Coastal Information & Research Unit

Description

The Coastal Information and Research Unit (CIRU) is functioning within the Foundation for Research and Technology (FORTH), in Crete island (the second EU island in size and of socio-economic importance after Cyprus) in the SE Mediterranean. The research activities of the CIRU are related to the integrated study of the coastal environment (atmospheric, terrestrial and marine) with the aspiration of further develop state-of-art scientific contribution in the areas of (i) instrumentation/ field measurements for the coastal zone survey, (ii) risk assessment and prevention related to the impact of climatic change on the coastal zone, and (iii) coupling of coastal air-sea-land interaction related processes.

The Unit has participated in several research projects with major research institutes in Europe and worldwide, as well as the participation in R&D, EU funded projects (e.g. FP7 TRANSFER, INTERREG IIISud BEACHMED-e, Greek State/UK Educational Council). The CIRU has also secured funds for a joint Greek State/German Academic Exchange Service that cover one-year pilot mutual exchanges between the Unit and the Meteorological Institute of the University of Freiburg; this collaboration aims to acquire state-of-the-art know-how on climate change modelling and biometeorology.

Established synergies/clusters between the CIR Unit and the local community of Crete include among others: (i) acquisition of data sets from the environmental monitoring network of Crete, and their operational utilization jointly with the Natural Disasters & Risk Assessment Bureau of the Region of Crete; and, (ii) study of bioclimatic conditions and particulate matter pollution (PM2.5 and smaller, SO2 etc.) in Crete, jointly with the University Hospital of Crete. A common objective is the capability of issuing early warnings for extreme phenomena, contributing to the upgrading of public safety and health in the region. Furthermore, members of the Unit often announce their work to local media and advice local stakeholder and public authorities on related issues of environmental management, in a continuous effort to widen the visibility of the Unit at a regional level and contribute as well to the regional development and community welfare.

Research Activities

• Processes that control the evolution of the coastal zone. Land – ocean interaction
  Use of combined methods of field surveys and the use of field measurements to acquire data to calibrate the numerical models that are developed by the unit with aim to simulate the actual environment.
• Climatic change impact on the coastal zone - risk assessment and prevention - modelling/simulation
  The CIR unit is working on methods and numerical models being used to estimate the trend of coastal erosion, the vulnerability of the coasts and provide information on protection methods, beach replenishment and floods risk.
• Coupling of coastal sea-air interaction related processes
• Bioclimatic studies
  The unit closely collaborates with the University Hospital of Crete on a bioclimatic study of major cities of the island. Sachara dust events are in the scope of future study.
• Floods modeling and simulation
  Study of long waves, extreme weather floods of coastal areas, tsunamis risk.

Projects

• SIMO An Information system for the numerical simulation and forecasting of floods, French-Greek Integrated Actions PLATON 1999, 2000-01.
• Environmental friendly treatment of the coasts using floating barriers, GSRT-Hellas, PENED-01, 2003-2005.
• PREVENT-EUTROPHICATION Prevention of eutrophication via aeration, French-Greek Integrated Actions PLATON 2002, 2003-04.
• Parabolic models for 3D acoustic propagation in the sea, French-Greek Integrated Actions PLATON 2002, 2003-04.
• OMATI A WEB integrated information system for the numerical simulation of floods, French-Greek Integrated Actions PLATON 2004, 2005-06.
• Transfer. Tsunami Risk And Strategies For the European Region FP6 6.3.IV.2.2 2006-2009
• BEACHMED-e La gestion stratégique de la défense des littoraux pour un développement soutenable des zones côtières de la Méditerranée, INTERREG IIIC Zone Sud, 2006-2008.
• Study of the hydrodynamics and sediment dynamics at the coastal zone of the Gournes area of the County of Heraklio (Island of Crete) for the confronting of coastal erosion. Partnerships in science and technology joint research and technology programmes (2002-2004)

Collaborations

• Universities/ Research Institutes/Organizations
  • School of Medicine, University of Crete
  • Technical University of Crete
  • Aristotle University of Thesalloniki
  • Hellenic Center for Marine Research
  • National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
  • University of Patras
  • Technological Educational Institute of Crete
  • INRIA, Rocquencourt, France
  • University of Freiburg
  • University of Southampton
  • ERCIM Environmental Modelling WG
  • Universidad Politechica De Madrid
  • Southampton Oceanography Centre
  • NOAA, USA
• Public Authorities
  • Region of Crete
    • Directorate of Civil protection
    • ICT Department
    • Directorate of Environment+Land Use/planning
  • University Hospital of Crete
  • Organization for the Development of Eastern Crete
  • Organization for the Development of Western Crete

Members

• Researchers
  • Prof. V. A. Dougalis, Director of IACM-FORTH
  • Prof. C. Synolakis
  • Senior Res. N. A. Kampanis
  • Assist. Prof. S. Poulos
  • Assist. Prof. P. Nastos
  • Assist. Prof. A. Delis
    
    
• Research Technicians
  • E. Flouri
    
  
  
• Graduate Students
  • G. Kozirakis (University of Aegean, Dept. of Marine Science)
  • S. Fotinis (Dept of Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Crete)
  • N. Kalligieris (Dept. of Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Crete)
  • M. Kazolea  (Dept of Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Crete)
    
    
• The CIR Unit collaborates closely with the Regional Analysis Group of IACM-FORTH

External Collaborators

• Prof Ch. Koutitas, Aristotle University of Thesalloniki
• Assoc. Prof. Th. Karambas, Dept. of Marine Science, University of the Aegean
• Assist. Prof. P. Aggouridakis, Medicine Dept., University of Crete
• Assist. Prof. G. Kochiadakis, Medicine Dept., University of Crete

Examples

• Extreme weather flood
• Erosion and protection methods (a, b)
• Tsunami simulation (2D,3D)

Perspectives

The CIR Unit aspires to play a central role to the integrated information, research and the civil planning of the coastal environment in South Eastern Europe and Mediterranean, by providing information and data to the stakeholders. Aspects that the CIR Unit emphasises are:
• The coastline stability and mitigation of coastal erosion phenomena, and human health and safety, being in alignment with the principles and elements of the Protocol on Integrated Costal Zone Management (ICZM) for the Mediterranean.
• Information for the integrated coastal zone management and spatial planning orientated towards environmental protection and sustainable use of resources for enhancing regional socio-economic development.