Alterations of the Physical and Biochemical Structure in the İzmit Bay Following the Blockage Events at the İstanbul Strait


Çokacar T., Altıok H., Mutlu S., Yüksek A., Ediger D., Bayram Partal F.

TURKISH JOURNAL OF FISHERIES AND AQUATIC SCIENCES, cilt.24, sa.12, 2024 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 24 Sayı: 12
  • Basım Tarihi: 2024
  • Doi Numarası: 10.4194/trjfas26712
  • Dergi Adı: TURKISH JOURNAL OF FISHERIES AND AQUATIC SCIENCES
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Aqualine, Aquatic Science & Fisheries Abstracts (ASFA), BIOSIS, CAB Abstracts, Veterinary Science Database
  • İstanbul Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

In December 2021 and March 2022, synoptic-scale weather systems triggered blockages in the & Idot;stanbul Strait, resulting in a notable alteration of the water dynamics of the upper layer of the northeastern Marmara Sea. The blockages resulted in the disruption of water mass exchanges between & Idot;zmit Bay and the eastern Marmara basin, driven by intensified hydrodynamic forces and severe wind conditions. The blockage of the two-layer flow in the strait led to an intensification of upper layer dynamics, resulting in an elevation of nutrient levels through mixing with nutrient-rich lower waters and/or the redistribution of nutrient fluxes via an enhanced jet current. This study demonstrates the occurrence of rapid changes in the biochemical structure of & Idot;zmit Bay, as evidenced by Acostic Poppler Current Profiler (ADCP) measurements and near-weekly temperature and salinity profiles. The analyses demonstrate significant shifts in flow dynamics, with salinity serving as an indicator of enhanced mixing. This mixing enabled the transport of nutrient-rich deep waters to the upper productive layer, thereby stimulating increased biological activity. The findings highlight that the altered dynamics resulted in a notable surge in nutrient concentrations and biochemical activity, potentially fostering the expansion of mucilage-forming species in & Idot;zmit Bay.