The glider device named “Sea Explorer”, which was offered to the use of METU Marine Sciences Institute by Türkiye İş Bankası, continues its underwater explorations. Having completed his first research in Marmara, Deniz Explorer will now collect data that will shed light on science by making measurements in the Mediterranean.
The cooperation between Türkiye İş Bankası and Middle East Technical University (METU) to prevent pollution in our seas and to sustain the ecosystem by saying "The world is our future" continues to contribute to marine studies. The unmanned underwater glider glider device called "Sea Explorer", which was used for the first time in our country and was delivered to the Marine Sciences Institute of METU to support scientific studies, landed on the water to conduct research in the region between Turkey and TRNC after Marmara.
“Sea Explorer” will participate in the seasonal expeditions carried out by METU's Marine Ecosystem and Climate Research Center (DEKOSİM) four times a year. At the same time, it will collect data that will shed light on science by making more comprehensive measurements in the deep seas.
20 days of exploration in the Mediterranean
The "Sea Explorer", which will carry out the most detailed and high-resolution measurement work that has never been done before in Turkey, will stay in the Mediterranean for approximately 20 days.
In this marine study, it is aimed to better understand two natural events that occur regularly in the eastern Mediterranean in late spring and early summer. With the increase in temperature in the Eastern Mediterranean water, the temperature difference in the lower and upper water layers initiates a stratification that affects the production and circulation in the seas. Normally, nutrient salts are carried to the surface from deep waters, thanks to the winter mixing that occurs as the water temperatures and densities in the lower and upper layers converge. However, this stratification prevents the transport of nutrient salts to the surface necessary for the growth of phytoplankton, which are the source of oxygen and microscopic plant organisms. The Levantine interlayer water, which is important for the entire Mediterranean, is also formed in this period. Short-term sea voyages are not sufficient to explain these two events. Equipped with the latest technologies, Sea Explorer's capacity to work continuously for a long time is expected to obtain more detailed information.
“Sea Explorer” collects data in order to identify and monitor the problems that require high data, especially the negative effects of climate change on the seas, to develop solutions and to take necessary measures. These data are of great importance in terms of contributing to scientific studies on the sustainability of the ecosystem in our seas, as well as preventing disasters such as mucilage in Marmara and pollution.
The work of İşbank and METU on the Sea Explorer is a concrete example of university-private sector cooperation for the goal of a clean world and a clean environment, where everyone should be sensitive and contribute. Within the scope of the cooperation carried out, it is aimed to carry out scientific and academic studies on marine pollution in our country, which is surrounded by the sea on three sides, both more efficiently and on a larger scale. In addition, it is envisaged that the work carried out will be expanded in the medium and long term to protect the seas, which are an important source of life, biodiversity and ecosystem on our planet, to raise public awareness about preventing pollution, and to increase marine and climate literacy.
The device, which can go down to a depth of 1.000 meters, is separated from its counterparts in the world
The device, which can measure continuously for up to 100 days on a route determined independently of the ship, proceeds by descending and descending from the surface to a depth of 1.000 meters.
This device, which can transmit the data it collects when it comes to the surface at the end of each oscillation, to scientists via the satellite system, has a wide variety of sensors that can measure the properties of the water column such as temperature, salinity, oxygen, chlorophyll and turbidity in the seas. The glider device, which can be used for oceanographic measurements in all weather and sea conditions, is distinguished from its counterparts in the world with its sensor that can measure real-time nitrogen. The sensor in question includes the latest technology that is currently capable of measuring nutrient salt in the seas.
Important findings found in Marmara
The device, which made its first research discovery in Marmara between 12-16 January 2023, examined the changes in the water branch, including the changes caused by the current entering the Marmara from the Bosphorus and the oxygen distribution in the east-west direction. In the discovery, it was observed that the Bosphorus current caused temperature and salinity changes in the upper water by mixing the upper and lower water according to its strength within 24 hours. This situation, which was previously predicted by models and whose signal was seen from the satellite, was revealed in detail for the first time with real-time and on-site measurements. These changes can cause many problems such as decreased species diversity over time, difficulty in finding food and migration of sea creatures.
In the section extending on the east-west axis, it was observed that the oxygen in the lower layer decreased very rapidly as we went from west to east, although the measurements were carried out in winter and the oxygen solubility was high. It was understood that a significant amount of fresh water was added to the south basin bottom water by cyclical currents (eddy eddies) especially in the western part of the section. This situation increases the resistance of Marmara bottom water to external pressures such as pollution and climate change. However, it is known that this situation disappears with the onset of summer.