New Publication: Compound climate events and their role in the decay of Greece’s cultural heritage

Published by Dimitra Panou on July 3, 2025July 3, 2025

Authors: Iason Markantonis, Theocharis Katrakazis, Diamando Vlachogiannis, Athanasios Sfetsos, Ioannis Kioutsioukis & Ioannis Karatasios 

Check out our latest work published in Nature Scientific Reports by Iasonas Markantonis et al., exploring how compound climate events accelerate the decay of porous materials in Greece’s archaeological and built heritage.

Using high-resolution climate data and simulations from EURO-CORDEX and EC-EARTH, this study maps the past and future frequency of decay-inducing phenomena such as frost, salt crystallization, and prolonged rainfall. Focusing on the periods 1980–2004 and 2025–2049 under climate scenarios RCP4.5 and RCP8.5, the research identifies regional vulnerabilities, especially in mountainous, northern, and western regions of Greece.

While salt transitions remain largely unchanged, prolonged rainfall and frost events are projected to decline, affecting preservation strategies. This work provides a first, essential layer of heritage climatology, supporting localized and risk-aware conservation planning.