In this article, the author suggests the creation of a protocol for grain size distribution analysis by pipette method, using specialized software and hardware for minimizing the time needed for analysis. The suggested protocol needs less than 45 minutes for analyzing the size distribution 4Φ to 8Φ sizes since it uses short setting distances, in relation to small pipetting volume, with increased volumetric accuracy and weighting. An Eppendorf Multipette ® Stream, electronic pipette, was used with syringe type tips of 2.5 ml. The tip of this electronic pipette was modified and extended, to create a usable length of 6 cm. Small cylindrical setting tubes, 170 ml, were constructed from transparent Plexiglas, with a special cap on the top, to help smooth insertion of the pipette tip. , at temperature from 16 ο C to 32 ο C with a regression coefficient R 2 = 1.00. The equation was used into a Microsoft EXEL calculation sheet, to calculate automatically the setting times (the time intervals needed to withdraw each size fraction). The samples were withdrawn at different depths, since the tip of the pipette is inserted into the setting cylinder, through a holder and sits on a firm position to minimize disturbance. The whole process and seems to work well and minimizes the time for a whole analysis, needing only the one tenth of the time of the classical pipette method (20 ml pipette, 10 cm withdrawn depths). The new suggested protocol (by the use of Multipette ® ), keeps the same concentration per unit volume of sediment in the settling tube and the same concentration of the dispersing factor (calgon). It looks promising especially to sedimentological laboratories that do not have access to expensive automated instrumentation like sedigraph or laser grannulometer. Keywords: fine sediment grannulometry, pipette method, Multipette ® , settling time calculation. ΠΕΡΙΛΗΨΗ Η ανάγκη για κοκκομετρική ανάλυση δειγμάτων μικρής ποσότητας, έδωσε την αφορμή για την πρόταση δημιουργίας ενός πρωτοκόλλου κοκκομετρικής ανάλυσης βασιζόμενη στην ανάλυση σι-φωνίου (πιπέτας), με εφαρμογή του νόμου του Stokes και των εξισώσεων του Folk, αλλά προσαρ-μοσμένου σε σύγχρονα μέσα (ηλεκτρονικά σιφώνια ακρίβειας +/-4 μl) και ζυγούς διακριτικότητας 10 -4 g. Με το προτεινόμενο πρωτόκολλο, μια ανάλυση διαρκεί περίπου 45 λεπτά, αντί για 10 ώρες. Στην εργασία περιγράφονται τα όργανα που έχουν χρησιμοποιηθεί, με τις αναγκαίες τροποποιήσεις τους, το λογισμικό και η διαδικασία ανάλυσης. Λέξεις κλειδιά: ιζηματολογική ανάλυση λεπτόκοκκων, μέθοδος σιφωνίου, Multipette ® υπολογισμός ταχύτητας καθίζησης.

Thermaikos Gulf receives sediment fluxes from major rivers at its western side, where a thick Holocene deltaic sequence has been developed. The eastern site of the gulf is characterized by alternating erosional and depositional coastlines with the formation of marine terraces and lagoons respectively. Application of the Bruun equilibrium profile model to eastern side of the gulf indicated that the terraces are retreating with high rates of erosion in response to Holocene sea level rise. The mean retreat rate is approximately 0.15 m/y for the last 10000 years, but the recent rate must be lower at about 0.10 m/y. Significant part of the ancient town Aineia, which was build on the eroding terrace, has already been disappeared. The recent low depositional coastlines with lagoons are found in the axis of old valleys, where depositional processes created low morphological profile, which is in equilibrium with the wave processes, according to Bruun model. The recent form of eastern Thermaikos coastline, where the low coastal areas form headlands is the result of faster re-treat of coastal terraces, leaving the depositional low coastal regions as promontories.

This paper deals with the palaeoenvironmental evolution of the Kitros Pierias Lagoon, located at the west coastline of the Thermaikos Gulf, during the upper Holocene. In addition, the palaeoenvi-ronmental units distinguished in the study area were correlated with the Holocene sea level rise in Thermaikos Gulf. The study is based on the sedimentological and stratigraphical analysis of a core 9.5 m long. Sedimentological and palaeontological analysis was carried out in all selected core sam-ples. The determination of the lithophases and biophases allowed the estimation of the stratigraphy-cal units, the interpretation of the geomorphological evolution and the characterization of the palaeo-environmental conditions. According to the results, we can conclude that the area under investigation was a transitional lagoonal environment, semi-enclosed at its initial stage progressively transformed to an isolated sallow basin. The formation of the semi-enclosed lagoon has been commenced after the conclusion of the rapid phase of sea level rise i.e. 6,000 BP years. Finally, the gradual isolation of the lagoon is attributed to low rate of the sea level rise e.g. over the past 4,000 years..

The purpose of this paper is the geomorphological and sedimentological study of modern Nestos River Delta, to examine the effect of the dams to the sedimentological regime of the coastal zone. Nestos Delta suffered a series of anthropogenic influences; the most significant was the channeliza-tion of the river bed, which prevents avulsion and enforces the river to discharge to the sea with one main channel. A DGPS with accuracy better than 1m (GMS-2- Topcon), was used for mapping the coastline, along with sampling the coastal sediments. Sedimentological analysis revealed that the mean size of the sandy material of the coastline reduces with increasing the eastward distance from the river mouth. The western coastline revealed a more complex situation, since it had inherited characteristics from older, abandoned river mouths, bars, spits etc, existed prior to anthropogenic influence. Comparison between the DGPS survey and the 1970 topographic maps revealed some areas with erosional and some with depositional tendencies. A clear erosional tendency was not rec-orded. Furthermore comparison, between 2000 GPS survey, and the present 2009 DGPS survey, recorded a stability of the coastline within the resolution and the accuracy of the instruments. A pos-sible explanation, is the dramatic reduction of the active area of the delta, due to anthropogenic influ-ence, where at its natural stage, was dispersing sediments with avulsion and multiple river channels in an area of 500 km2, but now the active area, where deposition is possible, is only 45.84 km2.

Mesologi lagoon is a large and shallow environment with intense fish farming applications and the consequent enclosing of very large areas with fish fences and nets, which make field mapping almost impossible. Anthropogenic influence is eminent and a recent and updated morphological map was necessary. A mapping technique is presented based on the use of astronaut photography that is distributed freely by the Internet site of NASA. The digital photograph was geometrically corrected, visually, as semi transparent layer over a scanned map image by the use of PHOTOSHOP software. The areas of known depth were used to classify the depths of the lagoon with the PHOTOSHOP tool "replace color". An image therefore was produce with the depths classified as solid colors. This image was used as base map in MAPINFO, to produce a digital map in GIS environment, where all anthropogenic influence and depths (as depth ranges) are exist as separate layers and reveal the morphological background of the lagoon. The GIS map was used to calculate the water volume of the lagoon and the changes of the volume, as the sea level fluctuates with the tide. The depth-volume diagram was created and shows that during low water (-30cm) the volume is reduced by 43%, in contrast an increase of only 12% when sea level become 30cm higher. This is the result of the construction of peripheral embankments that restricts extension of the lagoon in high water. The implication of this situation is that the water renewal is restricted when sea level is kept high by a barometric low or an onshore wind, in contrast to very good renewal time when sea level is kept low by a barometric high.