Bulletin of the Geological Society of Greece, Jan 25, 2017
A simulation is presented of the operation of a brackish karst spring with the MODKARST determini... more A simulation is presented of the operation of a brackish karst spring with the MODKARST deterministic mathematical model under not enough data conditions. MODKARST is a deterministic mathematical model for karst springs, able to accommodate brackish water. It incorporates mass and energy balances in a system of reservoirs properly connected that approximates the karst system and the sea. A complete fitting for this model needs field measurements about spring discharge and spring water chloride concentration at least for a hydrological year. The particular case analysed is the "Potami" brackish karst spring at Himara in Albania. MODKARST simulated the hydrograph along with the variation with time of the chloride concentration. The fitting of the model was based only on chloride concentrations measurements of the spring water that have taken place from 1/5/2007 till 27/12/2007, since there were not spring discharge measurements except for a single one, which simply gave the order of magnitude of this parameter. From the simulation of the model, information was drawn about the recharge area, the effective infiltration coefficient and the dominant seawater intrusion mechanism of the spring. Taking the above information into account, a set of proposals for the sustainable development of the spring was sketched.
Lake Butrint (39°47 N, 20°1 E) is a ca. 21 m deep, coastal lagoon located in SW Albania where fin... more Lake Butrint (39°47 N, 20°1 E) is a ca. 21 m deep, coastal lagoon located in SW Albania where finely-laminated sediments have been continuously deposited during the last millennia. The multi-proxy analysis (sedimentology, high-resolution elemental geochemistry and pollen) of a 12 m long sediment core, supported by seven AMS radiocarbon dates and 137 Cs dating, enable a precise reconstruction of the environmental change that occurred in the central Mediterranean region during the last ~4.5 cal kyrs BP. Sediments consist of triplets of authigenic carbonates, organic matter and clayey laminae. Fluctuations in the thickness and/or presence of these different types of seasonal laminae indicate variations in water salinity, organic productivity and runoff in the lake's catchment, as a result of the complex interplay of tectonics, anthropogenic forcing and climate variability. The progradation of the Pavllo river delta, favoured by variable human activity from the nearby ancient city of Butrint, led to the progressive isolation of this hydrological system from the Ionian Sea. The system evolved from an open bay to a restricted lagoon, which is consistent with archaeological data. An abrupt increase in mass-wasting activity between 1515 and 1450 BC, likely caused by nearby seismic activity, led to the accumulation of 24 homogenites, up to 17 cm thick. They have been deposited during the onset of finely laminated sedimentation, which indicates restricted, anoxic bottom water conditions and higher salinity. Periods of maximum water salinity, biological productivity, and carbonate precipitation coincide with warmer intervals, such as the early Roman Warm Period (RWP) (500 BC-0 AD), the Medieval Climate Anomaly (MCA) (800-1400 AD) and recent times (after 1800 AD). Conversely, lower salinity and more oxic conditions, with higher clastic input were recorded during 1400-500 BC, the Late Roman and the Early Medieval periods (0-800 AD) and during the Little Ice Age (1400-1800 AD). Hydrological fluctuations recorded
The coastal karstic aquifer of Mt. Oyramanges (1864 m asl) is located in the Vlora Bay, along the... more The coastal karstic aquifer of Mt. Oyramanges (1864 m asl) is located in the Vlora Bay, along the Adriatic coast. The quality of the spring water there is so high that it is used to supply the drinking supply of the second largest Albanian town, Vlora. Starting from a geological and tectonic conceptualization of the area, a GIS approach based on long-term rainfall, temperature and river yield time series has been used to define hydrologic balance. The assessment of recharge and the measurement of sub-aerial spring discharge permit the rough assessment of submarine groundwater discharge. The definition of the flow domain and of groundwater chemical features is pursued with an ongoing survey which includes chemical and isotopic analyses of rainfall, groundwater and sea water.
Bulletin of the Geological Society of Greece, 2017
A simulation is presented of the operation of a brackish karst spring with the MODKARST determini... more A simulation is presented of the operation of a brackish karst spring with the MODKARST deterministic mathematical model under not enough data conditions. MODKARST is a deterministic mathematical model for karst springs, able to accommodate brackish water. It incorporates mass and energy balances in a system of reservoirs properly connected that approximates the karst system and the sea. A complete fitting for this model needs field measurements about spring discharge and spring water chloride concentration at least for a hydrological year. The particular case analysed is the “Potami” brackish karst spring at Himara in Albania. MODKARST simulated the hydrograph along with the variation with time of the chloride concentration. The fitting of the model was based only on chloride concentrations measurements of the spring water that have taken place from 1/5/2007 till 27/12/2007, since there were not spring discharge measurements except for a single one, which simply gave the order of m...
The study discusses the large karstic coastal aquifer of Vlora Bay. This case is peculiar, as the... more The study discusses the large karstic coastal aquifer of Vlora Bay. This case is peculiar, as the submarine groundwater discharge has a relevant rate of terrestrial inflow in an almost closed bay that is located in an environmentally valuable area. The study is based on four methodological activities: geological and hydrogeological conceptualisation, climatic study and hydrological balance, numerical modelling, and monitoring. A geodatabase was created considering hundreds of data points (wells, springs, rivers, lagoons, and seas) and monthly time series of rainfall, temperature, and river discharge. Monitoring activity was realised over a hydrological year, installing a rainfall network tool and using a network of tens of sampling points, including springs, wells, lagoons, and sea. Chemical-physical and stable isotope determinations were realised. Two main groups of aerial springs are fed by the aquifer, one of which is of a coastal type. The total spring discharge is roughly 4 m 3 /s. The submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) was assessed as being equal to 1.4 m 3 /s on the basis of the current rate of anthropic discharge and climatic conditions. The study showed the peculiarities of this carbonate coastal aquifer and the importance of its groundwater, which is the chief water source for the third-largest Albanian town.The groundwater quality was generally high, mainly due to the negligible presence of contamination sources on the relief in which the aquifer outcrops. The rate of seawater intrusion effects was also low, thanks to favourable aquifer threedimensional geometry and high recharge levels. The increasing anthropic activities constitute a relevant risk in the absence of the introduction of rigorous land and water management criteria.
The coastal karstic aquifer of Mt. Oyramanges (1864 m asl) is located in the Vlora Bay, along the... more The coastal karstic aquifer of Mt. Oyramanges (1864 m asl) is located in the Vlora Bay, along the Adriatic coast. The quality of the spring water there is so high that it is used to supply the drinking supply of the second largest Albanian town, Vlora. Starting from a geological and tectonic conceptualization of the area, a GIS approach based on long-term rainfall, temperature and river yield time series has been used to define hydrologic balance. The assessment of recharge and the measurement of sub-aerial spring discharge permit the rough assessment of submarine groundwater discharge. The definition of the flow domain and of groundwater chemical features is pursued with an ongoing survey which includes chemical and isotopic analyses of rainfall, groundwater and sea water.
The coastal karstic aquifer of Mt. Oyramanges (1864 m asl) is located in the Vlora Bay, along the... more The coastal karstic aquifer of Mt. Oyramanges (1864 m asl) is located in the Vlora Bay, along the Adriatic coast. The quality of the spring water there is so high that it is used to supply the drinking supply of the second largest Albanian town, Vlora. Starting from a geological and tectonic conceptualization of the area, a GIS approach based on long-term rainfall, temperature and river yield time series has been used to define hydrologic balance. The assessment of recharge and the measurement of sub-aerial spring discharge permit the rough assessment of submarine groundwater discharge. The definition of the flow domain and of groundwater chemical features is pursued with an ongoing survey which includes chemical and isotopic analyses of rainfall, groundwater and sea water. INTRODUCTION Albania, has a surface of 28,748 km² and a perimeter of 720 km. The coasts, along the Adriatic and Ionian Seas extend for 362 km. 70% of the territory is mountainous with peaks higher than 2700 m asl...
Lake Butrint (39°47 N, 20°1 E) is a ca. 21 m deep, coastal lagoon located in SW Albania where fin... more Lake Butrint (39°47 N, 20°1 E) is a ca. 21 m deep, coastal lagoon located in SW Albania where finely-laminated sediments have been continuously deposited during the last millennia. The multi-proxy analysis (sedimentology, high-resolution elemental geochemistry and pollen) of a 12 m long sediment core, supported by seven AMS radiocarbon dates and 137Cs dating, enable a precise reconstruction of the environmental change that occurred in the central Mediterranean region during the last ∼4.5 cal kyrs BP. Sediments consist of triplets of authigenic carbonates, organic matter and clayey laminae. Fluctuations in the thickness and/or presence of these different types of seasonal laminae indicate variations in water salinity, organic productivity and runoff in the lake's catchment, as a result of the complex interplay of tectonics, anthropogenic forcing and climate variability. The progradation of the Pavllo river delta, favoured by variable human activity from the nearby ancient city of Butrint, led to the progressive isolation of this hydrological system from the Ionian Sea. The system evolved from an open bay to a restricted lagoon, which is consistent with archaeological data. An abrupt increase in mass-wasting activity between 1515 and 1450 BC, likely caused by nearby seismic activity, led to the accumulation of 24 homogenites, up to 17 cm thick. They have been deposited during the onset of finely laminated sedimentation, which indicates restricted, anoxic bottom water conditions and higher salinity. Periods of maximum water salinity, biological productivity, and carbonate precipitation coincide with warmer intervals, such as the early Roman Warm Period (RWP) (500 BC–0 AD), the Medieval Climate Anomaly (MCA) (800–1400 AD) and recent times (after 1800 AD). Conversely, lower salinity and more oxic conditions, with higher clastic input were recorded during 1400–500 BC, the Late Roman and the Early Medieval periods (0–800 AD) and during the Little Ice Age (1400–1800 AD). Hydrological fluctuations recorded in Butrint are in phase with most central and western Mediterranean records and correlate with NAO variability. In contrast, opposite hydrological patterns have been recorded in the Eastern Balkans and the Levant during the last millennium, emphasizing a complex spatial variability in the region. Phases of maximum settlement intensity in Butrint (Roman-Late Antique) coincide with warmer and/or stable climate periods (0–800 AD and MCA, respectively), indicating a long-term influence of climatic conditions on human activities. The Late Holocene sedimentary record of Lake Butrint demonstrates the complex interplay of climate variability, tectonics and human impact in the recent evolution of coastal Mediterranean regions.
Lake Butrint (39°47 N, 20°1 E) is a ca. 21 m deep, coastal lagoon located in SW Albania where fin... more Lake Butrint (39°47 N, 20°1 E) is a ca. 21 m deep, coastal lagoon located in SW Albania where finely-laminated sediments have been continuously deposited during the last millennia. The multi-proxy analysis (sedimentology, high-resolution elemental geochemistry and pollen) of a 12 m long sediment core, supported by seven AMS radiocarbon dates and 137Cs dating, enable a precise reconstruction of the environmental change that occurred in the central Mediterranean region during the last ∼4.5 cal kyrs BP. Sediments consist of triplets of authigenic carbonates, organic matter and clayey laminae. Fluctuations in the thickness and/or presence of these different types of seasonal laminae indicate variations in water salinity, organic productivity and runoff in the lake's catchment, as a result of the complex interplay of tectonics, anthropogenic forcing and climate variability. The progradation of the Pavllo river delta, favoured by variable human activity from the nearby ancient city of Butrint, led to the progressive isolation of this hydrological system from the Ionian Sea. The system evolved from an open bay to a restricted lagoon, which is consistent with archaeological data. An abrupt increase in mass-wasting activity between 1515 and 1450 BC, likely caused by nearby seismic activity, led to the accumulation of 24 homogenites, up to 17 cm thick. They have been deposited during the onset of finely laminated sedimentation, which indicates restricted, anoxic bottom water conditions and higher salinity. Periods of maximum water salinity, biological productivity, and carbonate precipitation coincide with warmer intervals, such as the early Roman Warm Period (RWP) (500 BC–0 AD), the Medieval Climate Anomaly (MCA) (800–1400 AD) and recent times (after 1800 AD). Conversely, lower salinity and more oxic conditions, with higher clastic input were recorded during 1400–500 BC, the Late Roman and the Early Medieval periods (0–800 AD) and during the Little Ice Age (1400–1800 AD). Hydrological fluctuations recorded in Butrint are in phase with most central and western Mediterranean records and correlate with NAO variability. In contrast, opposite hydrological patterns have been recorded in the Eastern Balkans and the Levant during the last millennium, emphasizing a complex spatial variability in the region. Phases of maximum settlement intensity in Butrint (Roman-Late Antique) coincide with warmer and/or stable climate periods (0–800 AD and MCA, respectively), indicating a long-term influence of climatic conditions on human activities. The Late Holocene sedimentary record of Lake Butrint demonstrates the complex interplay of climate variability, tectonics and human impact in the recent evolution of coastal Mediterranean regions.
POLEMIO, M.; PAMBUKU, A.; LIMONI, P.P., and PETRUCCI, O., 2011. Carbonate coastal aquifer of Vlor... more POLEMIO, M.; PAMBUKU, A.; LIMONI, P.P., and PETRUCCI, O., 2011. Carbonate coastal aquifer of Vlora Bay and groundwater submarine discharge (southwestern Albania).
The coastal karstic aquifer of Mt. Oyramanges (1864 m asl) is located in the Vlora Bay, along the... more The coastal karstic aquifer of Mt. Oyramanges (1864 m asl) is located in the Vlora Bay, along the Adriatic coast. The quality of the spring water there is so high that it is used to supply the drinking supply of the second largest Albanian town, Vlora. Starting from a geological and tectonic conceptualization of the area, a GIS approach based on long-term rainfall, temperature and river yield time series has been used to define hydrologic balance. The assessment of recharge and the measurement of sub-aerial spring discharge permit the rough assessment of submarine groundwater discharge. The definition of the flow domain and of groundwater chemical features is pursued with an on-going survey which includes chemical and isotopic analyses of rainfall, groundwater and sea water.
Bulletin of the Geological Society of Greece, Jan 25, 2017
A simulation is presented of the operation of a brackish karst spring with the MODKARST determini... more A simulation is presented of the operation of a brackish karst spring with the MODKARST deterministic mathematical model under not enough data conditions. MODKARST is a deterministic mathematical model for karst springs, able to accommodate brackish water. It incorporates mass and energy balances in a system of reservoirs properly connected that approximates the karst system and the sea. A complete fitting for this model needs field measurements about spring discharge and spring water chloride concentration at least for a hydrological year. The particular case analysed is the "Potami" brackish karst spring at Himara in Albania. MODKARST simulated the hydrograph along with the variation with time of the chloride concentration. The fitting of the model was based only on chloride concentrations measurements of the spring water that have taken place from 1/5/2007 till 27/12/2007, since there were not spring discharge measurements except for a single one, which simply gave the order of magnitude of this parameter. From the simulation of the model, information was drawn about the recharge area, the effective infiltration coefficient and the dominant seawater intrusion mechanism of the spring. Taking the above information into account, a set of proposals for the sustainable development of the spring was sketched.
Lake Butrint (39°47 N, 20°1 E) is a ca. 21 m deep, coastal lagoon located in SW Albania where fin... more Lake Butrint (39°47 N, 20°1 E) is a ca. 21 m deep, coastal lagoon located in SW Albania where finely-laminated sediments have been continuously deposited during the last millennia. The multi-proxy analysis (sedimentology, high-resolution elemental geochemistry and pollen) of a 12 m long sediment core, supported by seven AMS radiocarbon dates and 137 Cs dating, enable a precise reconstruction of the environmental change that occurred in the central Mediterranean region during the last ~4.5 cal kyrs BP. Sediments consist of triplets of authigenic carbonates, organic matter and clayey laminae. Fluctuations in the thickness and/or presence of these different types of seasonal laminae indicate variations in water salinity, organic productivity and runoff in the lake's catchment, as a result of the complex interplay of tectonics, anthropogenic forcing and climate variability. The progradation of the Pavllo river delta, favoured by variable human activity from the nearby ancient city of Butrint, led to the progressive isolation of this hydrological system from the Ionian Sea. The system evolved from an open bay to a restricted lagoon, which is consistent with archaeological data. An abrupt increase in mass-wasting activity between 1515 and 1450 BC, likely caused by nearby seismic activity, led to the accumulation of 24 homogenites, up to 17 cm thick. They have been deposited during the onset of finely laminated sedimentation, which indicates restricted, anoxic bottom water conditions and higher salinity. Periods of maximum water salinity, biological productivity, and carbonate precipitation coincide with warmer intervals, such as the early Roman Warm Period (RWP) (500 BC-0 AD), the Medieval Climate Anomaly (MCA) (800-1400 AD) and recent times (after 1800 AD). Conversely, lower salinity and more oxic conditions, with higher clastic input were recorded during 1400-500 BC, the Late Roman and the Early Medieval periods (0-800 AD) and during the Little Ice Age (1400-1800 AD). Hydrological fluctuations recorded
The coastal karstic aquifer of Mt. Oyramanges (1864 m asl) is located in the Vlora Bay, along the... more The coastal karstic aquifer of Mt. Oyramanges (1864 m asl) is located in the Vlora Bay, along the Adriatic coast. The quality of the spring water there is so high that it is used to supply the drinking supply of the second largest Albanian town, Vlora. Starting from a geological and tectonic conceptualization of the area, a GIS approach based on long-term rainfall, temperature and river yield time series has been used to define hydrologic balance. The assessment of recharge and the measurement of sub-aerial spring discharge permit the rough assessment of submarine groundwater discharge. The definition of the flow domain and of groundwater chemical features is pursued with an ongoing survey which includes chemical and isotopic analyses of rainfall, groundwater and sea water.
Bulletin of the Geological Society of Greece, 2017
A simulation is presented of the operation of a brackish karst spring with the MODKARST determini... more A simulation is presented of the operation of a brackish karst spring with the MODKARST deterministic mathematical model under not enough data conditions. MODKARST is a deterministic mathematical model for karst springs, able to accommodate brackish water. It incorporates mass and energy balances in a system of reservoirs properly connected that approximates the karst system and the sea. A complete fitting for this model needs field measurements about spring discharge and spring water chloride concentration at least for a hydrological year. The particular case analysed is the “Potami” brackish karst spring at Himara in Albania. MODKARST simulated the hydrograph along with the variation with time of the chloride concentration. The fitting of the model was based only on chloride concentrations measurements of the spring water that have taken place from 1/5/2007 till 27/12/2007, since there were not spring discharge measurements except for a single one, which simply gave the order of m...
The study discusses the large karstic coastal aquifer of Vlora Bay. This case is peculiar, as the... more The study discusses the large karstic coastal aquifer of Vlora Bay. This case is peculiar, as the submarine groundwater discharge has a relevant rate of terrestrial inflow in an almost closed bay that is located in an environmentally valuable area. The study is based on four methodological activities: geological and hydrogeological conceptualisation, climatic study and hydrological balance, numerical modelling, and monitoring. A geodatabase was created considering hundreds of data points (wells, springs, rivers, lagoons, and seas) and monthly time series of rainfall, temperature, and river discharge. Monitoring activity was realised over a hydrological year, installing a rainfall network tool and using a network of tens of sampling points, including springs, wells, lagoons, and sea. Chemical-physical and stable isotope determinations were realised. Two main groups of aerial springs are fed by the aquifer, one of which is of a coastal type. The total spring discharge is roughly 4 m 3 /s. The submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) was assessed as being equal to 1.4 m 3 /s on the basis of the current rate of anthropic discharge and climatic conditions. The study showed the peculiarities of this carbonate coastal aquifer and the importance of its groundwater, which is the chief water source for the third-largest Albanian town.The groundwater quality was generally high, mainly due to the negligible presence of contamination sources on the relief in which the aquifer outcrops. The rate of seawater intrusion effects was also low, thanks to favourable aquifer threedimensional geometry and high recharge levels. The increasing anthropic activities constitute a relevant risk in the absence of the introduction of rigorous land and water management criteria.
The coastal karstic aquifer of Mt. Oyramanges (1864 m asl) is located in the Vlora Bay, along the... more The coastal karstic aquifer of Mt. Oyramanges (1864 m asl) is located in the Vlora Bay, along the Adriatic coast. The quality of the spring water there is so high that it is used to supply the drinking supply of the second largest Albanian town, Vlora. Starting from a geological and tectonic conceptualization of the area, a GIS approach based on long-term rainfall, temperature and river yield time series has been used to define hydrologic balance. The assessment of recharge and the measurement of sub-aerial spring discharge permit the rough assessment of submarine groundwater discharge. The definition of the flow domain and of groundwater chemical features is pursued with an ongoing survey which includes chemical and isotopic analyses of rainfall, groundwater and sea water.
The coastal karstic aquifer of Mt. Oyramanges (1864 m asl) is located in the Vlora Bay, along the... more The coastal karstic aquifer of Mt. Oyramanges (1864 m asl) is located in the Vlora Bay, along the Adriatic coast. The quality of the spring water there is so high that it is used to supply the drinking supply of the second largest Albanian town, Vlora. Starting from a geological and tectonic conceptualization of the area, a GIS approach based on long-term rainfall, temperature and river yield time series has been used to define hydrologic balance. The assessment of recharge and the measurement of sub-aerial spring discharge permit the rough assessment of submarine groundwater discharge. The definition of the flow domain and of groundwater chemical features is pursued with an ongoing survey which includes chemical and isotopic analyses of rainfall, groundwater and sea water. INTRODUCTION Albania, has a surface of 28,748 km² and a perimeter of 720 km. The coasts, along the Adriatic and Ionian Seas extend for 362 km. 70% of the territory is mountainous with peaks higher than 2700 m asl...
Lake Butrint (39°47 N, 20°1 E) is a ca. 21 m deep, coastal lagoon located in SW Albania where fin... more Lake Butrint (39°47 N, 20°1 E) is a ca. 21 m deep, coastal lagoon located in SW Albania where finely-laminated sediments have been continuously deposited during the last millennia. The multi-proxy analysis (sedimentology, high-resolution elemental geochemistry and pollen) of a 12 m long sediment core, supported by seven AMS radiocarbon dates and 137Cs dating, enable a precise reconstruction of the environmental change that occurred in the central Mediterranean region during the last ∼4.5 cal kyrs BP. Sediments consist of triplets of authigenic carbonates, organic matter and clayey laminae. Fluctuations in the thickness and/or presence of these different types of seasonal laminae indicate variations in water salinity, organic productivity and runoff in the lake's catchment, as a result of the complex interplay of tectonics, anthropogenic forcing and climate variability. The progradation of the Pavllo river delta, favoured by variable human activity from the nearby ancient city of Butrint, led to the progressive isolation of this hydrological system from the Ionian Sea. The system evolved from an open bay to a restricted lagoon, which is consistent with archaeological data. An abrupt increase in mass-wasting activity between 1515 and 1450 BC, likely caused by nearby seismic activity, led to the accumulation of 24 homogenites, up to 17 cm thick. They have been deposited during the onset of finely laminated sedimentation, which indicates restricted, anoxic bottom water conditions and higher salinity. Periods of maximum water salinity, biological productivity, and carbonate precipitation coincide with warmer intervals, such as the early Roman Warm Period (RWP) (500 BC–0 AD), the Medieval Climate Anomaly (MCA) (800–1400 AD) and recent times (after 1800 AD). Conversely, lower salinity and more oxic conditions, with higher clastic input were recorded during 1400–500 BC, the Late Roman and the Early Medieval periods (0–800 AD) and during the Little Ice Age (1400–1800 AD). Hydrological fluctuations recorded in Butrint are in phase with most central and western Mediterranean records and correlate with NAO variability. In contrast, opposite hydrological patterns have been recorded in the Eastern Balkans and the Levant during the last millennium, emphasizing a complex spatial variability in the region. Phases of maximum settlement intensity in Butrint (Roman-Late Antique) coincide with warmer and/or stable climate periods (0–800 AD and MCA, respectively), indicating a long-term influence of climatic conditions on human activities. The Late Holocene sedimentary record of Lake Butrint demonstrates the complex interplay of climate variability, tectonics and human impact in the recent evolution of coastal Mediterranean regions.
Lake Butrint (39°47 N, 20°1 E) is a ca. 21 m deep, coastal lagoon located in SW Albania where fin... more Lake Butrint (39°47 N, 20°1 E) is a ca. 21 m deep, coastal lagoon located in SW Albania where finely-laminated sediments have been continuously deposited during the last millennia. The multi-proxy analysis (sedimentology, high-resolution elemental geochemistry and pollen) of a 12 m long sediment core, supported by seven AMS radiocarbon dates and 137Cs dating, enable a precise reconstruction of the environmental change that occurred in the central Mediterranean region during the last ∼4.5 cal kyrs BP. Sediments consist of triplets of authigenic carbonates, organic matter and clayey laminae. Fluctuations in the thickness and/or presence of these different types of seasonal laminae indicate variations in water salinity, organic productivity and runoff in the lake's catchment, as a result of the complex interplay of tectonics, anthropogenic forcing and climate variability. The progradation of the Pavllo river delta, favoured by variable human activity from the nearby ancient city of Butrint, led to the progressive isolation of this hydrological system from the Ionian Sea. The system evolved from an open bay to a restricted lagoon, which is consistent with archaeological data. An abrupt increase in mass-wasting activity between 1515 and 1450 BC, likely caused by nearby seismic activity, led to the accumulation of 24 homogenites, up to 17 cm thick. They have been deposited during the onset of finely laminated sedimentation, which indicates restricted, anoxic bottom water conditions and higher salinity. Periods of maximum water salinity, biological productivity, and carbonate precipitation coincide with warmer intervals, such as the early Roman Warm Period (RWP) (500 BC–0 AD), the Medieval Climate Anomaly (MCA) (800–1400 AD) and recent times (after 1800 AD). Conversely, lower salinity and more oxic conditions, with higher clastic input were recorded during 1400–500 BC, the Late Roman and the Early Medieval periods (0–800 AD) and during the Little Ice Age (1400–1800 AD). Hydrological fluctuations recorded in Butrint are in phase with most central and western Mediterranean records and correlate with NAO variability. In contrast, opposite hydrological patterns have been recorded in the Eastern Balkans and the Levant during the last millennium, emphasizing a complex spatial variability in the region. Phases of maximum settlement intensity in Butrint (Roman-Late Antique) coincide with warmer and/or stable climate periods (0–800 AD and MCA, respectively), indicating a long-term influence of climatic conditions on human activities. The Late Holocene sedimentary record of Lake Butrint demonstrates the complex interplay of climate variability, tectonics and human impact in the recent evolution of coastal Mediterranean regions.
POLEMIO, M.; PAMBUKU, A.; LIMONI, P.P., and PETRUCCI, O., 2011. Carbonate coastal aquifer of Vlor... more POLEMIO, M.; PAMBUKU, A.; LIMONI, P.P., and PETRUCCI, O., 2011. Carbonate coastal aquifer of Vlora Bay and groundwater submarine discharge (southwestern Albania).
The coastal karstic aquifer of Mt. Oyramanges (1864 m asl) is located in the Vlora Bay, along the... more The coastal karstic aquifer of Mt. Oyramanges (1864 m asl) is located in the Vlora Bay, along the Adriatic coast. The quality of the spring water there is so high that it is used to supply the drinking supply of the second largest Albanian town, Vlora. Starting from a geological and tectonic conceptualization of the area, a GIS approach based on long-term rainfall, temperature and river yield time series has been used to define hydrologic balance. The assessment of recharge and the measurement of sub-aerial spring discharge permit the rough assessment of submarine groundwater discharge. The definition of the flow domain and of groundwater chemical features is pursued with an on-going survey which includes chemical and isotopic analyses of rainfall, groundwater and sea water.
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