Delos is sinking by a centimeter per year: the sea is approaching the ancient island

Delos sags by about 1 cm per yearA rising sea levels threaten ancient cityport facilities and visitor routes.

Delosone of the most important archaeological islands in Greece, is gradually subsiding by about 1 centimeter per year. Participants in the research program came to this alarming conclusion. “Marine Parameters Monitoring Network on Delos”who studied changes in the coastline and the influence of the sea on the archaeological complex.

As the professor of natural disasters explained University of Southern California Constantinos Synolakis during the presentation of the program’s findings in Academy of Athensthe problem is due to a combination of two processes: sea level rise due to climate change and geological movements that cause subsidence or uplift of individual sections of the coast.

This is why researchers are talking about a change relative sea level: It is important not only how much the water rises, but also what happens to the island itself. In case Delos both factors work against the coastal zone of the archaeological site.

Forecasts up to 2050 and 2100

According to the authors of the study, to 2050 relative sea level at Delos may increase by approximately 21 centimeters under a more favorable scenario and 28 centimeters according to unfavorable.

TO 2100 the forecast becomes much tougher: the increase could be 48 centimeters in a more favorable scenario and before 87 centimeters in unfavorable. For the low coastal areas of the island, this is no longer abstract climate statistics, but a direct risk of regular flooding.

According to Synolakisa significant part of these changes is actually already “built into” the system due to the high heat capacity of the sea. Even if greenhouse gas emissions are quickly reduced, the sea will not cool instantly and the accumulated heat will continue to affect water levels. Physics, as usual, does not read government statements and does not wait for commission meetings.

What threatens the ancient city?

Data Climate Observatoryinstalled on the island in the last two years with the cooperation Academy of Athens, National Observatory of Athens And Ephorate of Antiquities of the Cycladesshow several possible consequences for the archaeological landscape.

• coastline in front of the ancient city Delos will gradually retreat deeper into the island;
• the wetland area behind the port may expand;
• Partially submerged ancient port facilities risk being completely submerged;
• areas accessible to visitors today may begin to flood seasonally or even permanently.

For Delos this is especially dangerous since we are talking not just about the coastline, but about an entire archaeological space. The ancient city, port facilities, roads, sanctuaries and landscape are interconnected. It is impossible to move such a monument “away from the sea” without losing its historical meaning. Antiquity, as it turns out, was built without adjusting for the climate crisis of the 21st century. Imprudent on their part, of course.

What measures do experts suggest?

Engineering and natural solutions are already being discussed to protect the island. Supervisor Ephorate of Antiquities of the Cyclades Dimitris Athanasoulis proposed to prepare studies on coastal engineering, consider the creation artificial reefs and grassland development posidoniawhich can reduce the strength of the waves.

Konstantinos Synolakis also did not rule out the possibility of constructing protective walls along certain sections of the coastline. However, such measures require caution: crude engineering protection can save one area while simultaneously changing the flow of water in another. The sea cannot be treated like a folder on an official’s desk: move it and the problem disappears.

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