Papers by Nasos Argyriou
International Journal of Disaster Risk Science, 2019
Within the framework of disaster risk management, this article proposes an interdisciplinary meth... more Within the framework of disaster risk management, this article proposes an interdisciplinary method for the analysis of multiple natural hazards, including climate change’s influences, in the context of cultural heritage. A taxonomy of natural hazards applicable to cultural heritage was developed based on the existing theoretical and conceptual frameworks. Sudden-onset hazards, such as earthquakes and floods, and slow-onset hazards, such as wetting–drying cycles and biological contamination, were incorporated into the hazard assessment procedure. Future alteration of conditions due to climate change, such as change in heat waves’ duration, was also taken into account. The proposed hazard assessment framework was applied to the case of the Historic Centre of Rethymno, a city on the northern coast of the island of Crete in Greece, to identify, analyze, and prioritize the hazards that have the potential to cause damage to the center’s historic structures. The assessment procedure includes climate model projections, GIS spatial modeling and mapping, and finally a hazard analysis matrix to enable the sharing of a better understanding of multiple hazards with the stakeholders. The results can facilitate decision making by providing the vulnerability and risk analysis with the nature and spatial distribution of the significant hazards within the study area and its setting.
Journal of Structural Geology, 2017
Geomorphic indices can be used to examine the geomorphological and tectonic processes responsible... more Geomorphic indices can be used to examine the geomorphological and tectonic processes responsible for the development of the drainage basins. Such indices can be dependent on tectonics, erosional processes and other factors that control the morphology of the landforms. The inter-relationships between geomorphic indices can determine the influence of regional tectonic activity in the shape development of drainage basins. A Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) procedure has been used to perform an integrated cluster analysis that highlights information associated with the dominant regional tectonic activity. Factor Analysis (FA) and Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) were considered within that procedure, producing a representation of the distributed regional tectonic activity of the drainage basins studied. The study area is western Crete, located in the outer fore-arc of the Hellenic subduction zone, one of the world's most tectonically active regions. The results indicate that in the landscape evolution of the study area (especially the western basins) tectonic controls dominate over lithological controls.
PLOSONE, 2017
Various physical attributes of the Earth's surface are factors that influence local topography an... more Various physical attributes of the Earth's surface are factors that influence local topography and indirectly influence human behaviour in terms of habitation locations. The determination of geomorphological setting plays an important role in archaeological landscape research. Several landform types can be distinguished by characteristic geomorphic attributes that portray the landscape surrounding a settlement and influence its ability to sustain a population. Geomorphometric landform information, derived from digital elevation models (DEMs), such as the ASTER Global DEM, can provide useful insights into the processes shaping landscapes. This work examines the influence of landform classification on the settlement locations of Bronze Age (Minoan) Crete, focusing on the districts of Phaistos, Kavousi and Vrokastro. The landform classification was based on the topographic position index (TPI) and deviation from mean elevation (DEV) analysis to highlight slope steepness of various landform classes, characterizing the surrounding landscape environment of the settlements locations. The outcomes indicate no interrelationship between the settlement locations and topography during the Early Minoan period, but a significant interrelationship exists during the later Minoan periods with the presence of more organised societies. The landform classification can provide insights into factors favouring human habitation and can contribute to archaeological predictive modelling.
International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation, 2016
The geodiversity of Crete is quantified in this study, based on the classification of geomorphome... more The geodiversity of Crete is quantified in this study, based on the classification of geomorphometric, geological and climatic factors. A number of geomorphometric variables, extracted from the ASTER Global Digital Elevation Model (ASTER G-DEM) in conjunction with geological and climatic information, are evaluated through various algorithms incorporated into Geographical Information System (GIS) software’s. The derived geoinformatic data sets are then analyzed to produce the geodiversity of Crete. The geodiversity map is used to quantify the geodiversity, by calculating landscape diversity and other spatial pattern indices. Those indices are evaluating the richness, evenness, fragmentation and shape of the landscape patch types. The outcome of this study has highlighted that western Crete is characterized by complex geodiversity with more irregular, elongated and fragmented landscape patterns relative to the eastern part of the island. The geodiversity indices provide insights into the processes shaping landscapes, particularly the “battle” between neotectonic landscape deformation and erosion/deposition. The methodology presented can be useful for decision makers when evaluating a regions geological heritage, planning the management of natural resources, or designating areas for conservation.
The Neolithic period in Europe (6800–2000 BC) is widely considered a key epoch in the evolving re... more The Neolithic period in Europe (6800–2000 BC) is widely considered a key epoch in the evolving relationship of human beings and their inhabitable environment. Groups of hunters
and gatherers gave way to more sedentary agrarian societies involved with animal husbandry and the cultivation of subsistence crops. Various interdisciplinary studies have focused on settlement patterns of the Neolithic period and Greece and Thessaly have been particularly challenging in this respect, being considered one of the first regions in Europe where these new groups developed. Indeed, Thessalian geography and geology make it a closed geographical unit with well-defined natural boundaries and sub divisions. It is therefore a promising region for reconstructing the major habitation models of Neolithic farming groups in Greece and examining the relation over time of the anthropic and natural landscapes.
Geomorphology, 2016
This study of drainage systems in a tectonically active region is based on the Geographical Infor... more This study of drainage systems in a tectonically active region is based on the Geographical Information Systems (GIS) integration of data from an analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and a weighted linear combination (WLC) procedure with multiple criteria data. A set of thematic maps were produced, based on existing geological maps and freely-available ASTER Global DEM elevation data, using various geological information (i.e. lineaments and lithologies), geomorphometric indices (i.e. slope gradient, drainage density, stream frequency, and the topographic wetness index) and morphotectonic indices (i.e. amplitude of relief and stream length gradient) that highlight areas of neotectonic deformation. The weights of the factors were determined using AHP and WLC. A neotectonic landscape deformation index (NLDI) is computed as the sum of the various weighted factors to provide a map of neotectonic landscape deformation. The main objective of this study was to analyse and map the intra-basin spatial variations in neotectonic landscape deformation: five classes, very low to very high, were determined. High to very high activity zones are linked with known and newly detected active fault zones. The methodology could be developed into a low-cost technique for assessing seismic hazard, guiding disaster risk reduction activities. It can provide an alternative to the Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) approach for highlighting zones of neotectonic deformation, particularly in regions where dense vegetation or snow cover renders InSAR ineffective.
Computers, Environment and Urban Systems, 2015
Cultural heritage (CH) sites are threatened from a variety of natural and anthropogenic factors. ... more Cultural heritage (CH) sites are threatened from a variety of natural and anthropogenic factors. Innovative and cost effective tools for systematic monitoring of landscapes and CH sites are needed to protect them. Towards this direction, the article presents a multidisciplinary approach, based on remote sensing techniques and Geographical Information System (GIS) analysis, in order to assess the overall risk in the Paphos district (Cyprus). Paphos region has a great deal of archaeological sites and isolated monuments, which reflect the long history of the area, while some of them are also listed in the UNESCO catalogue of World Cultural Heritage sites. Several natural and anthropogenic hazards have been mapped using different remote sensing data and methodologies. All data were gathered from satellite images and satellite products. The results from each hazard were imported into a GIS environment in order to examine the overall risk assessment based on the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) methodology. The results found that the methodology applied was effective enough in the understanding of the current conservation circumstances of the monuments in relation to their environment as well as predicting the future development of the present hazards.
In the framework of the AncientCity project -ARISTEIA II Αction-, extensive and non-destructive f... more In the framework of the AncientCity project -ARISTEIA II Αction-, extensive and non-destructive field campaigns have been conducted in 2014 in several sites in Greece, known for their being the location of classical cities. Together with geophysical investigations, a number of other remotely sensed methods have been employed for the understanding of classical urban Greece. Specific modules consisted in the accurate and comparative investigation of different sets of satellite, aerial and low-altitude images. This analysis, that normally precedes and is strictly connected with the actual fieldwork, produced encouraging results that enhanced our understanding of Greek urbanism. Indeed, the geophysical survey was implemented to confirm and modify the findings of aerial remote sensing, uncovering at the same time additional urban features at a higher resolution. This paper describes the approach and presents some results of the aerial remote sensing module, which included the use of satellite images, aerial archive vertical imagery and low altitude photographs taken by means of remotely piloted aerial vehicle.
Natural hazards, such as earthquakes, can have a large destructive effect on cultural... more Natural hazards, such as earthquakes, can have a large destructive effect on cultural heritage sites conservation. This study aims to assess from a geospatial perspective the risk from natural hazards for the archaeological sites and monuments and evaluate the potential tectonic activity impact on the cultural and historic heritage. Geomorphometric data derivatives that can be extracted from Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) provide
information relevant with active tectonics. The specific extracted tectonic information when being used on the basis of analytical hierarchy process and weighted linear combination approach can offer an important robust approach. The ranking of the derived information relatively to specific criteria of weights can enhance the interrelationships and assemblages over neotectonics aspects. The outcomes of that methodological framework can propose an assessment approach for the spatial distribution of neotectonic activity and can become a useful tool to assessing seismic hazard for disaster risk reduction. The risk assessment aspects of such a hazard are being interlinked with the archaeological sites in order to highlight and examine those that are exposed on ongoing tectonic activity and seismic hazard. Paphos area
in Cyprus has been used as the test bed for the particular analysis. The results show an important number of archaeological sites being located within zones of high degree of neotectonic activity.
This study examines whether Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) can be used to highlight zones of neo... more This study examines whether Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) can be used to highlight zones of neotectonic
deformation. Away from well-exposed coastal zones, the assessment of regional tectonic deformation is often hampered by
dense vegetation, steep-sided high relief and rugged, poorly-accessible terrain. Such regions are of prior interest in
examining and understanding their neotectonic status.
The test region for this study is the island of Crete, located in the outer forearc of the Hellenic subduction zone,
associated with collision of the African plate and the Eurasian plate. This tectonic setting affects the island's landscape,
with mountainous relief and geomorphological processes that are strongly influenced by neotectonic deformation of the
ground surface.
A set of geomorphometric analyses of SRTM DEMs (such as asymmetry factor, mountain front sinuosity,
stream-length gradient index, amplitude relief etc.), were compared with drainage basin geomorphological variations.
Some of the characteristic features associated withthe deformation of the bedrock and the landscape of the study area
were: i) tectonically active mountain fronts; ii) uplifted and tilted blocks and; iii) migration of streams due to tectonic
control. Consideration of multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) approach combines various extracted SRTM DEMbased geomorphometrics for detecting zones of neotectonic deformation.
The methodology developed in this study provides a low-cost reconnaissance tool for assessing regionaltectonic
regimes and zones of neotectonic activity. It can provide a useful alternative to Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar
(InSAR) data for highlighting zones of neotectonic deformation, particularly where vegetation or snow cover limits the
effectiveness of InSAR.
The investigation of neotectonic activity is of high priority when dealing with inaccessible regi... more The investigation of neotectonic activity is of high priority when dealing with inaccessible regions where a lack of data and a limited knowledge of the tectonic activity is often typical. There are various individual analyses that investigate features associated with neotectonic activity (for example geoinformatics, geophysical methods and field surveys). However, none of these methods combine low cost techniques based on geospatial and geophysical technologies with field validation of the outcomes. This study offers a methodology that covers all aforementioned approaches for detecting zones of neotectonic activity, linking computer-based observations with actual field observations and geophysical
measurements. The combination of satellite imagery and DEM analysis can provide a cost-effective alternative to satellite radar interferometric analysis (InSar) and differential GPS monitoring.
Crete is a complex, tectonically active region: an ideal “natural laboratory” to assess the interaction between neotectonic processes and geomorphological processes in landscape evolution and to test the effectiveness of geomorphometric methods for determining zones of neotectonic activity.
Geoinformatic and geomorphometric techniques have been used here to assess landscape evolution in tectonically active zones. The results provide new information about the influence of tectonic and erosional processes on geomorphological evolution, with specific insights into the interactions between neotectonic deformation, faulting and drainage networks.
Geomorphic indices have been used here to evaluate neotectonic behaviour at regional and local scales, identifying uplifted blocks, valley-floor tilting and zones of relatively intense neotectonic activity. Landsat ETM+ imagery and DEMs were used to discriminate lithological boundaries and identify lineaments. Field and VLF geophysical surveys verified that the lineaments coincide with faults. The GIS based multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) was considered as a strong approach to integrate the various factors associated with tectonic activity and to highlight, spatially, the potential zones undergoing active tectonic control.
Drafts by Nasos Argyriou
The Laboratory of Geophysical, Satellite Remote Sensing and Archaeoenvironment (GeoSat ReSeArch) ... more The Laboratory of Geophysical, Satellite Remote Sensing and Archaeoenvironment (GeoSat ReSeArch) of the Institute for Mediterranean Studies (IMS) of the Foundation for Research and Technology (FORTH) conducted a geophysical survey at the Greek settlement of Elis in the Peloponnese during 9-13 November 2014. The purpose of the survey was to explore the urban characteristics and boundaries of the settlement beyond the agora and central region of the city. Since archaeological excavations have focused primarily on the core of the settlement, many uncertainties persist concerning the general layout of Elis. Geophysics was successful in identifying an orthogonal street system that extends well beyond the agora. This evidence complements a previous geophysical survey carried out in 2003 by the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and the GeoSat ReSeArch Lab of IMS-FORTH. Elis can now be counted as one of the few planned classical settlements in the Peloponnese that are known to archaeologists. In addition to the streets, geophysics also recovered evidence of buried architecture, possibly from domestic structures. Overall, the new data reveal much about the wider urban dynamics of Elis.
The Laboratory of Geophysical, Satellite Remote Sensing and Archaeoenvironment (GeoSat ReSeArch) ... more The Laboratory of Geophysical, Satellite Remote Sensing and Archaeoenvironment (GeoSat ReSeArch) of the Institute for Mediterranean Studies (FORTH) conducted a geophysical survey at the Greek settlement of Mantinea in the Peloponnese during 3-7 November 2014. This was the second phase of fieldwork following geophysical prospection from 4-10 May 2014. The purpose of the second survey was to broaden the scope of site exploration inside the city walls of Mantinea and to further map the near-surface street system and buried architectural features. The general layout of the city was largely unknown prior to the two geophysical surveys in 2014, but now a large region of the ancient urban environment (more than 25%) has been mapped and documented. Most notably, geophysics was successful in identifying an extensive network of orthogonal streets and city-blocks, as well as near-surface buildings. This new and valuable information reveals much about the wider urban dynamics of Mantinea and places the city within the framework of Greek planned settlements in the Peloponnese and beyond.
Conference Presentations by Nasos Argyriou
Editorial o ce: I A E P A S , -Warsaw; Al. Solidarności Tel. ( ) ext. ; Fax. ( )
Registration and mapping of Neolithic settlements, VHR/HS Space imagery & GIS spatial analyses fo... more Registration and mapping of Neolithic settlements, VHR/HS Space imagery & GIS spatial analyses for Regional site distribution patterns among ecological and topographic zones of Thessaly.
A multidisciplinary geological and geophysical study is underway to assess newly recognised
flank... more A multidisciplinary geological and geophysical study is underway to assess newly recognised
flank instability on the north slope of Morne aux Diables volcano, the northernmost of nine
volcanic centres on the island of Dominica. Bathymetric data suggests that offshore the slope
is truncated by an active fault structure with a dip-slip component that causes uplift of the
unstable flank. Onshore, field, remote sensing and VLF geophysical surveys reveal an
unstable complex, occurring above inferred deep-seated rotational failure planes, that
includes open water-filled fissures associated with spreading and toppling failures. Largescale
failures have the potential to generate devastating tsunami that would inundate coastal
zones of Guadeloupe only 30 km to the north. A relatively small potential landslide block of
~1 M tonnes on the seaward margin of the instability complex that has large tension cracks
on its upslope margin is particularly notable. Failure of this block could destabilise an even
larger adjacent upslope block (~ 3 M tonnes), and preliminary modelling calculations indicate
that landslides at these scales could trigger tsunami waves, locally reaching up to 4 m in
height, which would cause significant inundation along the southern coast of Guadeloupe.
Such failures might be expected to be triggered by earthquakes occurring at the subduction
interface, or in the overlying upper plate. However, a ML 6.0 event in 2004 some 20 km NW
of Dominica did not generate significant landsliding. It may be that a combination of large
earthquakes occurring in the wet season is required to initiate renewed movement on deepseated
failure planes.
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Papers by Nasos Argyriou
and gatherers gave way to more sedentary agrarian societies involved with animal husbandry and the cultivation of subsistence crops. Various interdisciplinary studies have focused on settlement patterns of the Neolithic period and Greece and Thessaly have been particularly challenging in this respect, being considered one of the first regions in Europe where these new groups developed. Indeed, Thessalian geography and geology make it a closed geographical unit with well-defined natural boundaries and sub divisions. It is therefore a promising region for reconstructing the major habitation models of Neolithic farming groups in Greece and examining the relation over time of the anthropic and natural landscapes.
information relevant with active tectonics. The specific extracted tectonic information when being used on the basis of analytical hierarchy process and weighted linear combination approach can offer an important robust approach. The ranking of the derived information relatively to specific criteria of weights can enhance the interrelationships and assemblages over neotectonics aspects. The outcomes of that methodological framework can propose an assessment approach for the spatial distribution of neotectonic activity and can become a useful tool to assessing seismic hazard for disaster risk reduction. The risk assessment aspects of such a hazard are being interlinked with the archaeological sites in order to highlight and examine those that are exposed on ongoing tectonic activity and seismic hazard. Paphos area
in Cyprus has been used as the test bed for the particular analysis. The results show an important number of archaeological sites being located within zones of high degree of neotectonic activity.
deformation. Away from well-exposed coastal zones, the assessment of regional tectonic deformation is often hampered by
dense vegetation, steep-sided high relief and rugged, poorly-accessible terrain. Such regions are of prior interest in
examining and understanding their neotectonic status.
The test region for this study is the island of Crete, located in the outer forearc of the Hellenic subduction zone,
associated with collision of the African plate and the Eurasian plate. This tectonic setting affects the island's landscape,
with mountainous relief and geomorphological processes that are strongly influenced by neotectonic deformation of the
ground surface.
A set of geomorphometric analyses of SRTM DEMs (such as asymmetry factor, mountain front sinuosity,
stream-length gradient index, amplitude relief etc.), were compared with drainage basin geomorphological variations.
Some of the characteristic features associated withthe deformation of the bedrock and the landscape of the study area
were: i) tectonically active mountain fronts; ii) uplifted and tilted blocks and; iii) migration of streams due to tectonic
control. Consideration of multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) approach combines various extracted SRTM DEMbased geomorphometrics for detecting zones of neotectonic deformation.
The methodology developed in this study provides a low-cost reconnaissance tool for assessing regionaltectonic
regimes and zones of neotectonic activity. It can provide a useful alternative to Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar
(InSAR) data for highlighting zones of neotectonic deformation, particularly where vegetation or snow cover limits the
effectiveness of InSAR.
measurements. The combination of satellite imagery and DEM analysis can provide a cost-effective alternative to satellite radar interferometric analysis (InSar) and differential GPS monitoring.
Crete is a complex, tectonically active region: an ideal “natural laboratory” to assess the interaction between neotectonic processes and geomorphological processes in landscape evolution and to test the effectiveness of geomorphometric methods for determining zones of neotectonic activity.
Geoinformatic and geomorphometric techniques have been used here to assess landscape evolution in tectonically active zones. The results provide new information about the influence of tectonic and erosional processes on geomorphological evolution, with specific insights into the interactions between neotectonic deformation, faulting and drainage networks.
Geomorphic indices have been used here to evaluate neotectonic behaviour at regional and local scales, identifying uplifted blocks, valley-floor tilting and zones of relatively intense neotectonic activity. Landsat ETM+ imagery and DEMs were used to discriminate lithological boundaries and identify lineaments. Field and VLF geophysical surveys verified that the lineaments coincide with faults. The GIS based multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) was considered as a strong approach to integrate the various factors associated with tectonic activity and to highlight, spatially, the potential zones undergoing active tectonic control.
Drafts by Nasos Argyriou
Conference Presentations by Nasos Argyriou
flank instability on the north slope of Morne aux Diables volcano, the northernmost of nine
volcanic centres on the island of Dominica. Bathymetric data suggests that offshore the slope
is truncated by an active fault structure with a dip-slip component that causes uplift of the
unstable flank. Onshore, field, remote sensing and VLF geophysical surveys reveal an
unstable complex, occurring above inferred deep-seated rotational failure planes, that
includes open water-filled fissures associated with spreading and toppling failures. Largescale
failures have the potential to generate devastating tsunami that would inundate coastal
zones of Guadeloupe only 30 km to the north. A relatively small potential landslide block of
~1 M tonnes on the seaward margin of the instability complex that has large tension cracks
on its upslope margin is particularly notable. Failure of this block could destabilise an even
larger adjacent upslope block (~ 3 M tonnes), and preliminary modelling calculations indicate
that landslides at these scales could trigger tsunami waves, locally reaching up to 4 m in
height, which would cause significant inundation along the southern coast of Guadeloupe.
Such failures might be expected to be triggered by earthquakes occurring at the subduction
interface, or in the overlying upper plate. However, a ML 6.0 event in 2004 some 20 km NW
of Dominica did not generate significant landsliding. It may be that a combination of large
earthquakes occurring in the wet season is required to initiate renewed movement on deepseated
failure planes.
and gatherers gave way to more sedentary agrarian societies involved with animal husbandry and the cultivation of subsistence crops. Various interdisciplinary studies have focused on settlement patterns of the Neolithic period and Greece and Thessaly have been particularly challenging in this respect, being considered one of the first regions in Europe where these new groups developed. Indeed, Thessalian geography and geology make it a closed geographical unit with well-defined natural boundaries and sub divisions. It is therefore a promising region for reconstructing the major habitation models of Neolithic farming groups in Greece and examining the relation over time of the anthropic and natural landscapes.
information relevant with active tectonics. The specific extracted tectonic information when being used on the basis of analytical hierarchy process and weighted linear combination approach can offer an important robust approach. The ranking of the derived information relatively to specific criteria of weights can enhance the interrelationships and assemblages over neotectonics aspects. The outcomes of that methodological framework can propose an assessment approach for the spatial distribution of neotectonic activity and can become a useful tool to assessing seismic hazard for disaster risk reduction. The risk assessment aspects of such a hazard are being interlinked with the archaeological sites in order to highlight and examine those that are exposed on ongoing tectonic activity and seismic hazard. Paphos area
in Cyprus has been used as the test bed for the particular analysis. The results show an important number of archaeological sites being located within zones of high degree of neotectonic activity.
deformation. Away from well-exposed coastal zones, the assessment of regional tectonic deformation is often hampered by
dense vegetation, steep-sided high relief and rugged, poorly-accessible terrain. Such regions are of prior interest in
examining and understanding their neotectonic status.
The test region for this study is the island of Crete, located in the outer forearc of the Hellenic subduction zone,
associated with collision of the African plate and the Eurasian plate. This tectonic setting affects the island's landscape,
with mountainous relief and geomorphological processes that are strongly influenced by neotectonic deformation of the
ground surface.
A set of geomorphometric analyses of SRTM DEMs (such as asymmetry factor, mountain front sinuosity,
stream-length gradient index, amplitude relief etc.), were compared with drainage basin geomorphological variations.
Some of the characteristic features associated withthe deformation of the bedrock and the landscape of the study area
were: i) tectonically active mountain fronts; ii) uplifted and tilted blocks and; iii) migration of streams due to tectonic
control. Consideration of multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) approach combines various extracted SRTM DEMbased geomorphometrics for detecting zones of neotectonic deformation.
The methodology developed in this study provides a low-cost reconnaissance tool for assessing regionaltectonic
regimes and zones of neotectonic activity. It can provide a useful alternative to Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar
(InSAR) data for highlighting zones of neotectonic deformation, particularly where vegetation or snow cover limits the
effectiveness of InSAR.
measurements. The combination of satellite imagery and DEM analysis can provide a cost-effective alternative to satellite radar interferometric analysis (InSar) and differential GPS monitoring.
Crete is a complex, tectonically active region: an ideal “natural laboratory” to assess the interaction between neotectonic processes and geomorphological processes in landscape evolution and to test the effectiveness of geomorphometric methods for determining zones of neotectonic activity.
Geoinformatic and geomorphometric techniques have been used here to assess landscape evolution in tectonically active zones. The results provide new information about the influence of tectonic and erosional processes on geomorphological evolution, with specific insights into the interactions between neotectonic deformation, faulting and drainage networks.
Geomorphic indices have been used here to evaluate neotectonic behaviour at regional and local scales, identifying uplifted blocks, valley-floor tilting and zones of relatively intense neotectonic activity. Landsat ETM+ imagery and DEMs were used to discriminate lithological boundaries and identify lineaments. Field and VLF geophysical surveys verified that the lineaments coincide with faults. The GIS based multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) was considered as a strong approach to integrate the various factors associated with tectonic activity and to highlight, spatially, the potential zones undergoing active tectonic control.
flank instability on the north slope of Morne aux Diables volcano, the northernmost of nine
volcanic centres on the island of Dominica. Bathymetric data suggests that offshore the slope
is truncated by an active fault structure with a dip-slip component that causes uplift of the
unstable flank. Onshore, field, remote sensing and VLF geophysical surveys reveal an
unstable complex, occurring above inferred deep-seated rotational failure planes, that
includes open water-filled fissures associated with spreading and toppling failures. Largescale
failures have the potential to generate devastating tsunami that would inundate coastal
zones of Guadeloupe only 30 km to the north. A relatively small potential landslide block of
~1 M tonnes on the seaward margin of the instability complex that has large tension cracks
on its upslope margin is particularly notable. Failure of this block could destabilise an even
larger adjacent upslope block (~ 3 M tonnes), and preliminary modelling calculations indicate
that landslides at these scales could trigger tsunami waves, locally reaching up to 4 m in
height, which would cause significant inundation along the southern coast of Guadeloupe.
Such failures might be expected to be triggered by earthquakes occurring at the subduction
interface, or in the overlying upper plate. However, a ML 6.0 event in 2004 some 20 km NW
of Dominica did not generate significant landsliding. It may be that a combination of large
earthquakes occurring in the wet season is required to initiate renewed movement on deepseated
failure planes.