The
input of organic carbon being an indicator of organic pollution as well to the
oceans provides crucial sources in food web of estuarine ecosystems. The Black
Sea surrounded by six countries is the world’s largest land-locked inland sea and its total
length of the coastal zone is 4,340 km, of which 1,400 km is shared by Turkey.
The Black Sea receives annually a considerable freshwater input from the rivers
carrying substantial loads of organic matter, nutrients and anthropogenic
pollutants and the coastal parts are highly affected by eutrophication. The aim
of this study is to determine the temporal variability of total carbon (TC),
total organic carbon (TOC) and total inorganic carbon (TIC) carried from the
eight Turkish streams to the Black Sea. The streams included in this study are
Ağasar,
Fol, Galanima, Değirmendere,
Yomra, Karadere, Manahoz and Solaklı, within the boundaries of Trabzon Province, the
most densely populated city located in the coast of Southeastern Black Sea. The
water sampling studies have been monthly conducted in one station, which was
selected at the point where the stream is discharged into the Black Sea, for
each stream during a period of twelve months between March 2015 and February
2016. Considering the mean values for each stream, TOC concentration fluctuated
from 1.59 to 25.90 mg/L and the Stream Yomra being under immense pressure due
to various kinds of anthropogenic activities among which sand and gravel mining
is the most disastrous one was the most critical one. The streams showed high
TC and TIC yields during the summer and autumn months, corresponding to the
seasonal trend of stream discharge. It was also found that TIC comprised the
majority of the total carbon concentration, with mean percentages ranging from
68.9% to 84.06% in all of the streams.
Subjects | Engineering |
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Journal Section | Makaleler |
Authors | |
Publication Date | February 25, 2017 |
Published in Issue | Year 2017 Volume: 2 Issue: 1 |