Geological identification of historical tsunamis in the Gulf of Corinth, Central Greece

Geological identification of tsunami deposits is important for tsunami hazard studies, especially in areas where the historical data set is limited or absent. Evidence left by historical tsunamis in the coastal sedimentary record of the Gulf of Corinth was investigated by trenching and coring in Kirra on the north coast and Aliki on the south coast. The Gulf of Corinth has a documented tsunami history dating back to the 4th century BC. Comparison of the historical records and the results of stratigraphical, sedimentological and foraminiferal analyses show that extreme coastal flooding events are detectable in the coastal sequences. The geological record from Kirra shows four sand layers deposited by high-energy marine flooding events. The deposits identified show many similarities with tsunami deposits described elsewhere. The lower sand deposit (layer 4) was radiocarbon dated to 3020–2820 BC. Assuming an average sedimentation rate of 2.6 cm (100 yr)?1, the ages of the other three sand layers were estimated by extrapolation to the time windows 1200–1000 BC, AD 500–600 and AD 1400–1500. There are no historical tsunamis which correlate with layers 2 and 3. However, layer 1 may represent the major AD 1402 tsunami. Sand dykes penetrating from layer 1 into the overlying silts suggest soil liquefaction during an earthquake event, possibly the 1 August 1870 one. At Aliki, no clear stratigraphical evidence of tsunami flooding was found, but results from foraminiferal and dating analyses show that a sand layer was deposited about 180 years ago from a marine flooding event. This layer may be associated with the historical tsunami of 23 August 1817, which caused widespread destruction in the Aegion area. The work presented here supports the idea that geological methods can be used to extend tsunami history far beyond the historical record. Although the tsunami database obtained will be incomplete and biased towards larger events, it will still be useful for extreme event statistical approaches

TORTONIAN CLYPEASTER FAUNA (ECHINOIDEA: CLYPEASTEROIDA) FROM GAVDOS ISLAND (GREECE

Τα ιζήματα ηλικίας Τορτονίου, της νήσου Γαύδου (Ελλάδα) περιέχουν μια πλούσια και ποικιλόμορφη πανίδα εχίνων με κύριο αντιπρόσωπο το γένος Clypeaster. Από το σύνολο των δεκαέξι ειδών που έχουν αναγνωρισθεί, τα έντεκα αποτελούν καινούριες ανφορές για τη νήσο Γαύδο. Η παρούσα εργασία αποτελεί αναφορά στη συστηματική ταξινόμηση και στην οικολογία των έντεκα αυτών ειδών.The Tortonian sediments of Gavdos Island (Greece) contain a rich and diverse echinoidfauna. Clypeasteroid (sand dollars) echinoids are an important component of this fauna and sixteen taxa are recognized. Of these, eleven species are new records for Gavdos Island. The present paper is an annotated species list along with notes on certain aspects of the ecology of the determined echinoderms

Revisiting Growth Accounting from a Trade in Value-Added Perspective

Global Manufacturing and International Supply Chains changed the way trade and international economics are understood today. The present essay builds on recent statistical advances to suggest new ways of looking at the demand and supply side approaches when Global Value Chains (GVCs) - articulating supply and demand chains from an international perspective - are taken into consideration. This pilot case focuses on the G-20 countries, a group of leading developed and developing economies which took a prominent role in fostering and managing global economic governance. The paper is organised into two independent parts. The demand dynamics is first analysed through a growth-accounting decomposition, then through the long term determinants of income elasticity of imports. The second part looks at the implications of global manufacturing for our understanding of the supply-side growth dynamics, privileging a trade perspective: the definition of comparative advantages and the potential for value-chain upgrading

Geological identification of historical tsunamis in the Gulf of Corinth, Central Greece

Geological identification of tsunami deposits is important for tsunami hazard studies, especially in areas where the historical data set is limited or absent. Evidence left by historical tsunamis in the coastal sedimentary record of the Gulf of Corinth was investigated by trenching and coring in Kirra on the north coast and Aliki on the south coast. The Gulf of Corinth has a documented tsunami history dating back to the 4th century BC. Comparison of the historical records and the results of stratigraphical, sedimentological and foraminiferal analyses show that extreme coastal flooding events are detectable in the coastal sequences. The geological record from Kirra shows four sand layers deposited by high-energy marine flooding events. The deposits identified show many similarities with tsunami deposits described elsewhere. The lower sand deposit (layer 4) was radiocarbon dated to 3020-2820 BC. Assuming an average sedimentation rate of 2.6 cm (100 yr)−1, the ages of the other three sand layers were estimated by extrapolation to the time windows 1200-1000 BC, AD 500-600 and AD 1400-1500. There are no historical tsunamis which correlate with layers 2 and 3. However, layer 1 may represent the major AD 1402 tsunami. Sand dykes penetrating from layer 1 into the overlying silts suggest soil liquefaction during an earthquake event, possibly the 1 August 1870 one. At Aliki, no clear stratigraphical evidence of tsunami flooding was found, but results from foraminiferal and dating analyses show that a sand layer was deposited about 180 years ago from a marine flooding event. This layer may be associated with the historical tsunami of 23 August 1817, which caused widespread destruction in the Aegion area. The work presented here supports the idea that geological methods can be used to extend tsunami history far beyond the historical record. Although the tsunami database obtained will be incomplete and biased towards larger events, it will still be useful for extreme event statistical approaches. © 2011 Author(s)

Clustering Value-Added Trade: Structural and Policy Dimensions

The paper uses exploratory data analysis to propose a typology of exporters according to the value-added content of their exports as well as other economic and trade policy characteristics. In the process, it defines clusters of countries according to the multi-dimensional criteria defined by value-added, economic and trade policy indicators. Results show that natural resources and services orientation are among the most determinant variables. The level of economic development remains a crucial determinant of the Trade in Value-Added profile, more than the sheer size of the economy. Pro-active value-chain up-grading strategies foster a higher foreign content in exports, compensating the lower domestic margin by higher volumes. Protectionist policies are not particularly successful in increasing higher share of domestic content, except in services exports; but in this case, volumes remain marginal