Determination and evaluation of some physicochemical parameters in the Dardanelles (Canakkale Strait, Turkey) using multiple probe system and geographic information system

Abstract

The Dardanelles (Canakkale Strait) is a water passage connecting the Aegean Sea and Sea of Marmara. The average depth of the Dardanelles is 60 m; the deepest part reaches more than 100 m. Environmental parameters such as temperature, pH, salinity, dissolved oxygen and total dissolved solids were measured at different depths in the Dardanelles. The sampling period was between December 2002 and March 2003. All the data was measured by a YSI 6600 Model Multiple Probe System. Also, a Geographic Information System was used to create a tabular and spatial database, with the aim of integrating the physicochemical properties in the Dardanelles. Temperature and salinity profiles by the Geographic Information System showed that there was stratification and formation of two different water masses in the Dardanelles. The measurements showed that lower layer waters (>20 m) are saltier than upper layer waters of the Dardanelles. Therefore, the lower layer waters also hold higher values for total dissolved solids. Although the temperature and salinity characteristics of the Dardanelles are specific due to its topographic structure and some fresh water discharges, the stratification in the Dardanelles is generally similar to other parts of the Turkish Strait System (Bosphorus and Sea of Marmara) because of large salinity differences between the Aegean and Black Sea.

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“…Besides the temporal variations in the nutrient concentrations, especially the southern part of the Dardanelles receives notable nutrient inputs due to domestic wastes from the city of Canakkale and from the rivers such as Saricay and Kalabakli (Polat and Tugrul, 1996;Polat et al, 1998;Turkoglu et al, 2004bTurkoglu et al, , 2004cTurkoglu et al, , 2006Turkoglu, 2008). Therefore, in some periods of this study, extra accumulation of inorganic nutrients was highly pronounced.…”

“…In a previous study by Turkoglu et al (2006), temperature and salinity measurements showed high variability at the southern part of the Kilitbahir in the Dardanelles. The narrowing of the Dardanelles leads to different temperature and salinity values to the northeast and southwest of the Narrows between Kilitbahir and Canakkale.…”

“…The other comes from the Sea of Marmara that characteristically is of low density. Aegean water is typically flowing from the southwest to northeast below Marmara Sea water (Polat and Tugrul, 1996;Unsal et al, 2003;Turkoglu et al, 2004aTurkoglu et al, , 2006Baba et al, 2005).…”

“…The Dardanelles surface water is more saline in the spring and winter compared to other seasons in the south east of the Dardanelles. When the salinity in the surface water is low, values of total dissolved solids (TDS) in the Dardanelles are lower (Unsal et al, 2003;Turkoglu et al, 2004aTurkoglu et al, , 2006Turkoglu, 2008) than those in other marine systems (≥35.0 mg L -1 ) (Xie et al, 2003). Temporal cycle of pH in the Dardanelles reveals fluctuations throughout the year, winter values were significantly lower (mean 8.20) than the spring (mean 8.36) and fall values (mean 8.28).…”

Winter bloom of coccolithophore Emiliania huxleyi and environmental conditions in the Dardanelles

“…The width of the Strait varies from 1.35 to 7.73 km and the narrowest part is located between Canakkale and Kilitbahir. The average depth of the Strait is approximately 60 m, with the deepest part reaching more than 100 m (Unsal et al 2003;Turkoglu et al 2004cTurkoglu et al , 2006Baba et al 2007). However, the depth of the study area in the Dardanelles is 80 m. The location of the sampling station (40809 0 00 00 N 26824 0 00 00 E) is given in Figure 1 Water samples for nutrient analyses were kept frozen until analysis.…”