century, some of which having caused damage and destruction around some cities. For example, there was a tornado that tore through the city of Xanthi in Greece in June of 2016. It destroyed crops and breeding units, as well as swept as cars and knocked trees into the roads. (4)
Sources:
Image 2 and 3: http://greece.greekreporter.com/2016/06/14/extreme-weather-destructive-tornado-blows-through-xanthi-pics/
Friday, March 17, 2017
Greece and Mass Wasting
Mass Wasting is not a term is widely known or used, however the concept of it is. Mass wasting is "the movement of a large mass of rock or soil and debris downwards due to the pull of gravity" (1) In the broad hazard of mass wasting, there are multiple kinds of them that occur in nature. The names of them are rockslide, rockfall, debris flow, earthflow, solifluction, mudflow, debris avalanche, creep, and slump (2). With all those different kinds of mass wasting, it is bound to occur in many places, including Greece.
Mass Wasting is not a hugely dangerous natural hazard for Greece however it is starting to become more frequent in the form of landslides. This is because the country has seen an influx of urbanization and development on areas that are already prone to mass wasting. For example, the in the thirty seven year period between 1949 and 1986, Greece saw about 800 instances of mass wasting, specifically in landslides. (3) On top of that, in the last ten years, Greece has experienced a 25% increase in the frequency of mass wasting, especially in the more heavily touristed areas of the country. This is so because there is increased development to continue the economic input of tourism in the country. (4) However a rise in deforestation, precipitation, and land erosion has made some areas of Greece more susceptible to other kinds of mass wasting, especially mudflow and earthflow.
Just as for other natural hazards, Greece has put a mitigation system in place in the case of mass wasting in the country. For example, there is the Institute of Geology and Mineral Exploration (IGME) that is Greece main geoscientific advisor for the Greek government, as well as geological survey for the country, which includes the Landslide Consultancy Project. (5) This project database collects data of mass wasting in terms of location, geographic details, mass wasting data, and mass wasting process. The IGME reports to the government about the occurrence of mass wasting so they can begin to relay the message to citizens. There are special monitoring systems in place for the most vulnerable areas, such as above highways and villages, that are functioning to disseminate warnings to. (6)
Sources:
Source 1: http://study.com/academy/lesson/mass-wasting-definition-types-causes-processes.html
Source 2: https://www.cliffsnotes.com/study-guides/geology/mass-wasting/types-of-mass-wasting
Source 3 & 4: http://www.climatechangepost.com/greece/avalanches-and-landslides/
Source 5: http://h05-prod-vm15.jrc.it/Library/Themes/Landslides/Meeting102007/Greece_Landslides.pdf
Source 6: www.preventionweb,net/files/30908_greeceyokohamareport.pdf
Mass Wasting is not a hugely dangerous natural hazard for Greece however it is starting to become more frequent in the form of landslides. This is because the country has seen an influx of urbanization and development on areas that are already prone to mass wasting. For example, the in the thirty seven year period between 1949 and 1986, Greece saw about 800 instances of mass wasting, specifically in landslides. (3) On top of that, in the last ten years, Greece has experienced a 25% increase in the frequency of mass wasting, especially in the more heavily touristed areas of the country. This is so because there is increased development to continue the economic input of tourism in the country. (4) However a rise in deforestation, precipitation, and land erosion has made some areas of Greece more susceptible to other kinds of mass wasting, especially mudflow and earthflow.
Just as for other natural hazards, Greece has put a mitigation system in place in the case of mass wasting in the country. For example, there is the Institute of Geology and Mineral Exploration (IGME) that is Greece main geoscientific advisor for the Greek government, as well as geological survey for the country, which includes the Landslide Consultancy Project. (5) This project database collects data of mass wasting in terms of location, geographic details, mass wasting data, and mass wasting process. The IGME reports to the government about the occurrence of mass wasting so they can begin to relay the message to citizens. There are special monitoring systems in place for the most vulnerable areas, such as above highways and villages, that are functioning to disseminate warnings to. (6)
Sources:
Source 1: http://study.com/academy/lesson/mass-wasting-definition-types-causes-processes.html
Source 2: https://www.cliffsnotes.com/study-guides/geology/mass-wasting/types-of-mass-wasting
Source 3 & 4: http://www.climatechangepost.com/greece/avalanches-and-landslides/
Source 5: http://h05-prod-vm15.jrc.it/Library/Themes/Landslides/Meeting102007/Greece_Landslides.pdf
Source 6: www.preventionweb,net/files/30908_greeceyokohamareport.pdf
Friday, February 24, 2017
Greece and Volcanoes
Around the smaller islands that make up Greece, there are ten different volcanoes, both active and extinct. The relatively high number of volcanoes around Greece is caused by the large volcanic arch surrounding it, called the Hellenic Arc. The most well-known active volcanoes in Greece are the Santorini Volcano, the Nisyros Volcano, the Methana Volcano, and the Milos Volcano. (1) However even though these volcanoes are considered active, there has not been a volcanic eruption in Greece was the 1950 eruption of the Santorini Volcano. Greece has a long history of natural disasters caused by volcanoes, the earliest instance of a volcanic eruption there recorded as early as 1646 BCE in Thera, which is present day Santorini. (2) The force of the eruption is hypothesized to be about the same as 40 atomic bombs, or 100 times stronger than the eruption in Pompeii. This eruption itself was completely devastating in terms of geographic destruction and in mortality. Not only did this eruption blow out the interior portion of the Santorini island, it also killed 20,000 people and buried the settle completely. (3)
A volcano itself is "a vent in the crust of the Earth... from which issue eruptions of molten rock, hot rock fragments, and hot gases." (4) The geology of a volcanic eruption can made up of an accumulation of gassy magma, causing emissions of steams from opening in the ground. However volcanic eruptions may also cause earthquakes and a rise of magma, be it either a thin fluid lava or even shooting up in the air like a fountain. (5) The size of destruction and loss of life can vary from virtually none at all to complete devastation, depending on the actual strength of it. As stated above, the last time there was a volcanic eruption was in 1950 so volcanic activity in Greece is not as frequent as other natural disasters, regardless of its number of active volcanoes.
Given how many volcanoes are in such close proximity to Greece, the country has implemented a warning system as it has for earthquakes. In the case of Greece, there is a geospatial warning system for several active volcanoes such as Nisyros, established by Copernicus, previously known as the Global Monitoring for Environment and Security. The objective of it is to "achieve early warning of volcanic activities by monitoring measurable changes in geophysical and geochemical parameters." (6) It established correlations and runs 2D and 3D simulations and integrates its results to improve the country's ability to warn hazards and potential eruptions. They have also created an interactive multimedia tool available for citizens through CDs and the internet which include warnings risks and emergency plans for eruptions.
Sources:
Image 1: http://www.historymuseum.ca/cmc/exhibitions/civil/greece/images/gr0004b.jpg
Source 1: http://www.greeka.com/greece-holiday/nature/volcanoes/
Source 2 and 3: http://www.historymuseum.ca/cmc/exhibitions/civil/greece/gr1040e.shtml
Source 4 and 5: https://www.britannica.com/science/volcano
Source 6: http://www.copernicus.eu/projects/geowarn
A volcano itself is "a vent in the crust of the Earth... from which issue eruptions of molten rock, hot rock fragments, and hot gases." (4) The geology of a volcanic eruption can made up of an accumulation of gassy magma, causing emissions of steams from opening in the ground. However volcanic eruptions may also cause earthquakes and a rise of magma, be it either a thin fluid lava or even shooting up in the air like a fountain. (5) The size of destruction and loss of life can vary from virtually none at all to complete devastation, depending on the actual strength of it. As stated above, the last time there was a volcanic eruption was in 1950 so volcanic activity in Greece is not as frequent as other natural disasters, regardless of its number of active volcanoes.
Given how many volcanoes are in such close proximity to Greece, the country has implemented a warning system as it has for earthquakes. In the case of Greece, there is a geospatial warning system for several active volcanoes such as Nisyros, established by Copernicus, previously known as the Global Monitoring for Environment and Security. The objective of it is to "achieve early warning of volcanic activities by monitoring measurable changes in geophysical and geochemical parameters." (6) It established correlations and runs 2D and 3D simulations and integrates its results to improve the country's ability to warn hazards and potential eruptions. They have also created an interactive multimedia tool available for citizens through CDs and the internet which include warnings risks and emergency plans for eruptions.
Sources:
Image 1: http://www.historymuseum.ca/cmc/exhibitions/civil/greece/images/gr0004b.jpg
Source 1: http://www.greeka.com/greece-holiday/nature/volcanoes/
Source 2 and 3: http://www.historymuseum.ca/cmc/exhibitions/civil/greece/gr1040e.shtml
Source 4 and 5: https://www.britannica.com/science/volcano
Source 6: http://www.copernicus.eu/projects/geowarn
Friday, February 10, 2017
Greece and Earthquakes
Of all natural disasters, the second most commonly occurring one in Greece are earthquakes. However that being said, earthquakes actually are the number one natural disaster in terms of their mortality rate. Furthermore, earthquakes in Greece are also the natural disaster that cause the highest percentage of economic by a substantial margin. (1) In the past 365 days alone, Greece has experienced 116 earthquakes, the largest one being a 5.5 magnitude in Kalpaki. (2)
To preface, seismicity is defined as "the worldwide distribution of earthquakes in space, time, and magnitude... the measure of the frequency of earthquakes in a region." (3) Every region of the earth has its own specified and measured seismicity, monitors in put in place to track seismic activity. Greece's seismicity is one of the most active among the regions of the world, actually ranking as the sixth most active region globally, and even considered the most seismically active part of Europe. (4) Even before Greece's seismic activity was scientifically monitored and measured, the country had been notorious for its deadly earthquakes, even being recorded by ancient accounts as far back at 550 BCE.
Because earthquakes have been so prevalent in Greece for centuries, the country has put into place different plans for how people can be safe in the event of one. For example, the country has two main axes of antiseismic policy which are "the pre-earthquake of measures of prevention, preparedness, and awareness" as well as "the measures after the occurrence of an earthquake for the effective treatment and management of emergencies. (5) There are two different services that have been made to implement these axes which are the Organization for Antiseismic Planning and Protection, which focuses on the pre-measures, and the The Earthquake Rehabilitation Service for after. The organizations' goals are to gather relevant scientific seismic information, to establish regular seismic monitoring, and to promote social awareness of seismic risks through public awareness, educational programs, and training workshops. On a literal level, these organizations have established a requirement for an enhancement in "seismic capacity of the constructed environment," meaning buildings and houses. (6)
Sources:
To preface, seismicity is defined as "the worldwide distribution of earthquakes in space, time, and magnitude... the measure of the frequency of earthquakes in a region." (3) Every region of the earth has its own specified and measured seismicity, monitors in put in place to track seismic activity. Greece's seismicity is one of the most active among the regions of the world, actually ranking as the sixth most active region globally, and even considered the most seismically active part of Europe. (4) Even before Greece's seismic activity was scientifically monitored and measured, the country had been notorious for its deadly earthquakes, even being recorded by ancient accounts as far back at 550 BCE.
Because earthquakes have been so prevalent in Greece for centuries, the country has put into place different plans for how people can be safe in the event of one. For example, the country has two main axes of antiseismic policy which are "the pre-earthquake of measures of prevention, preparedness, and awareness" as well as "the measures after the occurrence of an earthquake for the effective treatment and management of emergencies. (5) There are two different services that have been made to implement these axes which are the Organization for Antiseismic Planning and Protection, which focuses on the pre-measures, and the The Earthquake Rehabilitation Service for after. The organizations' goals are to gather relevant scientific seismic information, to establish regular seismic monitoring, and to promote social awareness of seismic risks through public awareness, educational programs, and training workshops. On a literal level, these organizations have established a requirement for an enhancement in "seismic capacity of the constructed environment," meaning buildings and houses. (6)
Sources:
- Source 2: earthquaketrack.com/p/greece/recent
- Source 4:
Friday, February 3, 2017
Greece Plate Boundaries
Greece is located in an area of the world where there are multiple plate boundaries, sitting in between Europe and Asia. Because Greece's setting, it sits on the Aegean Sea Plate, however this small plate, which can also be called the Hellenic Plate, is near both the Eurasian Plate and the African Plate. That being said, Greece is near the plate boundaries of both the Eurasian Plate and the African Plate. (Image below)
The southern part of the Aegean Plate, near Crete, is considered a subduction zone because the African Plate pushes beneath is. (1) As a refresher, a subduction zone is a "place where two lithospheric plates come together, one riding over the other." (2) In the case of Greece, the southern part of the Aegean Plate 'rides over' the northern part of the African Plate. Because of this motion, there are many shallow and normal earthquakes along this southern Aegean plate boundary, as well as having caused the formation of the Hellenic Arc which is made up of both active and inactive volcanoes. (3) For example, the Santorini Volcano, one of the most active ones, last erupting in 1950.
At the north part of the Aegean Plate is the Eurasian Plate, there is a divergent boundary, which is when "two tectonic plates that are moving away from each other" and this creates a space that is filled with new crustal material sourced from molten magma that forms below. (4) This kind of seismic activity not only causes earthquakes but also caused the formation of the Gulf of Corinth. (5)
Sources:
Friday, January 27, 2017
Hazards, Disasters, and Catastrophes
It is important to note beforehand that events such as earthquakes and tornadoes are actually natural processes and only are labeled as hazards because humans or property are in danger. That being said, natural hazards are natural events that pose a potential risk to either properties or humans. Under that umbrella of natural hazards there are both disasters and catastrophes. Specifically, a disaster is a natural hazard that happens over a certain span of time in a certain area. Furthermore the event must meet one of these criteria to be considered a disaster: kill ten or more people, affected 100 or more people, cause a declaration of a state of emergency, or cause a request of international assistance. On the other hand, a catastrophe is a huge disaster that called for large spending and time to recover from it.
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