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Remains of past sea levels such as tidal notches may provide valuable information for the investigation of relative sea-level changes (RSL) of eustatic/tectonic origin. In this review, we focus on case studies of coastal changes from the Corinth Gulf, where impacts of past earthquakes can be traced through various indicators. The southern coast has undergone a tectonic uplift during the Holocene, whereas the northern coast has undergone subsidence. The magnitude of RSL fall in the south Corinth Gulf is larger than RSL rise in the north. Exploiting previous measurements and datings, we created a geodatabase regarding the relative sea-level changes of the whole gulf, including geodetic data based on permanent GNSS observations. The combination of geomorphological (long-term) and geodetic (short-term) data is a key advance for this area, which is characterized by fast rates of N-S crustal extension and strong earthquakes. The joint dataset fits the tectonic model of an active half-graben where the hanging wall (northern coast) subsides and the footwall (southern coast) is uplifted. The highest uplift rates (3.5 mm/year) are near Aigion, which indicates an asymmetric localization of deformation inside this active rift. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A strong, shallow earthquake occurred near Heraklion (Crete, Greece) on 27 September 2021. The earthquake produced significant ground deformation in the vicinity of Arkalochori village but without any evidence for surface ruptures of primary origin. We used geodetic (InSAR and GNSS) data to map motions of the Earth's surface that occurred during and shortly after the earthquake. A 14 cm subsidence of the GNSS station ARKL and a maximum of 19 cm distance from the SAR satellite were recorded. The measured surface displacements were used to constrain the rupture geometry and slip distribution at depth. Our best-fitting inversion model suggests that the rupture occurred on a 13 km-long planar normal fault striking N195° E dipping 55° to the northwest, with major slip occurring to the east and updip of the hypocentre. The fault tip is located 1.2 km beneath the surface. The maximum coseismic slip occurred in the uppermost crust, in the depth interval of 4–6 km. A decrease in the fault offsets toward the Earth's surface is likely caused by an increased frictional resistance of the shallow layers to rapid coseismic slip. Satellite observations made in the first month after the earthquake detected no post-seismic deformation (i.e., below one fringe or 2.8 cm). The seismic fault may be identified with the Avli (Lagouta) segment of the NNE-SSW striking, west-dipping, 23 km-long neotectonic Kastelli Fault Zone (KFZ). Part of the rupture occurred along the Kastelli segment, indicating a fault segment linkage and a history of overlapping ruptures along KFZ. Based on geological data and footwall topography we estimate an average slip rate between 0.17–0.26 mm/yr for the KFZ. The Arkalochori earthquake is a paradigm example for the on-going extension of Heraklion basin (central Crete) in the WNW-ESE direction, which is almost orthogonal to the E-W Messara graben and other active faults along the south coast of Crete. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This Special Issue aims to reveal comprehensive images of shallow earthquake physics, active tectonics, crustal structures, and deformation, on continental, regional, and local scales. The study revealed that the active tectonics in the area are characterized by an N-S extension that differs from the Neogene tectonics of Samos Island, characterized by an NE-SW compression. Knowledge of seismotectonics, active deformation, and the structure of Earth's crust is key for the first-order perception and assessment of the seismic hazard, and consequently the seismic risk, of an area. [Extracted from the article]

We studied the kinematic behaviour of active landslides at several localities in the area of Panachaikon Mountain, Achaia (Peloponnese, Greece) using Sentinel (C-band) InSAR time series analysis. We processed LiCSAR interferograms using the SBAS tool, and we obtained average displacement maps for the period 2016–2021. We found that the maximum displacement rate of each landslide is located at about the center of it. The average E-W velocity of the Krini landslide is ~3 cm/year (toward the east) and 0.6 cm/year downward. The line-of-sight (LOS) velocity of the landslide (descending orbit) compares well to a co-located GNSS station within (±) 3 mm/yr. Our results also suggest a correlation between rainfall and landslide motion. For the Krini landslide, a cross-correlation analysis of our data suggests that the mean time lag was 13.5 days between the maximum seasonal rainfall and the change in the LOS displacement rate. We also found that the amount of total seasonal rainfall controls the increase in the displacement rate, as 40–550% changes in the displacement rate of the Krini landslide were detected, following to a seasonal maximum of rainfall values at the nearby meteorological station of Kato Vlassia. According to our results, it seems that large part of this mountainous region of Achaia suffers from slope instability that is manifested in various degrees of ground displacement greatly affecting its morphological features and inhabited areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bathymetric and seismic data provide insights into the geomorphological configuration, seismic stratigraphy, structure, and evolution of the area between Santorini, Amorgos, Astypalea, and Anafi islands. Santorini-Amorgos Shear Zone (SASZ) is a NE-SW striking feature that includes seven basins, two shallow ridges, and hosts the volcanic centers of Santorini and Kolumbo. The SASZ initiated in the Early Pliocene as a single, W-E oriented basin. A major reorganization of the geodynamic regime led to (i) reorientation of the older faults and initiation of NE-SW striking ones, (ii) disruption of the single basin and localized subsidence and uplift, (iii) creation of four basins out of the former single one (Anafi, Amorgos South, Amorgos North, and Kinairos basins), (iv) rifting of the northern and southern margins and creation of Anydros, Astypalea North, and Astypalea South basins, and (v) uplift of the ridges. Dextral shearing and oblique rifting are accommodated by NE-SW striking, dextral oblique to strike-slip faults and by roughly W-E striking, normal, transfer faults. It is suggested here that enhanced shearing in NE-SW direction and oblique rifting may be the dominant deformation mechanism in the South Aegean since Early Quaternary associated with the interaction of North Anatolian Fault with the slab roll-back. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Underwater volcanoes and their linear distribution on the flanks of mid-ocean ridges are common submarine topographic structures at intermediate- and fast-spreading systems, where sufficient melt supplies are often available. Such magma sources beneath the seafloor located within a few kilometers of the corresponding ridge-axis tend to concentrate toward the axis during the upwelling process and contribute to seafloor formation. As a result, seamounts on the flanks of the ridge axis are formed at a distance from the spreading axis and distributed asymmetrically about the axis. In this study, we examined three linearly aligned seamount chains on the flanks of the KR1 ridge, which is the easternmost and longest Australian-Antarctic Ridge (AAR) segment. The AAR is an intermediate-spreading rate system located between the Southeast Indian Ridge and Macquarie Triple Junction of the Australian-Antarctic-Pacific plates. By inspecting the high-resolution shipboard multi-beam bathymetric data newly acquired in the study area, we detected 20 individual seamounts. The volcanic lineament runs parallel to the spreading direction of the KR1 segment. The geomorphologic parameters of height, basal area, volume, and summit types of the identified seamounts were individually measured. We also investigated the spatial distribution of the seamounts along the KR1 segment, which exhibits large variations in axial morphology with depth along the ridge axis. Based on the geomorphology and spatial distribution, all the KR1 seamounts can be divided into two groups: the subset seamounts of volcanic chains distributed along the KR1 segment characterized by high elevation and large volume, and the small seamounts distributed mostly on the western KR1. The differences in the volumetric magnitude of volcanic eruptions on the seafloor and the distance from the given axis between these two groups indicate the presence of magma sources with different origins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On 30 October 2020, a strong earthquake of magnitude 7.0 occurred north of Samos Island at the Eastern Aegean Sea, whose earthquake mechanism corresponds to an E-W normal fault dipping to the north. During the aftershock period in December 2020, a hydrographic survey off the northern coastal margin of Samos Island was conducted onboard R/V NAFTILOS. The result was a detailed bathymetric map with 15 m grid interval and 50 m isobaths and a morphological slope map. The morphotectonic analysis showed the E-W fault zone running along the coastal zone with 30–50° of slope, forming a half-graben structure. Numerous landslides and canyons trending N-S, transversal to the main direction of the Samos coastline, are observed between 600 and 100 m water depth. The ENE-WSW oriented western Samos coastline forms the SE margin of the neighboring deeper Ikaria Basin. A hummocky relief was detected at the eastern margin of Samos Basin probably representing volcanic rocks. The active tectonics characterized by N-S extension is very different from the Neogene tectonics of Samos Island characterized by NE-SW compression. The mainshock and most of the aftershocks of the October 2020 seismic activity occur on the prolongation of the north dipping E-W fault zone at about 12 km depth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We identify the source of the Mw = 5.6 earthquake that hit west-central Epirus on 21 March 2020 00:49:52 UTC. We use Sentinel-1 synthetic aperture radar interferograms tied to one permanent Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) station (GARD). We model the source by inverting the INSAR displacement data. The inversion model suggests a shallow source on a low-angle fault (39°) dipping towards east with a centroid depth of 8.5 km. The seismic moment deduced from our model agrees with those of the published seismic moment tensors. This geometry is compatible with reverse-slip motion along the west-verging Margariti thrust fault that accommodates part of the convergence within the collision zone between Apulia and Eurasia. We also processed new GNSS data and estimate a total convergence rate between Apulia and Eurasia of 8.9 mm yr−1, of which the shortening of the crust between the Epirus coastal GNSS stations and station PAXO in the Ionian Sea (across the Ionian Thrust) is equivalent to ~50% of it or 4.6 mm yr−1. By back-slip modelling we found that a 60-km wide deformation zone takes up nearly most of the convergence between Apulia-Eurasia, trending N318°E. Its central axis runs along the southwest coast of Corfu, along the northeast coast of Paxoi, heading toward the northern extremity of the Lefkada island. The island of Paxoi appears kinematically as part of the Apulian plate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Knowledge and visualization of the present-day relationship between earthquakes, active tectonics and crustal deformation is a key to understanding geodynamic processes, and is also essential for risk mitigation and the management of geo-reservoirs for energy and waste. The study of the complexity of the Greek tectonics has been the subject of intense efforts of our working group, employing multidisciplinary methodologies that include detailed geological mapping, geophysical and seismological data processing using innovative methods and geodetic data processing, involved in surveying at various scales. The data and results from these studies are merged with existing or updated datasets to compose the new Seismotectonic Atlas of Greece. The main objective of the Atlas is to harmonize and integrate the most recent seismological, geological, tectonic, geophysical and geodetic data in an interactive, online GIS environment. To demonstrate the wealth of information available in the end product, herein, we present thematic layers of important seismotectonic and geophysical content, which facilitates the comprehensive visualization and first order insight into seismic and other risks of the Greek territories. The future prospect of the Atlas is the incorporation of tools and algorithms for joint analysis and appraisal of these datasets, so as to enable rapid seismotectonic analysis and scenario-based seismic risk assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We identify the source of the Mw = 6.4 earthquake that rocked north-central Albania on November 26, 2019 02:54 UTC. We use synthetic aperture radar interferograms tied to the time series of coordinates of two permanent Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) stations (DUR2 and TIR2). We model the source by inverting the displacement data. Assuming in our model a half-space elastic medium and uniform slip along a rectangular fault surface, we invert the 104 picked measurements on a couple of ascending and descending interferograms to calculate the parameters of the fault. All inversions made with different input parameters converge towards a stable and robust solution with root mean square (r.m.s.) residual of 5.4 mm, thus ~1/5 of a fringe. They reveal that the earthquake occurred deep in the crust on a low-angle fault (23°) dipping towards east with a centroid at 16.5 km depth. The best-fitting length and width of the fault are 22 and 13 km, and the reverse slip, 0.55 m. The seismic moment deduced from our model agrees with those of the published seismic moment tensors. This geometry is compatible with a blind thrust fault that may root on the main basal thrust, i.e., along the thrust front that separates Adria–Apulia from Eurasia. It is notable that there is a 123 ns yr−1 active shortening of the crust between the GNSS stations DUR2-TIR2 (equivalent to a shortening rate of 3.6 mm yr−1), and roughly in the east–west direction. Given this amount of strain the recurrence time of M6+ earthquakes along this fault should be of the order of 150 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Mineral prospectivity mapping (MPM) approach using a GIS-based weighted linear combination implementation of a Multi-Criteria Evaluation approach utilising a fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process to elucidate expert knowledge has been implemented to analyse the spatial distribution of epithermal deposits on the Island of Milos, Greece and model their association with exploration evidence data with the aim of providing insights into the controls on ore deposition. An integrated field and Digital Airborne Imaging Spectrometer (DAIS) hyperspectral and thermal multispectral airborne remote sensing dataset supported by field mapping and laboratory analyses, has been utilised to resolve hydrothermal alteration and parameterise the MPM. This study has highlighted the intimate spatial relationship between topographic highs and locations with high grade silicified alteration at a number of locations. The ability of high spatial resolution multispectral Thermal InfraRed (TIR) remote sensing imagery, integrated with topographic data, to resolve these silicified topographic highs provides an additional tool in the exploration of epithermal deposits. The spatial relationships between silicified lithocaps, high-grade altered rocks, faulting and topographic highs were utilised in the development of the MPM model. A close association between the modelled results and the hydrothermal alteration mapped in the field supports the accuracy of this MPM approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the tectonic deformation from the February 2017 shallow earthquake sequence onshore Biga Peninsula (NW Turkey, NE Aegean region). We use InSAR interferograms (Sentinel-1 satellites) to identify the seismic fault (striking N110°E) and seismological data (parametric data and Moment Tensor solutions from NOA and KOERI catalogues) so as to refine its geometry and kinematics using inversion techniques. Despite the moderate magnitudes of the main events of the sequence (5.0 ≤ Mw ≤ 5.2), the total surface deformation is 2.2 fringes (or maximum 6.2 cm along LOS) and it is well visible with InSAR because of the shallow depth of the four main events (6–8 km) and the good coherence of the signal phase. Our geodetic inversion showed that the fault has normal-slip kinematics, dimensions of 6 by 6 km (length, width) and dips at 45°. The InSAR data are fitted by a uniform slip of 28 cm. In addition, 429 earthquakes were relocated with the HypoDD software and the use of a 1-D velocity model. The dip-direction of the fault is not retrievable from InSAR, but a south-dipping plane is clear from seismology and the aftershocks distribution. The spatial distribution of relocated events indicates the activation of one fault with a rupture zone length of about 10 km, a result of the occurrence of off-fault aftershocks along strike the main rupture. A stress inversion using 20 focal mechanisms (M ≥ 3.6; NOA solutions) indicates that faulting accommodates a N196°E extension. It is confirmed that moderate (5.0 ≤ M ≤ 5.2) shallow events can be traced in InSAR studies and can produce surface displacements that provide useful data in fault inversion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]