Palaeoseismic data and their implication for active deformation in Greece

Ground deformation detection of the greater area of Thessaloniki (Northern Greece) using radar interferometry techniques

“…Due to this the sea barriers that protect the deltaic plain were destroyed and catastrophic floods have occurred several times. (Chatzipetros et al, 2005;Gounaris et al, 2007;Martinod et al, 1997;Stiros, 2001;Stiros and Drakos, 2000). …”

“…This horizontal extension was interpreted either as a long-term post-seismic relaxation processes within the graben or as a continuous aseismic slip motion. Based on paleoseismological trenching in different sites within the basin Chatzipetros et al (2005) evidence aseismic creeping with a maximum slip-rate of 2.5 mm.yr and a minimum of 0.7 mm.yr. According these authors aseismic creeping plays a very important role in this area.…”

The Disappearance of Helike-Classical Greece—New Remote Sensing and Geological Evidence

“…Moreover, there is not any evidence that the Helike fault was activated at that time [8]. This suggests that the earthquake responsible for the devastation of Helike was caused by the activation of another of the numerous faults in the Corinth Gulf.…”

“…According to Heracleides, Helike was built on the delta plain formed by the above mentioned rivers at a distance of 2 km from the shoreline, near the foothills of the mountains to the south (Figure 2). The delta plain, on which Helike was built, developed on a tilted fault block bounded to the north and south by the Aigion and Helike active faults, respectively [8] (Figures 1 and 2).…”

“…In this paper, an attempt is made to shed light on the potential geological processes, which led to the disappearance of Helike from the earth's surface. This study is based on: (i) marine remote sensing and geological data collected during a geophysical/geotechnical survey, which was carried out at a coastal landslide, located between the Selinountas and Kerynitis rivers at a distance of between 1 and 1.5 km northwards from where the classical Helike city stood, and triggered by a 6.2 R earthquake in 1995 [8][9][10] (Figures 1 and 2); (ii) recent geoarchaeological findings about Helike; and (iii) descriptions from historical sources of the events that caused the disappearance of Helike. …”