Publications
Time Series Analysis of Landsat Data for Investigating the Relationship between Land Surface Temperature and Forest Changes in Paphos Forest, Cyprus
A significant increase of 4.6% in land surface temperature (LST) was observed in Paphos Forest, Cyprus, between 2013 and 2018, contrasting with a 2.7% decrease from 1993 to 2000. This study utilized Landsat-5 and Landsat-8 imagery to analyze the relationship between LST and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) over two time periods, revealing a negative correlation between these variables. Notable changes in NDVI trends were linked to climatic conditions and biotic factors such as reduced pityocampa attacks and locust invasions. The research highlights the potential of combining LST and NDVI analysis for identifying forest decline, offering valuable insights into environmental monitoring using satellite data.
Sound Archaeology: A Study of the Acoustics of Three World Heritage Sites, Spanish Prehistoric Painted Caves, Stonehenge, and Paphos Theatre
Ritual sites across human cultures, from prehistoric caves to ancient theatres, exhibit unique acoustic properties that contribute to their ritual significance. This study reveals that the Spanish Prehistoric Painted Caves (up to 40,000 years old) demonstrate diverse natural acoustics, including strong reverberation and bass effects, while Stonehenge's acoustics evolve with its design, creating noticeable changes as one moves toward the circle's center. In contrast, Paphos Theatre in Cyprus (2,000 years old) showcases intentional acoustic design, with optimal sound quality varying from front to back rows. The research employs a range of methods to address challenges in standard acoustic analysis, highlighting how sound shapes ritual spaces and enhances their contextual meaning.
The Importance of Accounting for Atmospheric Effects in the Application of NDVI and Interpretation of Satellite Imagery Supporting Archaeological Research: The Case Studies of Palaepaphos and Nea Paphos Sites in Cyprus
Atmospheric correction significantly impacts NDVI values derived from satellite imagery, particularly in agricultural seasons, with relative differences reaching up to 50% if atmospheric effects are ignored. This study analyzed eleven Landsat TM/ETM+ images from 2009–2010 over archaeological and agricultural areas in Paphos, Cyprus, applying the modified Darkest Pixel (DP) algorithm for atmospheric correction. Results demonstrated that while absolute NDVI changes were small (0.06), they were statistically significant when assessed via Student’s t-test. The findings underscore the critical role of atmospheric correction in enhancing image interpretation and detecting archaeological crop marks, especially under conditions of minimal water vapor optical thickness. This research highlights a key consideration for multi-temporal satellite imagery analysis in archaeology.
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