The evolution of the transboundary Evros river delta (Northeast Aegean Sea) under human intervention: a seven-decade analysis |
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| Authors: | Aikaterini Karditsa Athina Tsapanou Serafim E Poulos |
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| Institution: | 1. Department of Geology &2. Geoenvironment, National &3. Kapodistrian University of Athens , Athens, Greece kkarditsa@geol.uoa.gr;5. Kapodistrian University of Athens , Athens, Greece |
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| Abstract: | ABSTRACT The Evros deltaic plain (North Aegean Sea, Greece) covers an area of 188 km2 and is shared by Greece and Turkey by its current main channel. This paper investigates deltaic plain evolution during the last seven decades (1945–2017), taking into consideration human interventions and their impacts on deltaic processes. Outcomes indicate that the construction of more than 25 major dams in the Evros River catchment resulted in >80% reduction in fluvial suspended load. Moreover, the alignment and relocation of the main distributary channel to the southeast was accompanied by the transformation of >40% of the deltaic plain to agricultural land. The combination of human interventions supports the coastline advance of the active main mouth (current rate of 3.9 *10?3 km2/yr), retreat of the old (abandoned) Evros mouth (current rate 7.7 *10?3 km2/yr), and signs of remarkable vulnerability in the middle mouth area. |
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| Keywords: | Maritsa deltaic changes land-cover changes anthropogenic impact riverine fluxes Evros vulnerability |
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