An instrument that measures the tides has been installed on the northeast coast of Santorini by the National Tsunami Warning Center (NTC) of the Geodynamic Institute of the National Observatory of Athens (GN/AEA).

As stated in an announcement, following the increased seismic activity recorded in the last week between Santorini and Amorgos, the National Tsunami Warning Center, of the Geodynamic Institute of the National Observatory of Athens, took action by installing a tide gauge in a small fishing shelter on the northeast coast of Santorini. It also delivered to the local authorities information material on the operation of the ESRP, as well as general instructions on self-protection measures for the risk of tsunamis.

The statement stresses that the choice of this particular location, which is the closest possible point to the focus of ongoing seismic activity, has as its main objective the timely recording and overview of sea level changes.

With the addition of this station, the network of tide gauges implemented by the HCCT since 2013 is denser, currently numbering 16 stations. According to the announcement of the National Observatory of Athens, the first tidal station of the GI/EAA was installed in Santorini in 2013, but at the end of 2017 its operation was discontinued due to accumulated failures from continuous exposure to extreme weather conditions, which made it unreliable for measurements.

The installation was carried out in consultation with the Vice Mayor of Public Protection of the Municipality of Thera, Iakovos Lignos and the President of the Municipal Port Fund of Thera, Georgios Nomikos. For the installation work, a team of the Geodynamic Institute, consisting of Dr. Nikos Kalligeris, principal researcher of the Geodynamic Institute and Stelios Polymenakos, electrical engineer of NTUA, external collaborator of the Geodynamic Institute, went to the field, while Stratos Liadopoulos, electrical engineer, external collaborator of the Geodynamic Institute, worked for the integration of the station in the operational center. Equally important was the voluntary assistance provided by local community residents during the installation.

As part of the commitment to further strengthen monitoring and prevention of tsunami risk in the Greek area and the eastern Mediterranean, it is planned to install 30 new stations in stages between 2025-2026 with funding from the NOAA-AEGIS central program of the EAA and the Civil Protection Program 2021-2027. “This initiative confirms the continuous effort of the National Tsunami Warning Center and the Geodynamic Institute to protect citizens by utilizing their infrastructures for the early detection and response to the risks associated with seismic activity and tsunamis,” the National Observatory of Athens said in a statement.