Establishment of a transdisciplinary monitoring facility in Delos, Greece for the protection of Natural Heritage from the impacts of Climate Change

The Delos archaeological site, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage Site List, is situated on a small rocky island in the center of the Aegean Sea. This uninhabited island boasts of monuments with immense significance to human civilization and it is set within a pristine natural landscape. Delos is increasingly vulnerable to risks due to climate change and geodynamic events, which together endanger its cultural and natural heritage. Recently, a multi-hazard environmental monitoring facility has been established in Delos, incorporating climate and numerical prediction modelling, as well as satellite-based and in-situ real-time monitoring of various seismic, atmospheric, and oceanographic parameters. In addition to providing an overview of the overall facility, we discuss the potential long-term changes in atmospheric parameters such as air temperature, and precipitation along with sea level, that could impact the monuments and the landscape in the future, for different socioeconomic scenarios. Furthermore, we discuss how state-of-the-art models have been downscaled and optimized to forecast meteorological conditions, air quality, and wave activity in the Delos area. Local monitoring of earthquake activity and how it is incorporated into the National Seismic Network, as well as measurements of atmospheric and oceanic parameters are also discussed. The project is a groundbreaking initiative aimed at formulating policies and strategies to promote sustainable growth in the economy, tourism, and culture. It also serves as a model for strengthening the resilience of cultural heritage against natural hazards and risks, as well as a pilot program that aims to be applied to other monuments in Greece and abroad with the support of international organizations (e.g., UNESCO, ICOMOS, Europa Nostra, etc.).

Acknowledgments: This work has been performed in the framework of the project: “Development and installation of an integrated system for the monitoring of the impacts of climatic change on the monuments of Delos” that has been funded by benefit foundations of "Protovoulia ‘21“.