A number of most influential newspapers of the world are being scrutinized and selected articles from these papers are presented. The Guardian, The Observer, Le Monde and The Washington Post are some of them.

Reviewed by Elizabeth Grossman, Guardian Weekly, November 21 - 27, 2002, p. 32.

Oliver Burkeman, Guardian Weekly, April 25 - May 1, 2002, p. 6.

Jane Burgermeister, Guardian Weekly, April 25 - May 1, 2002, p. 25.

John Vidal, Guardian Weekly, April 11-17, 2002, p. 20.

Paul Brown, Guardian Weekly, April 11-17, 2002, p. 8.

Advertisement for Vacant Positions in Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research.

June 2002

March 2002

NEW TENDER

Invitation for participation in a new tender for convening the following studies of Water Resources Management was issued by the Ministry of Development:

1. Water Resources Management in the area of Western Continental Greece, Epirus, Attica, Eastern Continental Greece and Thessaly.
   Prespecified amount: 1.957.627,10 Euro.
2. Water Resources Management in the area of Western Peloponnese, Northern Peloponnese and Eastern Peloponnese.
   Prespecified amount: 1.021.186,40 Euro.
3. Water Resources Management in the area of Western Macedonia, Central Macedonia, Eastern Macedonia and Trace.
   Prespecified amount: 1.685.169,40 Euro.
4. Water Resources Management in the area of the Aegean Islands.
   Prespecified amount: 805.084,80 Euro.

Value Added Tax (18%) is not included in the above prespecified amounts
Deadline: 5^th of March 2002

Information:  Ministry of Development
                    General Secretary of Development
                    General Directorate of Natural Wealth
                    Directorate of Water Potential and Natural Resources
                    Michalakopoulou 80, 10192, Athens, Greece.
                    e-mail: SiatouCh@ypan.gr
                    Contact: Mrs. Maniati – Siatou Chrisanthi

January 2002

Heavy snow covered most parts of Eastern Greece over the period of 3 – 5 January 2002. The depth of snow exceeded   1 m even in the northern suburbs of Athens. The city of Athens was covered by snow creating lots of problems in communications. The event is characterized as an extreme event for the area. Regarding its intensity and duration the recurrence interval of the phenomenon is estimated to be thirty to fifty years. The water equivalent of snow for Viotia and Attica is estimated to be between 50 and 100 m.

Normal life in Athens was interrupted for three days. Schools and Universities remained closed for at least three days.

Greece has been suffering from extreme weather conditions over the period 15^th - 20^th of December. Low temperatures reaching –18^oC in some areas, heavy snowfall in most of the country (Central and Northern Greece) and floods in eastern Greece are some of the extreme weather conditions which occurred during the last days.

Many villages have been isolated and two trains were blocked for hours on the trucks. In the floods of the stream Diakoniaris, which crosses Patras, two people were reported lost. High damages in houses and shops in the central part of Patras have been reported.

The northern airports of the country remained closed for at least 2 days and ships remained in ports due to high wind over Aegean.

EXTREME WEATHER PHENOMENA OVER GREECE

December 2001

The long lasting persistent Ω - blocking system in the upper atmosphere ( 500 HPA ) over Europe caused intense weather phenomena in Greece, as heavy rainfall, thunderstorms mainly over sea, snowfall over mainland as well as extremely low temperatures. Here are some data :

Height of snow reported at north Greece : ( About 2,00 meters).

NOTICE : The water snow equivalent is: 1cm fresh snow =1 mm water

A.NIANIOS
National Meteorological Service/Hydrology

FLOODS IN AEGEAN ISLANDS (GREECE)

Extreme weather conditions have been reported in the area of Aegean over the period 28, 29 and 30 of November. Samos, Ikaria, Naxos, Rhodes and other islands were hit by heavy rainfall events.

Significant Rainfall Amount Over Samos Island

A low pressure system in the upper atmosphere from W parts of Greece moving rapidly eastwards (28, 29 November 2001) caused serious amount of rainfall over east Aegean Greek islands, mainly Samos island.

Probably due to orographic effect (Kerketefs mountain, halt. 1450 m) high rainfall amount has been recorded in the met. station at Samos airport.

Point rainfall and intensity rate as well as historical data are as follows:
a. 12 hours period (28 Nov/20.00 UTC T till 29 Nov/8.00 UTC) rainfall amount 128 mm.
b. 1 hour max. intensity 38.00 mm.
c. Max ever recorded 12 hours rainfall: 176 mm (Sept. 1978)
d. Mean monthly November rainfall: 113 mm.

Serious havoc has been reported regarding livestock and olive trees.

Is to be taken into account the one week before rainfall in the island causing the earth saturation which may have reduced the infiltration rate

NOTICE: Generally the most wet month over Greece is November

A. NIANIOS
National Met. Service/Hydrology

Greek Daily Kathimerini's report on Floods in Samos island

Schools remained close on Samos on Friday in the aftermath of the worst floods to have hit the eastern Aegean island in decades. Hundreds of houses and shops were flooded on Thursday, following torrential rain. Opposition leader Costas Karamanlis visited the island, as well as Aegean Minister Nikos Sifounakis, who promised financial aid for flood victims.

FLOODS IN ATTICA (GREECE)

Extreme rainfall depth (more than 220 mm in some areas) within the period of three consecutive days 2, 3 and 4 November (about 72 hours) was recorded in Attica (greece) causing floods in many parts of the region.

Two people died and severe losses of property were reported mainly in the eastern part of the region.

The main causes of these damaging floods are due to the extreme total rainfall depth with return period well above 50 years. The maximum rainfall depth for 24 hour duration was more than 80 mm corresponding to a return period of about 30 years.

According to scientists, the damages were kept rather low due to the small uniform intensity of rainfall and the high infiltrability of the soil resulting from a long lasting drought.

The flood risk in various areas of Attica is rather high due to the high inperviousness of large parts (urbanisation) of the area. On top of that some severe fires destroyed substantial parts of forests on the mountains around Athens during the last decade.