Research activities in the laboratory cover a broad spectrum of Marine Sciences. The objective of the Laboratory research is the development of a scientific basis which will provide the platform for the sustainable management of the Seas.

•    Marine Geology: The objectives of the research activity are to provide the scientific knowledge for risk assessment and development of protection strategies in those areas of Greece, prone to offshore geological hazards. The research tasks are the study of

(i) submarine landslides and slope stability analysis,

(ii) active faults,

(iii) tsunamis and

(iv) seabed fluid flows from active faults, mud-volcanoes and pockmarks and their relationship to seismic activity.

Case Studies: The Gulf of Corinth, Patras Gulf pockmark field, The Ionian and Aegean Seas.

•    Environmental Oceanography: The objective of this research activity is the development of a comprehensive scientific basis for the monitoring, assessment and management of the marine environment. The research tasks of this activity are:

(i) hydrodynamic processes and water circulation patterns in land-locked basins,

(ii) impact of pollutants (heavy metals, NORM, PAH’s, marine litter) on marine sediment and the biota, and

(iii) eutrophication control and water quality management in land-locked basins and coastal waters.

Case Studies: Patras Gulf, Gulf of Corinth, Amvrakikos Gulf, Lakonikos Gulf, Saronikos Gulf, Messolonghi-Aetoliko lagoon complex, Trichonis and Pamvotis Lakes.

•    Habitat Geosciences: The objective of this research activity is the development of a comprehensive scientific basis for the monitoring and assessment of the Posidonia oceanica and Coralligene formation which are protected by European legislation (EU 97/62 CE/97, Reg. 1967/2006).

Case Studies: The Ionian Sea and Cyclades Islands.

•    Palaeoclimatology/Palaeoceanography- Global climate changes: The objective of this research activity is a better understanding of climate variability in the past and to test the power of mathematical models to simulate the climatic change of the past for future prediction. The research tasks of this activity are:

(i) high resolution quantitative/qualitative reconstruction of the last climatic cycle from proxy date and modelling simulation,

(ii) high resolution reconstruction of climate variation over the last 2000 years (pre industrial) and

(iii) correlation of climatic changes with human cultural evolution.

Case Studies: The Ionian and Aegean Seas.

•    Coastal and Marine Geoarchaeology: The objective of this research activity is the development of a scientific basis for the detection, protection and conservation of our cultural heritage. The research tasks of this activity are:

(i) the detection of ancient and historical shipwreck and underwater harbours and

(ii) the reconstruction of coastal and marine palaeo-landscapes in areas of archaeological importance.

Case Studies: Ptolemaic Alexandria project (Egypt), The Mazotos shipwreck (Cyprus), Modi shipwreck, Navarino Battle, the Lepanto battle, and the ancient harbours and shipsheds (Greece).