The objective of INTIMATE is to reconstruct past abrupt and extreme climate changes over the period 60.000 to 8000 years ago, by facilitating INTegration of Ice core, MArine, and TErrestrial palaeoclimate records and using the combined data in climate models to better understand the mechanisms and impact of change, thereby reducing the uncertainty of future prediction. The project is organized in four working groups: WG-1 Dating and Chronological Modelling A reliable chronological framework is the basis of all studies of the past climate. WG1 is dedicated to developing and improving dating methods over the last 60,000 years and bringing scientists together to develop a coherent dating framework in which records can be compared at unprecedented detail. WG-2 Quantification of Past Climate The aim of WG-2 is to collect and quantify information of past climate from e.g. ice cores, tree rings, corals, stalagmites, and marine and lake sediments in order to draw a detailed picture of the highly variable climate evolution in the North Atlantic region. WG-3 Modelling Mechanisms of Past Change Our ability to forecast the rates and magnitudes of future change depends on numerical models. By using combined ice core, terrestrial, and marine data sets as targets, WG-3 will optimize methodologies to evaluate model simulations and make data-model comparisons. WG-4 Climate Impacts The aim of WG-4 is to gain insights into the impacts of past climatic changes on animal and human populations and the ecosystems of which they are part. WG-4 will quantify the magnitudes and rates of population, species, and ecosystem responses to climate events of different magnitudes in space and through time.

The present study examines nitrate contamination and groundwater quality in the Megara basin of Attica Prefecture (Greece). Hydrochemical data were assessed using descriptive and multivariate statistical analysis to (1) classify the data into hydrochemically similar groups, and (2) to investigate geochemical and human-related factors responsible for the observed groundwater quality. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) were used to incorporate both thematic (landuse) data and groundwater chemistry to study the extent and variation of nitrate contamination and to establish spatial relationships with specific landuse types. The results indicate that more than 70% of the groundwater samples located around the national highway had nitrate concentrations that exceeded acceptable levels according to international legislation and guidelines (Directive 98/83/EC, EPA, WHO). The combined spatial analysis and statistical hydrochemical evaluation show that nitrate contamination in groundwater is closely associated with specific landuse classes and activities (e.g. agriculture, pasture, industries, urban effluents).

Through this research relative sea level changes from Late Holocene until the present day were studied, in the area of Skopelos and Alonnisos Islands. The study was accomplished through methodical underwater geomorphological research in both islands and led to the location of six and seven distinct submerged fossil shorelines, in Skopelos and Alonnisos accordingly, along the islands' coastline. Both islands have been affected during the last millennia, by repeated subsidence events, often of coseimic origin. The amount of each subsidence displacement was generally limited to one or a few decimetres, with recurrence intervals of some centuries.

Tidal notches can form on carbonate coasts during periods of relative stable sea-level, or when sea-level changes occur at a rate lower than the rate of bioerosion. Tidal notches have often been used for Quaternary sea-level reconstructions and for estimating tectonic movements, especially in uplifting areas. Underwater geomorphological survey may reveal evidence of submerged tidal notches. Detailed, accurate and systematic survey along the coastal zone by boat is necessary, to access all sites and establish lateral continuity of observation. During the survey, the local lithology is taken into account. For each site, the time and the GPS coordinates are collected. Underwater, the observed features are measured in relation to sea level and photographed. Notch geometries (height, vertex and inward depth) are measured and interpreted. The accuracy can be improved by multiple measurements and by corrections based on air pressure and tidal records. Submerged tidal notches cannot be dated directly, but their age can be inferred from coastal cores or archaeological data. Information on the duration of the various sea-level positions can be deduced from assumptions on the minimum and maximum values of intertidal bioerosion in carbonate rocks. Through this methodology new evidence concerning the rates of subsidence in the investigated area may be provided. The profiles of submerged notches, resulting from different combinations of RSL in sheltered areas, allow to qualitatively distinguish the way of subsidence e.g. co-seismic event, gradual relative sea-level rise, etc. Some examples of tidal notch development and tectonic movements are provided from fossil submerged notches in Greece. Although tidal notches are not forming anymore in the present-day mid-littoral zone, underwater marks on carbonate cliffs may still provide evidence of submerged tidal notches corresponding to former sea level positions, or to recent vertical shoreline displacements of seismic origin.

A submarine survey along the coasts of Ithaca and Fiscardo has permitted the identification of fossil shorelines produced by recent co-seismic movements. In both areas a tidal notch slightly submerged below present MSL was observed at various sites. This “modern” notch is known to have been submerged by the global sea-level rise during the 19th and 20th centuries. The depth after tide and air-pressure correction of the vertex of the “modern” notch (= MSL before the recent sea-level rise) was measured between -19±6 and -25±6 cm at Fiscardo and between -34±6 and -43±6 cm at Ithaca. The presence of this “modern” notch at the same depth on both sides of the Ionian Thrust would give evidence that both areas were not affected by the co-seismic vertical movements that occurred in 1953 in the wider area, while a greater depth in Ithaca could be an effect of co-seismic subsidence. Both cases are discussed and analysed in this paper. Assuming that the development of the “modern” notch was produced by bioerosion, it is possible to deduce a period of relative sea-level stability before the 19th century during 2.4 to 4 centuries at Ithaca and 1.5 to 4 centuries at Fiscardo. Over the longer term, the tectonic behavior of Ithaca differs from Fiscardo. At Ithaca no evidence of emergence has been found and Holocene vertical movements have been only of subsidence: fossil submerged tidal notches can be distinguished below MSL at depths (±6 cm) of about -40 (modern), -60, -75, -90, -100, -120, -130, -140, -150 and -220 cm. A southward tilting of the island is suggested from the -110 cm notch, but this is not the case for the -70 cm shoreline. On the east coast of Fiscardo Peninsula impacts of ancient earthquakes have left some marks (±6 cm) of emergence at about +15 and +40 cm, and of submergence at about -20 (modern) -35, -50, -60, -70, -80, -90, -100 and -230 cm, with even some evidence of past uplift and subsidence at the same sites.

New geomorphological investigations carried out in 2012 along the coasts of Corfu, Othonoi, Paxoi and Antipaxoi Islands have allowed the identification of recent fossil shorelines. Former sea-level positions were deduced from sea-level indicators, such as emerged and submerged notches. Notch geometries (height, inward depth and vertex depth) were measured. Due to the absence of tidal records at the closest tidegauge station during the period of fieldwork, an uncertainty of ±14 cm in depth measurements was taken into consideration. A “modern” tidal notch, submerged ca.-20 cm, was observed in all studied islands, at various sites. This notch is regarded to have been submerged by the global sealevel rise that occurred during the 19th and 20th centuries at a rate exceeding the possibilities of intertidal bioerosion. Its presence provides evidence that no vertical tectonic movements occurred since its formation. At Paxoi possible marks of erosion by waves, a few decimetres above sea level at two sites, may be interpreted as a still undetermined short-lived period of emergence. Below the “modern” notch, lower shorelines measured at –45±14 cm and-58±14 cm may correspond to the same fossil shoreline, apparently submerged by a coseismic vertical movement. At Antipaxoi, no evidence of emergence were found and Holocene vertical movements seem to have been only of subsidence; two submerged tidal notches have been distinguished at about -70 and -120 cm. On Corfu island impacts of ancient earthquakes have left some marks of emergence at about +20, +45, +110 and +140 cm, as well as marks of submergence at about -35 -50, -75, -100 and -180 cm. The emergence of +140 cm, which had been previously dated at or after 790-400 cal. B.C., was detected through erosion notches at various sites of the western part of Corfu and seems to continue even more west, at Othonoi Island.

In this paper, after a short summary on the processes and rates of bioerosion that contribute to the deepening of a tidal-notch profile, some Mediterranean case-studies are presented, where a tidal notch is prevented either from forming or from being preserved. Furthermore, as shown also in a complementary paper, the recent global sea-level rise is preventing the development of new tidal notches in the present mid-littoral zone. This very useful sea-level indicator, of past temporary standstills of the relative sea level in carbonate rock areas, is of great value in assisting interpretations of relative sea-level change in locations where it is preserved. The possibilities of absence of formation or of preservation, however, imply that it should be interpreted carefully before reconstructing local relative sea-level histories. In particular, the lack of fossil tidal notches cannot be relied upon to interpret the absence of past periods of relative sea-level stabilization.

Flood damages for residential and commercial/industrial areas can be direct and indirect. While direct damages are caused by physical contact of floodwater, indirect flood damages are caused through interruption of economic and social activities as a consequence of direct flood damages. Direct and indirect damages can be subdivided into primary and secondary categories as primary are the physical damages on the property and secondary damages are defined by the replacement costs. In this paper we are trying to estimate direct residential flood damages in a section of Kifissos drainage basin (Athens, Greece), taken into account the physical characteristics of the system as well as the landuse and predominant building types of the study area. Taken into account the results of this model each element of the urban environment has to be properly prepared and build capacity to cope with the current and future challenges.