Palynological study of Holocene sediments from Lake Doirani in northern Greece

A palynological investigation was conducted on two cores with Holocene sediments collected from the northeastern littoral part of the border Lake Doirani in northern Greece. The radiocarbon dates indicated that the analyzed sediments accumulated during the last 5000 yrs. The pollen-stratigraphic record revealed the environmental changes in the catchment area, starting from a natural undisturbed landscape to one modified by increasing anthropogenic influences. The tree vegetation dominated by Quercus woods in the lowlands and byPinus, Abies, and Fagus at higher altitudes, lasted for the period 2900 - 830 cal. B.C. Subsequently it was replaced by xerothermic herb and tree vegetation as a result of intensive human activity - and farming and stock-breeding. The accumulation of sediments with more sand and gravel in historical time was the result of increased erosion.     

Structural identification of Egnatia Odos bridges based on ambient and earthquake induced vibrations

The dynamic characteristics of two representative R/C bridges on Egnatia Odos motorway in Greece are estimated based on low amplitude ambient and earthquake-induced vibrations. The present work outlines the instrumentation details, algorithms for computing modal characteristics (modal frequencies, damping ratios and modeshapes), modal-based finite element model (FEM) updating methods for estimating structural parameters, and numerical results for the modal and structural dynamic characteristics of the two bridges based on ambient and earthquake induced vibrations. Transverse, bending and longitudinal modes are reliably identified and stiffness-related properties of the piers, deck and elastomeric bearings of the FEMs of the two bridges are estimated. Results provide qualitative and quantitative information on the dynamic behavior of the bridge systems and their components under low-amplitude vibrations. Modeling assumptions are discussed based on the differences in the characteristics identified from ambient and earthquake vibration measurements. The sources of the differences observed between the identified modal and structural characteristics of the bridges and those predicted by FEMs used for design are investigated and properly justified.     

A Comparison of the Red and Green Coronal Line Intensities at the 29 March 2006 and the 1 August 2008 Total Solar Eclipses: Considerations of the Temperature of the Solar Corona

During the total solar eclipse at Akademgorodok, Siberia, Russia, on 1 August 2008, we imaged the flash spectrum with a slitless spectrograph. We have spectroscopically determined the duration of totality, the epoch of the second and third contacts and the duration of the flash spectrum. Here we compare the 2008 flash spectra with those that we similarly obtained from the total solar eclipse of 29 March 2006, at Kastellorizo, Greece. Any changes of the intensity of the coronal emission lines, in particularly those of Fe x and Fe xiv, could give us valuable information about the temperature of the corona. The results show that the ionization state of the corona, as manifested especially by the Fe xiv emission line, was much weaker during the 2008 eclipse, indicating that following the long, inactive period during the solar minimum, there was a drop in the overall temperature of the solar corona.     

Mass movements,geotechnical properties,and slope stability in the outer shelf—Upper slope,northwestern Aegean sea

Abstract

Subbottom profiling (3.5 kHz) in the uppermost slope of the outer shelf of the northwestern Aegean Sea has shown downslope slumping and intense sediment deformation as well as a succession of microslumping within the Late Pleistocene delta sequences. Postdeposition bottom erosion by currents and the overconsolidated sediments (Cu/Po > 1) indicate the termination of deformations a long time ago. Deformation processes are estimated to have been active 18,000–10,000 B.P. Large‐scale active downslope deformations with clockwise sediment block rotation have affected the area as well. These longer‐period deformations are associated with regional neotectonics and older unconformities (i. e., Plio‐Pleistocene) as potential slide planes.

Geotechnical properties reflect mainly textural variations and locally (within sapropelic layers) high organic matter content. Relatively high values of shear strength were measured (5–29 kPa) with intermediate sensitivities (2–5), whereas relatively low values of water content (33–81%) were found along the five selective sediment cores.

Infinity slope stability analysis revealed that the slopes in the study area are most stable, although theoretical evaluations (Cu estimated from linear regression analysis) indicate relative instability for the potential glide plane at 20 m depth. The outer shelf is covered by compact relict sands, and their gentle and low‐angle (<0.2°) slopes are the most stable region of the investigated area.