PEFYKA - KRIPIS

The natural environment in Greece is extremely rich in flora, fauna, habitats and ecosystems basically due to its special geographical position. The last decades Greece has experienced serious problems of pollution of air, soil and water resources. The continuing urbanization and the constant expansion of cities have caused significant environmental problems both in the developed urban environment (e.g. air pollution), as well as the nearby rural areas with increased incidents of fires, waste disposals, numerous roadways, etc. Climate change exacerbates many of these problems and creates additional risks. Increases in the average temperature, the change in level and distribution of rainfall, intensity of extreme weather events and associated natural disasters (forest fires, floods, droughts, etc.), rising sea levels and increased risk of induced erosion of the coast are some of them.

The basin of the Eastern Mediterranean is among the regions most affected by global warming which makes it vital to study and predict the expected changes and the early adaptation to them. Furthermore, the position of Greece in a seismically active area makes it important to develop effective methods for monitoring seismic activity, studying tidal waves (tsunami) and developing methods for civil protection. Apart from the natural environment a determinant for quality of life in cities is the quality man-made urban environment. This environment depends on the topography of the city, the place and the surroundings in which people live and work, access to various services, exposure to air, noise, electromagnetic pollution, social and demographic characteristics, etc.

PEFYKA has been organized in five work packages (WP):

• WP1: New techniques for measuring and improving air quality
• WP2: New techniques for the study and monitoring of the marine environment
• WP3: New techniques for surveying and improving quality of soil and water systems
• WP4: Prediction and management of risks from natural disasters and climate change
• WP5: Anticipating, planning and improving quality of the urban environment

The expected results of the project are:

1. The development of innovative methods for monitoring the quality and changes in the natural and urban environment.
2. The development of effective new methods for imaging the subsurface (both on land and the interior of the sea).
3. Study, risk assessment and planning systems for handling natural disasters and climate change impacts.
4. The development of technologies to improve the quality of the environment.
5. The training of young researchers - graduate students and postdoctoral researchers - in cutting-edge environmental research.