Last summer, the Sea of Marmara faced the mucilage problem; The effect of the mucilage did not abate for months. However, in the studies conducted in September, it was reported that the Sea of Marmara was almost completely free of mucilage.
However, the decrease in mucilage does not change the fact that the problems in the Sea of Marmara continue. Scientists at the METU Marine Sciences Institute, who stated that despite the possibility of re-emergence of mucilage at the end of their examination at 110 different stations, it has not been observed for now, and that the oxygen level in the Marmara Sea has dropped to alarming levels.
Oxygen level has dropped from 1200 meters to 25-35 meters
Marmara Sea Integrated Research Project supported by DEKOSİM National Marine Research Infrastructure Center Project and TÜBİTAK BİDEB Pioneering Researchers Program Within the framework of the Modeling System (MARMOD) Project, studies on the mucilage problem in the Sea of Marmara continue unabated.
METU Marine Sciences Institute, which embarked on a new ‘research expedition’ in March in the Marmara Sea with the ship Bilim-2, examines the samples taken with the CTD device from 110 different stations, including the Istanbul and Çanakkale Straits. Thanks to the data obtained as a result of this study, new information about the pollution, salinity, temperature, chlorophyll, phytoplankton, zooplankton, amount of oxygen and light, and the causes of turbidity in the Sea of Marmara is reached. The last picture that emerged reveals the deplorable state of the Marmara Sea.
Noting that they showed that mucilage covered all parts of the Marmara during the spring and summer last year and that it was especially intense in the first 30 meters of the sea at that time, METU Marine Sciences Institute Deputy Director Assoc. Dr. Mustafa Yücel, in the last expedition in September, said that there was almost no mucilage left; however, he states that this problem has a heavy bill.
Yücel, “Our initial findings are as follows; First of all, we can safely say that there is currently no mucilage in the Sea of Marmara. There is also no sign of mucilage starting.” Yücel, who recorded his statements, said, “As we approach the Çanakkale Strait to the east, that is, the Çınarcık Pit, a world of oxygen that gradually decreases, welcomes us in the Marmara. ” He says that the oxygen is at very low levels.
Regarding the consequences of oxygen deficiency, Yücel said, “Think of a fish, an important food that is a guest on all of us, and an important element of biodiversity in the world. There is a minimum oxygen level necessary for them to live. 1950’s in Marmara. In the past, there was oxygen up to the deepest point we are at (1200 meters). “It increases to 25 meters in terms of seasonal oscillations, now we are in winter, 32-35 meters again. We have found that it is oscillating between these two intervals, especially in the last 2 years, during the MARMOD Project expeditions. The oxygen deficiency limit has increased from 1200 meters to 25-35 meters.” uses expressions.
The Sea of Marmara is in a ‘coma’ state
However, Yucel, who also makes explanations about the factors that cause lack of oxygen, quotes as follows:
” Oxygen distribution in the sea is the result of a balance. Oxygen is produced, first of all, in the sea. What produces it? Living things, mostly microscopic, which we call algae, grow themselves by photosynthesis and produce oxygen as a by-product. Second, it mixes with the sea from the atmosphere, and third, deep currents like the Mediterranean Sea. If there is, they bring oxygen to the deep. These are the inputs and outputs of our oxygen budget. Just as we spend oxygen while respiration, there are also respiration creatures in the sea like us. They use oxygen to break down various ‘food molecules’. These also consume oxygen. If the oxygen inputs do not balance the oxygen outputs, an oxygen problem starts in your system.
Now Mar The places where oxygen is consumed in Mara are far above the sources where oxygen is supplied. The reason for this is that the organic molecules in the sea have increased very much. The main reason for this is again biological origin, since excess nitrogen and phosphorus enter the system, and when they are combined with light, especially in spring and summer, they cause biological production. This means more oxygen consumption. Marmara is currently in this vicious circle. Due to this excess of nutrients, too much food is produced that the system cannot handle due to the excess of nitrogen and phosphorus.”
Noting that the mucilage problem that occurred last year is an example of this situation, Yücel said, “This It was a symptom of excess food load. Marmara Sea fell into a coma. He seems to have come out of that coma now, but there are still conditions that will put him back into that coma. What are these conditions? Nitrogen, phosphorus is still too much. Oxygen maintains its former bad conditions. Therefore, the system stands before us as a system that consumes oxygen clearly.” He likens this problem in the Sea of Marmara to a “coma”.
The current situation of the Marmara Sea “should be enough for the alarm bells to ring”
Underlining that this decrease in oxygen is a very serious problem for Marmara, Yücel said, “Miscellaneous Various researchers at institutions and at my own university have worked with similar systems in many parts of the world. The Sea of Marmara is even more oxygen-free than them. There is almost no sea in the world where a fish cannot enter after the first 25-30 meters. The Black Sea is famous for being oxygen-free, even there this critical depth is 80- It is 100 meters. It has stood at 25-35 meters in Marmara. Therefore, that volume of water that would support surface fishing or various economic activities is now stuck there. With this feature, it is the only one in the world and even that should be enough to ring the alarm bells. It can speed up the solution of the problem because the action plan announced for mucilage is to cut the excess nitrogen and phosphorus loads I just mentioned. cutting them by at least 40-50 percent.” uses expressions.
On the other hand, Yücel stated that the possibility of seeing mucilage continues and will continue to occur in the coming years. It is poor in terms of vitality. The surface waters can become stagnant and suddenly warm from time to time. All these factors make the Sea of Marmara suitable for mucilage. From this perspective, yes, mucilage can start in the week, or it can start after a month. Especially the coming weeks are critical. “We are in a phase where it is cold. We will see that it gets warmer, maybe stagnated in the coming weeks. This will of course bring the risk of mucilage.”
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