The Volcanic Relief within the Kos-Nisyros-Tilos Tectonic Graben at the Eastern Edge of the Aegean Volcanic Arc, Greece and Geohazard Implications

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;">Graciosa is a mid-Pleistocene to Holocene volcanic island that lies in a complex plate boundary between the North American, Eurasian, and Nubian plates. Large fault scarps displace the oldest (Middle Pleistocene) volcanic units, but in the younger areas recent volcanism (Holocene to Upper Pleistocene) conceals the surface expression of faulting, limiting neotectonic observations. The large displacement accumulated by the older volcanic units when compared with the younger formations suggests a variability of deformation rates and the possibility of alternating periods of higher and lower tectonic deformation rates; this would increase the recurrence interval of surface rupturing earthquakes. Nevertheless, in historical times a few destructive earthquakes affected the island attesting for its seismic hazard. Regarding the structural data, two main fault systems, incompatible with a single stress field, were identified at Graciosa Island. Thus, it is proposed that the region is affected by two alternating stress fields. The stress field #1 corresponds to the regional stress regime proposed by several authors for the interplate shear zone that constitutes the Azorean segment of the Eurasia-Nubia plate boundary. It is suggested that the stress field #2 will act when the area under the influence of the regional stress field #1 narrows as a result of variations in the differential spreading rates north and south of Azores. The islands closer to the edge of the sheared region will temporarily come under the influence of a different (external) stress field (stress field #2). Such data support the concept that, in the Azores, the Eurasia-Nubia boundary corresponds to a complex and wide deformation zone, variable in time.</p>

&lt;p&gt;In order to evaluate the potentiality of the parameter &amp;#8220;RST-based satellite TIR anomalies&amp;#8221; in relation with earthquake (M&amp;#8805;4) occurrence, in recent years we performed three long-term statistical correlation analyses on different seismically active areas, such as Greece (Eleftheriou et al., 2016), Italy (Genzano et al., 2020), and Japan (Genzano et al., 2021).&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;With this aim, by means of the RST (Robust Satellite Techniques; Tramutoli, 1998, 2007) approach we analysed ten-year time series of satellite images collected by the SEVIRI sensor (on board the MSG platforms) over Greece (2004-2013) and Italy (2004-2014), and by the JAMI and IMAGER sensors (on board the MTSAT satellites) over Japan (2005-2015). &amp;#160;By applying empirical spatial-temporal rules, which are established also taking account of the physical models up to now proposed to explain seismic TIR anomaly appearances, the performed long -term correlation analyses put in relief that a non-casual relation exists between satellite TIR anomalies and the occurrence of earthquakes.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;At the same time, in the carried out studies we introduced and validated refinements and improvements to the RST approach, which are able to minimize the proliferation of the false positives (i.e. TIR anomalies independent from the seismic sources, but due to other causes such as meteorological factors).&amp;#160; &amp;#160;&amp;#160;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Here, we summarize the achieved results and discuss them from the perspective of a multi-parameter system, which could improve our present knowledge on the earthquake-related processes and increase our capacity to assess the seismic hazard in the medium-short term (months to days).&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&amp;#160;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;References&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Eleftheriou, A., C. Filizzola, N. Genzano, T. Lacava, M. Lisi, R. Paciello, N. Pergola, F. Vallianatos, and V. Tramutoli (2016), Long-Term RST Analysis of Anomalous TIR Sequences in Relation with Earthquakes Occurred in Greece in the Period 2004&amp;#8211;2013, Pure Appl. Geophys., 173(1), 285&amp;#8211;303, doi:10.1007/s00024-015-1116-8.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Genzano, N., C. Filizzola, M. Lisi, N. Pergola, and V. Tramutoli (2020), Toward the development of a multi parametric system for a short-term assessment of the seismic hazard in Italy, Ann. Geophys, 63, 5, PA550, doi:10.4401/ag-8227.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Genzano, N., C. Filizzola, K. Hattori, N. Pergola, and V. Tramutoli (2021), Statistical correlation analysis between thermal infrared anomalies observed from MTSATs and large earthquakes occurred in Japan (2005 - 2015), Journal of Geophysics Research &amp;#8211; Solid Earth, doi: 10.1029/2020JB020108 (accepted).&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Tramutoli, V. (1998), Robust AVHRR Techniques (RAT) for Environmental Monitoring: theory and applications, in Proceedings of SPIE, vol. 3496, edited by E. Zilioli, pp. 101&amp;#8211;113, doi: 10.1117/12.332714&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Tramutoli, V. (2007), Robust Satellite Techniques (RST) for Natural and Environmental Hazards Monitoring and Mitigation: Theory and Applications, in 2007 International Workshop on the Analysis of Multi-temporal Remote Sensing Images, pp. 1&amp;#8211;6, IEEE. doi: 10.1109/MULTITEMP.2007.4293057&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Multi-level cave systems record the history of regional river incision in abandoned alluvium-filled phreatic passages which, mimicking fluvial terrace sequences, represent former phases of fluvial base-level stability. In this respect, cosmogenic burial dating of in cave-deposited alluvium (usually via the nuclide pair &lt;sup&gt;26&lt;/sup&gt;Al/&lt;sup&gt;10&lt;/sup&gt;Be) represents a suitable method to quantify the pace of long-term river incision. Here, we present a dataset of fifteen &lt;sup&gt;26&lt;/sup&gt;Al/&lt;sup&gt;10&lt;/sup&gt;Be burial ages measured in fluvial pebbles washed into a multi-level cave system developed in Devonian limestone of the uplifted Ardenne massif (eastern Belgium). The large and well-documented Chawresse system is located along the lower Ourthe valley (i.e. the main Ardennian tributary of the Meuse river) and spans altogether an elevation difference exceeding 120 m.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The depleted &lt;sup&gt;26&lt;/sup&gt;Al/&lt;sup&gt;10&lt;/sup&gt;Be ratios measured in four individual caves show two main outcomes. Firstly, computed burial ages ranging from ~0.2 to 3.3 Ma allows highlighting an acceleration by almost one order of magnitude of the incision rates during the first half of the Middle Pleistocene (from ~25 to ~160 m/Ma). Secondly, according to the relative elevation above the present-day floodplain of the sampled material in the Manants cave (&lt;35 m), the four internally-consistent Early Pleistocene burial ages highlight an &amp;#8220;anomalous&amp;#8221; old speleogenesis in the framework of a gradual base-level lowering. They instead point to intra-karsting reworking of the sampled material in the topographically complex Manants cave. This in turn suggests an independent, long-lasting speleogenetic evolution of this specific cave, which differs from the &lt;em&gt;per descensum&lt;/em&gt; model of speleogenesis generally acknowledged for the regional multi-level cave systems and their abandoned phreatic galleries. In addition to its classical use for inferring long-term incision rates, cosmogenic burial dating can thus contribute to better understand specific and complex speleogenetic evolution.&lt;/p&gt;

A swath bathymetric map of Kos-Nisyros-Tilos Volcanic field was created with 50m grid interval, with 10 m isobaths at a scale 1:100.000 using SEABEAM 1180 (180 kHz) multibeam system for depths <500m and SEABEAM 2120 (20 kHz) multibeam system for depths >500m. Five basins have been distinguished in the circum-volcanic area of Nisyros: 1)Eastern Kos basin, the larger and deeper one, with an average sea-bottom depth of 630m. Submarine canyons within the basin occur along the southern coastline of Kos cutting the isobaths from 150 up to 400m depth. A shallow crater with relative topography of ±70m has been discovered at the bottom of the basin (600-670m) 2)Western Kos basin with average depth of 520m. The basin is separated from the Eastern Kos Basin by a rise between Yali and Kos at 400m depth. This basin is separated from the Western Nisyros basin by the Kondeliousa rise. 3)The Western Nisyros basin is located between Kondeliousa rise and western Kos platform with depths of 550m. 4)The Southern Nisyros basin constitutes the northern end of the large Karpathos basin which reaches more than 2000m depth towards the south. 5)The Tilos basin with depths of 600m occurs southeast of Nisyros Island, separated from South Nisyros Basin through a rise of less than 400m depth. The Pachia-Pergoussa and Yali-Nisyros basins are shallow structures within the intra-volcanic relief of Nisyros and surrounding islets. The geometrty of each basin is discussed in relation to the volcanic and tectonic structure of the graben between Kos and Tilos.The intensity of the active geodynamic acrtivity is demonstrated by the creation of a volcanic relief of 1400m in the Nisyros volcanic field.

With the purpose of water resources estimation of Aghstafachai-Ganjachai interfluve, geophysical surveys have been carried out. As a result, based on the well data, the maps were developed and interface conditions of the territory specified. The tectonic structure of Aghstafachai-Ganjachai interfluve lowland is associated with the formation of a sole artesian basin on its territory. Aghstafachai, Hasansu, Tovuzchai, Zeyemchai, Shamkirchai, Goshgarchai, Ganjachai and Kurekchai, being the main source of groundwater recharge, created a combined alluvial cone on the territory. The underground water of these rivers were studied in the sloping plain and the estimation of its volume carried out as well. It was revealed that the underground water on a large part of studied territory is fresh and less mineralized. From the bacteriological point of view, it is clean water. The content of microelements and harmful chemical substances in the water does not exceed the standards set for the drinkable water. Despite the long-term usage, the quality of the underground water, the mineralization degree and chemical composition remain unchanged. The regime of underground water is characterized with the irrigated climate type. Hydrogeological indexes and the parameters of ground water horizon in the studied area justify the possibility of their research for water supply.

Palm plants provide important benefits for rural communities around the world. Of the 95 native palm species in Mexico, Brahea dulcis (Soyate palm) has been tagged as an important resource for many Mesoamerican ethnical groups. Scientific and empirical knowledge concerning Soyate is thematically fragmented and disassociated, meaning that sound sustainable management is far from established. Research of over 20 years has permitted us to document ecological, cultural and geographical outcomes of B. dulcis; thus, the present paper aims at compiling all knowledge on Soyate to eventually guide its long-term management. It was conducted in two stages: firstly, it comprised a thorough review of previous studies on the management of B. dulcis in Mexico; secondly, we integrated unpublished outcomes obtained from fieldwork, including participatory ground-truth validation and semi-structured interviews obtained from local ethnic groups. Five factors guided our compilation effort: (i) biological and ecological information, (ii) cultural importance, (iii) economic triggers, (iv) traditional management, and (v) ecological and ecogeographical implications of Soyate palm management. The present paper confirms that B. dulcis is an important cultural resource whose utilization can be traced back over 10,000 years. The leaves of Soyate are the most useful part of the palm and were profusely used in the past for thatching roofs and weaving domestic and agricultural objects. Currently, however, palm-leaf weaving is primarily oriented toward satisfying economic needs. We depicted ten management practices aimed at favoring palm availability. Most of these management practices have enhanced sustainable palm leaf harvesting; however, these practices harbor spatial trends that turn highly diverse habitats into Soyate-dominated spaces. To conclude, we propose a framework to describe sound and sustainable Soyate management in the light of the current long-term Soyate–human relationship. It is here acknowledged that Soyate has played and continues to play a critical socioeconomic and cultural role for many ethnical groups in Central Mexico. Nonetheless, emerging challenges concerning the sustainability of the whole socioecological system at a landscape level are yet to be overcome.

Abstract. The palaeobotanical record of early Palaeolithic sites from Western Europe indicates that hominins settled in different kinds of environments. During the "mid-Pleistocene transition (MPT)", from about 1 to 0.6 Ma, the transition from 41- to 100-ka dominant climatic oscillations, occurring within a long-term cooling trend, was associated with an aridity crisis which strongly modified the ecosystems. Starting from the MPT the more favourable climate of central and southern Italy provided propitious environmental conditions for long-term human occupations even during the glacial times. In fact, the human strategy of territory occupation was certainly driven by the availabilities of resources. Prehistoric sites such as Notarchirico (ca. 680–600 ka), La Pineta (ca. 600–620 ka), Guado San Nicola (ca. 380–350 ka) or Ceprano (ca. 345–355 ka) testify to a preferential occupation of the central and southern Apennines valleys during interglacial phases, while later interglacial occupations were oriented towards the coastal plains, as attested by the numerous settlements of the Roma Basin (ca. 300 ka). Faunal remains indicate that human subsistence behaviours benefited from a diversity of exploitable ecosystems, from semi-open to closed environments. In central and southern Italy, several palynological records have already illustrated the regional- and local-scale vegetation dynamic trends. During the Middle Pleistocene climate cycles, mixed mesophytic forests developed during the interglacial periods and withdrew in response to increasing aridity during the glacial episodes. New pollen data from the Boiano Basin (Molise, Italy) attest to the evolution of vegetation and climate between MIS 13 and 9 (ca. 500 to 300 ka). In this basin the persistence of high edaphic humidity, even during the glacial phases, could have favoured the establishment of a refuge area for the arboreal flora and provided subsistence resources for the animal and hominin communities during the Middle Pleistocene. This could have constrained human groups to migrate into such a propitious area. Regarding the local climate evolution during the glacial episodes, the supposed displacement from these sites could be linked to the environmental dynamics solely due to the aridity increase, rather than directly to the global climate changes.

A late Middle Pleistocene mandible from Baishiya Karst Cave (BKC) on the Tibetan Plateau has been inferred to be from a Denisovan, an Asian hominin related to Neanderthals, on the basis of an amino acid substitution in its collagen. Here we describe the stratigraphy, chronology, and mitochondrial DNA extracted from the sediments in BKC. We recover Denisovan mitochondrial DNA from sediments deposited ~100 thousand and ~60 thousand years ago (ka) and possibly as recently as ~45 ka. The long-term occupation of BKC by Denisovans suggests that they may have adapted to life at high altitudes and may have contributed such adaptations to modern humans on the Tibetan Plateau.