Quaternary geomorphology in tectonically active areas with emphasis in fluvio-coastal processes

This special issue of ZfG deals with fluvial and coastal processes in tectonically active regions of the Earth. Seven new and interesting studies are presented, focusing on the analysis of Quaternary geomorphological features. Their scope is to extract information on the dynamic processes driving the formation of the respective landforms and which allow the palaeoenvironmental reconstruction of these regions. Consistant with this approach, Athanassas et al. attempt to shed light on the neotectonic patterns of West Messenis (S. Pelopponese, Greece) based on geomorphic, geochronological and geoarchaeological data, Owczarek et al. display the potential of tundra dwarf shrubs for the reconstruction of debris flow activity in the High Arctic using dendrochronological records and Fountoulis et al. describe the diversion of the Pineios River (NW Pelopponese, Greece) from north to south due to the activity of the Pineios normal fault zone, salt tectonics on the Kyllini Pensinsula and the resultant shoreline displacement. Nomikou et al. provide valuable data of Quaternary volcanic activity in the Aegean Sea (Greece) in two remarkable papers: one describing the submarine volcanic features along the Kolumbo Volcanic Chain and the other on the Avyssos - Yali - Strogyli submarine volcanic complex. Grecu et al. diagnose the vulnerability of the Romanian plain to hydrogeomorphological hazards using feomorphometrical and morphological models and concepts while Siakavara and Argialas describe a method for automating the interpretation and recognition of seabed geomorphological and topographical features in a DTM and its derivatives, using an object based analysis approach -- P. 4 of cover.