Turkey
425
varies between 18 and 10 PSU. Deep waters show pronounced changes in
salinity and temperature. The salinity at 20 m rises to 30 PSU and at
40-50 m to 37 PSU.
A pronounced stratification due to these temperature and salinity
gradients is typical, which greatly affects the nutrient dynamics in this
sea. Little work has been done on the nutrients of the Marmara Sea. The
few investigations on nutrients indicate that nutrient-rich water of the
Black Sea enters the Marmara from the surface in winter. In the spring
and summer, the nutrient flow decreases because of the high level of
primary productivity in the Black Sea.
18.2.3 The Aegean Sea
The Aegean Sea, located between Turkey and Greece, is a semi-enclosed
sea (total surface 241000 km 2 , volume 7404 km 3 ), separated from the
Mediterranean in the south by the islands of Crete, Rhodes and
Carpathos. The average depth of the Aegean Sea is 350 m, however, a
significant part of it has depths of from 100 to 500 m. Deep trenches are
found, which divide the Aegean into east and west plateaus.
The Aegean Sea, which is a transition area between the Mediterranean
and the Black Sea with regard to oceanographic characteristics, may be
divided into the northern, middle and southern sections. Of these, the
northern section is affected by less saline and colder water originating in
the Black Sea and passing through the Marmara Sea and Dardanelles.
The southern and middle sections are affected by Mediterranean waters.
Thus, the northern section is less saline and colder, while the middle and
southern sections are warmer and very saline. Although the Aegean
waters are relatively low in the concentration of nutritive saits, they are
higher compared to the other areas of the Mediterranean.
Two current systems can be distinguished in the Aegean Sea. One of
these is the main current, coming from the Mediterranean and carrying
to the area water masses warm and rich in salt, and moving around in a
clockwise direction. The second is a current system consisting of waters
originating in the Black Sea which gain salinity as they move through the
Marmara Sea (Fig. 18.2).
18.2.4 The Turkish Mediterranean
Variation in meteorological conditions is one of the distinguishing characteristics of the Mediterranean Sea bordering Turkey. The region functions as a pathway for extra-tropical cyclones during winter and spring.
425
varies between 18 and 10 PSU. Deep waters show pronounced changes in
salinity and temperature. The salinity at 20 m rises to 30 PSU and at
40-50 m to 37 PSU.
A pronounced stratification due to these temperature and salinity
gradients is typical, which greatly affects the nutrient dynamics in this
sea. Little work has been done on the nutrients of the Marmara Sea. The
few investigations on nutrients indicate that nutrient-rich water of the
Black Sea enters the Marmara from the surface in winter. In the spring
and summer, the nutrient flow decreases because of the high level of
primary productivity in the Black Sea.
18.2.3 The Aegean Sea
The Aegean Sea, located between Turkey and Greece, is a semi-enclosed
sea (total surface 241000 km 2 , volume 7404 km 3 ), separated from the
Mediterranean in the south by the islands of Crete, Rhodes and
Carpathos. The average depth of the Aegean Sea is 350 m, however, a
significant part of it has depths of from 100 to 500 m. Deep trenches are
found, which divide the Aegean into east and west plateaus.
The Aegean Sea, which is a transition area between the Mediterranean
and the Black Sea with regard to oceanographic characteristics, may be
divided into the northern, middle and southern sections. Of these, the
northern section is affected by less saline and colder water originating in
the Black Sea and passing through the Marmara Sea and Dardanelles.
The southern and middle sections are affected by Mediterranean waters.
Thus, the northern section is less saline and colder, while the middle and
southern sections are warmer and very saline. Although the Aegean
waters are relatively low in the concentration of nutritive saits, they are
higher compared to the other areas of the Mediterranean.
Two current systems can be distinguished in the Aegean Sea. One of
these is the main current, coming from the Mediterranean and carrying
to the area water masses warm and rich in salt, and moving around in a
clockwise direction. The second is a current system consisting of waters
originating in the Black Sea which gain salinity as they move through the
Marmara Sea (Fig. 18.2).
18.2.4 The Turkish Mediterranean
Variation in meteorological conditions is one of the distinguishing characteristics of the Mediterranean Sea bordering Turkey. The region functions as a pathway for extra-tropical cyclones during winter and spring.