Optical properties of the seas surrounding Turkey (i.e. Mediterranean Sea, Black Sea and Aegean Sea) are investigated utilizing the data collected from years 2001-2005. Pigment, light (irradiance), absorption samples were collected and analyzed. SeaWiFS and MODIS satellite observations between years 1997-2006 has been collected, processed and analyzed. High temporal and spatial variability is observed in the optical properties of the three basins. The Mediterranean Sea and the Black Seas are the two typical examples of the Case I and the Case II waters, respectively. SeaWiFS and MODIS derived chlorophyll data obtained during the time period where the data were coexistent (2002-2004) gave consistent results. Thus, data from both sensors are used to establish temporal continuity. Optical classification of the water types based on the Jerlov model shows that the Mediterranean has clear (Type 1) and very clear water type characteristics and the Black Sea and the Marmara waters are turbid (Type 5). Absorption from yellow substance (or so-called CDOM) does not optically dominate the Mediterranean allowing accurate estimation of pigment concentrations by remote sensing methods. This study is further extended to analyze the main contributing phytoplankton groups to the bio-optical characteristics in the three basins. HPLC measurements show that the diatoms are the main group in the Black Sea ecosystem. Whereas in Mediterranean Cyanophyta dominates. Phytoplankton group compositions in the offshore and coastal regions of the Mediterranean do not show considerable difference. The main differences are the higher Prymnesiophyceae (nearly two times higher then the offshore) and lower Cyanophyta contribution in the coastal regions compared to offshore regions.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:METU/oai:etd.lib.metu.edu.tr:http://etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/12608404/index.pdf |
| Date | 01 March 2007 |
| Creators | Orek, Hasan |
| Contributors | Besiktepe, Sukru Turan |
| Publisher | METU |
| Source Sets | Middle East Technical Univ. |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Ph.D. Thesis |
| Format | text/pdf |
| Rights | To liberate the content for public access |
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