Scientific observation post plans for Gavdos
An international conference this week will discuss plans to install equipment on the islet of Gavdos, south of Crete, to monitor the activity of the earth’s lithosphere, or solid portion, and its interaction with the upper atmosphere and ionosphere. The conference will be held in Hania today and tomorrow and is being organized by the Technical College of Crete in cooperation with the Italian Foreign Ministry. Representatives of research and academic foundations from around the world will examine the possibility of installing systems on Gavdos to function as a scientific observation post. The islet was chosen for its strategic advantage at the southernmost point of the European continent and its position at the intersection of the tectonic plates of Europe and Africa. Local authorities said many of the buildings damaged in yesterday’s quake had sustained initial damages in a 5.3 Richter quake in July last year but were not repaired.