Holocene sedimentary records of the Katarraktes cave system (northern Greece): a stratigraphical and environmental magnetism approach

The Katarraktes cave system is located in northern Greece and is a complex of a rockshelter and a cave formed on the south river bank of Krousovitis River canyon (Serres, Macedonia region). The archaeological site area is well known as one of the most important archaeological sites in SE Europe since it hosts numerous archaeological findings dating back to the Early Bronze Age. Detailed stratigraphic analysis of three archaeological sections was performed in order to define the depositional conditions of the cave entrance facies sediments. Mineral magnetic properties were performed to enhance the paleoenvironmental interpretations and to detect sediment origins. Magnetic susceptibility (klf) obtained in high and low frequency as well as remanence parameters, such as saturation isothermal remanent magnetization (SIRM) and S-ratio, were measured in samples collected2from the archaeological sections. Results indicate a significant variability in the magnetic signal stored in the sedimentary record of Kataraktes cave system distinguishing between natural and anthropogenic sequences. The combination of the stratigraphic and magnetic results along with the archaeological data reveals that flood events of Krousovitis River and sediment accumulation from slackwater in the rockshelter area occurred around 3000 yr BC and were possibly the key factor for the abandonment of the prehistoric settlement

GEOMORPHIC CONSTRAINS ON THE EVOLUTION OF THE AGGITIS RIVER BASIN NORTHERN GREECE (A PRELIMINARY REPORT)

Στην παρούσα εργασία αναλύουμε την γεωμορφολογική εξέλιξη της κοιλάδας του Αγγίτη ποταμού και παρουσιάζουμε τον συσχετισμό των μορφολογικών χαρακτηριστικών από το σπήλαιο του Μααρά (Σπήλαιο πηγών Αγγίτη) με τις διάφορες γεωμορφές στην κοιλάδα του ποταμού. Παράλληλα, επιχειρούμε να θέσουμε ένα γενικό χρονολογικό πλαίσιο για την εξέλιξη της κοιλάδας. Για τον σκοπό αυτό μελετήσαμε το σπήλαιο και τις γεωμορφές στο εσωτερικό του ενώ παράλληλα μελετήθηκε και η επιφανειακή μορφολογία. Η τρισδιάστατη χαρτογράφηση του σπηλαίου έδειξε ότι η οροφή του σπηλαίου έχει κυματοειδές σχήμα ενώ το δάπεδό του παρουσιάζει μικρή κλίση και είναι καλυμμένο με κλαστικές αποθέσεις μεγάλου πάχους. Η γεωμορφολογική χαρτογράφηση έδειξε πως στο νότιο τμήμα της κοιλάδας υπάρχουν δύο windgaps. Αξιολογώντας τα αποτελέσματα καταλήγουμε στο συμπέρασμα ότι τέσσερα εξελεκτικά στάδια διαμόρφωσαν την κοιλάδα του Αγγίτη ποταμού κατά την περίοδο από το Νεογενές ως το Τεταρτογενές.In this paper we discuss the landscape evolution of the Aggitis River basin by correlating the morphological characteristics of the Maaras Cave (Aggitis River spring) with the main geomorphological features of the Aggitis fluvial valley. We combine the various morphological features that are hidden inside the Maaras Cave with the surface geomorphology of the river valley in order to trace the imprint of the different evolutionary stages on the landscape. Also, we provide a relative chronological framework for the evolution of the area. The 3D survey of the Maaras Cave shows that the roof of the cave is looping-like shaped in contrast to the floor of the cave that shows low slopes and holds thick clastic sediment deposits. Furthermore, the geomorphological mapping of the Aggitis River valley shows two prominent windgaps at the southern part of the basin that formed as the result of river capture. Our results suggest that the Aggitis River basin suffered four major evolutionary stages from the Neogene until the Quaternary

The Packaging Redesign Issue – Space Exploitation and Environmental Benefits

Purpose – This paper seeks to analyze the concept of packaging re-design with the main purpose to better exploit the utilized space within a secondary packaging, pallet and/or to make better use of transport respectively. In addition, it investigates and discusses the importance of space exploitation in relation to environmental benefits, the industry and the community in general. Design/methodology/approach – The research is based on a specific case study in which two different options of a bottle with the same capacity, are investigated in terms of: shape and space utilization. The investigation includes a detailed numerical comparison between the bottles, in order to show the strengths and weaknesses of each option. Findings – The analysis provides evidence that any shape improvements could result into benefits such as: reduce waste, increase space utilization and increase the number of transported products per load. This in turn could reduce the energy and CO2 emissions required per unit of product carried or stored. The analysis, shows that a better utilization of the space could further offer significant economic benefits for the company with respect to transportation and warehousing. Research limitations/implications – However, the proposed packaging design solutions are proposed with the guarantee that the protection of the product is ensured, the logistics activities are facilitated as expected, the needs of the user are fully covered and the cost is maintained low. This solution, therefore, addresses the economic, social and environmental aspect of packaging. Originality/value – This paper fulfils an identified need to study the relation between the packaging redesign concept and the various environmental and economic benefits for the industry and the participants of the supply chain, while maintaining the needs of the user. This works contributes to other more recent studies that are concerned with packaging design innovation that respond to key environmental concerns

Source-to-sink analysis in an active extensional setting: Holocene erosion and deposition in the Sperchios rift, central Greece

We present a source-to-sink analysis to explain sediment supply variations and depositional patterns over the Holocene within an active rift setting. We integrate a range of modelling approaches and data types with field observations from the Sperchios rift basin, Central Greece that allow us to analyse and quantify (1) the size and characteristics of sediment source areas, (2) the dynamics of the sediment routing system from upstream fluvial processes to downstream deposition at the coastline, and (3) the depositional architecture and volumes of the Holocene basin fill. We demonstrate that the Sperchios rift comprises a 'closed' system over the Holocene and that erosional and depositional volumes are thus balanced. Furthermore, we evaluate key controls in the development of this source-to-sink system, including the role of pre-existing topography, bedrock erodibility and lateral variations in the rate of tectonic uplift/subsidence. We show that tectonic subsidence alone can explain the observed grain size fining along the rift axis resulting in the downstream transition from a braided channel to an extensive meander belt ( > 15 km long) that feeds the fine-grained Sperchios delta. Additionally, we quantify the ratios of sediment storage to bypass for the two main footwall-sourced alluvial fan systems and relate the fan characteristics to the pattern and rates of fault slip. Finally, we show that ≥40% of the sediment that builds the Sperchios delta is supplied by ≤22% of the entire source area and that this can be primarily attributed to a longer-term (~10 6 years) transient landscape response to fault segment linkage. Our multidisciplinary approach allows us to quantify the relative importance of multiple factors that control a complex source-to-sink system and thus improve our understanding of landscape evolution and stratigraphic development in active extensional tectonic settings

Grain-Size Analysis of the Late Pleistocene Sediments in the Corinth Rift: Insights into Strait Influenced Hydrodynamics and Provenance of an Active Rift Basin

Under embargo until: 2023-12-08Grain-size analysis of the sediments in borehole M0079A, which is located in the Corinth Rift, was used to explore hydrodynamic conditions and provenance in the Late Pleistcene Corinth Rift. Grain-size populations that were sensitive to the sedimentary environments were characterized by frequency distribution, particle size-standard deviation, and probability cumulative curves. Our results indicate the grain-size population component in the range 0.15-0.25 μm may be used as a sensitive proxy for hyperpycnal flows, which have commonly been triggered by river floods from the southern margin of the rift since ca. 0.593-0.613 Ma. The high-density plumes derived from the longer rivers of the southern rift that were prevalent before ca. 0.593-0.613 Ma. When sediment is supplied as hemipelagic deposition, the proportion of the total grain-size population that is in the 0.3-0.5 μm range becomes an index for suspension fall-out deposits. The core shows coarser sediments during the marine periods and this may be linked to the current circulation related to the Ishtmia Strait opening. The study thus illustrates how the establishment of interbasinal straits can influence the details of sedimentary hydrodynamics in the deep- water axis of an adjacent depocenter.acceptedVersio

Expedition 381 Summary

The primary objective of International Ocean Discovery Program Expedition 381 was to retrieve a record of early continental rifting and basin evolution from the Corinth rift, central Greece. Continental rifting is fundamental for the formation of ocean basins, and active rift zones are dynamic regions of high geohazard potential. However, the detailed spatial and temporal evolution of a complete rift system needed to understand rift development from the fault to plate scale is poorly resolved. In the active Corinth rift, deformation rates are high, the recent synrift succession is preserved and complete offshore, and earlier rift phases are preserved onshore. Additionally, a dense seismic database provides high-resolution imaging of the fault network and seismic stratigraphy around the basin. As the basin has subsided, its depositional environment has been affected by fluctuating global sea level and its absolute position relative to sea level, and the basin sediments record this changing environment through time. In Corinth, we can therefore achieve an unprecedented precision of timing and spatial complexity of rift-fault system development, rift-controlled drainage system evolution, and basin fill in the first few million years of rift history. The following are the expedition themes: High-resolution fault slip and rift evolution history, Surface processes in active rifts, High-resolution late Quaternary Eastern Mediterranean paleoclimate and paleoenvironment of a developing rift basin, and Geohazard assessment in an active rift. These objectives were and will be accomplished as a result of successful drilling, coring, and logging at three sites in the Gulf of Corinth, which collectively yielded 1645 m of recovered core over a 1905 m cored interval. Together, these cores provide (1) a long rift history (Sites M0078 and M0080), (2) a high-resolution record of the most recent phase of rifting (Site M0079), and (3) the spatial variation of rift evolution (comparison of sites in the central and eastern rift). The sediments contain a rich and complex record of changing sedimentation, sediment and pore water geochemistry, and environmental conditions from micropaleontological assemblages. The preliminary chronology developed by shipboard analyses will be refined and improved during postexpedition research, providing a high-resolution chronostratigraphy down to the orbital timescale for a range of tectonic, sedimentological, and paleoenvironmental studies. This chronology will provide absolute timing of key rift events, rates of fault movement, rift extension and subsidence, and the spatial variations of these parameters. The core data will also allow us to investigate the relative roles of and feedbacks between tectonics, climate, and eustasy in sediment flux, basin evolution, and basin environment. Finally, the Corinth rift boreholes will provide the first long Quaternary record of Mediterranean-type climate in the region. The potential range of scientific applications for this unique data set is very large, encompassing tectonics, sedimentary processes, paleoenvironment, paleoclimate, paleoecology, geochemistry, and geohazards