MUCILAGE FORMATION and ITS EFFECTS on the SEA of MARMARA
2.7. Changes in the Marine Food Chain
The warming of the oceans due to climate change has a strong impact on marine life, and biodiversity is at great risk today. According to the measurements, even the sea layers far below the ocean surface have been affected by this warming in recent decades. Accordingly, living things outside the optimum temperature ranges become more sensitive in terms of vitality, while other species suitable for the new temperature regime gain a competitive advantage. This has a spillover effect on other organisms that jump down the food chain and interact with advantageous and/or disadvantageous species. As their rank in the food chain increases, living things that cannot access enough food may perish locally or are forced to migrate in order to survive. As a result, this process can affect the overall functioning of the ecosystem, affecting the food web, the balance of species and biodiversity as a whole, as seen in Figure 16 and 17.
Figure 16: The pelagic food web, showing the central involvement of marine microorganisms in how the ocean imports nutrients from and then exports them back to the atmosphere and ocean floor
Figure 17: The pelagic food web, showing the central involvement of marine microorganisms in how the ocean imports nutrients from and then exports them back to the atmosphere and ocean floor.
The impact of climate change-induced global warming on the seas surrounding Turkey cannot be reduced to changes in biodiversity alone. With the deteriorated atmospheric rhythm, a different wind and current system will emerge in our seas, transportation will be disrupted in some of our ports, the navigation of our fishing fleets and all kinds of sea vessels will be difficult, fish farms will be exposed to severe waves, transportation to the islands will be disrupted, and the sea environment will become more risky than the land area. . Due to the fact that 27 provinces are on the coast, commercial activities such as coastal structures, fishing and tourism in these provinces will be seriously damaged. While the seas are still a source of protein in our country, it is expected that the problems that will arise with global warming due to climate change will have serious effects on traditional fishing, fishing species and methods. [25]
1.1.Sea Snots in the Marmara Sea as Observed From Medium-Resolution Satellites
Mucilage cleaning works are significant for ships navigating the Turkish Straits and the Sea of Marmara. The most crucial element of the ships sailing on a dynamic surface is their safety while navigating. The most crucial factor during the voyage is the safety of navigation. The Sea of Marmara, the most significant component of the Turkish Straits Sea area, is an inland sea with a surface area of 11 111 square kilometers. As a result of oceanographic measurements, it has been understood that the low salty surface water from the Black Sea can be renewed every 5 to 6 months, and the salty bottom water from the Mediterranean can be renewed every 6 to 7 years. The mucilage structure felt in the Sea of Marmara in 2021 harms marine life; it has been determined that it forms at the bottom of the sea and on the sea's surface disrupts the life cycle. According to the latest findings, there are dense mucilage layers in the depth range of 5 to 30m. This range also covers the generalship type’s draught level that uses the Turkish Straits and the Sea of Marmara. [26]
As a result of the samples taken from the Sea of Marmara and its examination, it was understood that eight groups were formed from 47 species. These eight groups also consisted of Amoebozoa, Ciliata, cladoceran, Copepoda, Foraminifera, Nematoda, nauplii larvae, and veliger larvae in the mucilage samples. According to the operating principles of the ship's propulsion and management systems, the required cooling process of the closed-circuit engine cooling water, fuel and lubricating oils used for reasons such as preventing mechanical wear, reducing thermal stresses, keeping the combustion efficiency at an optimum level, is done utilizing used seawater from external. During the operation of the ship's engine, the seawater used for the cooling process is pre-filtered with the filters in the seawater inlet chests. It is pumped to the heat exchangers utilizing seawater pumps. The cooling process must be completed with a closed-circuit mechanism and the working principle of the cooling liquids at the required level. After this process, it is pressed into the sea again without contact with any polluting factor through seawater circuits.
Seawater inlet filters
Mucilage deposits/residues settling in the inlet filter (Figure 18) pores cause clogging quickly. As a result of clogging, the water flows from the sea decrease and will not flow at the pressure required for circulation. Since the circuit will have difficulty completing the circulation, temperature rise and overheating will occur in the main engine, generators, compressors, and cooling systems. Since it will cause thermal stress in the working mechanism, there will be difficulties transferring and listening to the rudder. It will cause many unexpected failures in the Turkish Straits and similar narrow channels and crossings.
Figure 18: Seawater Inlet filters after mucilage effects
Low Temperature Seawater cooler
Even if there is a filter at the seawater inlets, mucilage residues and residues will leak from the filters and plates and cause blockages in the cooling channels. Seawater coolers (Figure 19-20) will suddenly increase the freshwater (jacket water) temperature in the main engine, generators, and diesel equipment by disrupting the cooling regime. The low-temperature circuit (L.T.) is used in machines in the low-temperature compartment and is directly connected to the central seawater cooler; therefore, its temperature is lower than the high-temperature circuit (H.T.). L.T circuit consists of all backup systems. The total amount of low-temperature fresh water in the system and the amount of high-temperature freshwater are kept in balance by an expansion tank common to both systems. The expansion tank used for these systems is filled from the booster system or distilled water tank using a freshwater (F.W) filling pump.
Figure 19: Cooler example
Figure 20: Seawater cooler working principle
Figure 21: Seawater inlet Filters after mucilage at 2021
Marine engine's lube oil cooler's primary purpose is to cool the turbine oil. The oil heated during operation is carried out as the cooling water flows in the direction of the pipe along a serpentine path along the shell side of the bundle forming the cooler. The heat generated due to working in the system is transferred from the oil to the water, keeping the oil temperature within the ideal operating range.
Due to the marine engine working principle. The heat that works causes the transfer of foreign materials in the oil to drop outside the tubes. Since the filters clogged due to mucilage block the cooling channels, they will prevent the cooling of the air from passing through the air cooler and prevent the system from operating efficiently. An example of this situation is given in Figure 21. Decreased amount of oxygen in the uncooled air will increase the operation of the marine engine and the combustion pattern of the fuel and increase the exhaust temperature. Thus, the marine engine efficiency will be improved.
Emergency fire pumps (Figure 22) do an essential mission onboard. It should always be available for emergencies. It is necessary to be used in navigation, and it can be controlled by frequently using it when leaving the port and at anchorage areas. In places where mucilage is observed intensely, the pump filters will be clogged to draw water from deep and shallow water levels. It can even cover the seawater inlet filter, cutting off the flow of water and preventing emergency response.
Figure 22: Fire suppression system ship fire extinguishers
Mucilage is highly felt in the Turkish Straits, especially in the Sea of Marmara in the spring of 2021. It has been effective starting from natural life to sea vehicles, from sea tourism to many environmental problems. There are copper and aluminum-containing Anode and Cathode structures that can be built especially for sea creatures, called Marine Growth, and placed close to the filtered and water-taking structures of the ship. These structures work to prevent the heating of the working machines and equipment and to perform the cooling processes. Its work prevents sea creatures from living in the structure with the effect of electric current and copper oxide into the water taken from the sea. Examples of mussels, one of the creatures that can enter and live on ships with seawater, filter and clean more than 150 liters of water per day. Therefore, sea creatures are a structure that can reduce the pollution caused by external effects in seawater in natural selection. In general, anti-fouling paints are used to prevent marine species from trying to survive by sticking to the hull/hull of the ship, which is constantly used in maritime. It is immediately apparent that the living things sticking to the hull can help filter and clean the water, which has a mucilage effect.
1.1.Marmara Marine Ecology; Sea Snot Formation, Interactions and Suggestions for Solutions
· To increase the quality of treatment systems in domestic wastes
· To prevent the discharge of hazardous substances into the sea by increasing the quality of treatment systems in industrial (industrial) wastes
· To minimize the organic pollutant load in the seas
· Regular cleaning of shallow shores
· Providing frequent controlled inspections at ship ports
· Not throwing wastes such as glass, plastic, paper into the sea and the environment
· Determining the seas with coasts to industrial zones as protection areas and increasing their inspections
Today, with global warming, problems arise from the deterioration of the ecological balance in all the oceans of the world. These unexpected events have a very negative impact on the fishing industry. For example, the appearance of jellyfish, which covered about 80% of the sea surface in the Sea of Marmara during the 2007 fishing season, both damaged fishing equipment and caused a significant loss of product. Therefore, many fishermen could not fish, lost their nets, and wasted fuel, labor, food, etc.It was calculated that the decrease in fishing revenue was on average 27459 euros/year and the impact on fishing revenue -61.41%.
2. Conclusion
The mucilage problem helped to see the following truth. It is the embodiment of the pollution of the seas due to human beings and their indifference and the deterioration of the natural marine life as a result. The importance of releasing industrial wastes into the sea without control and the necessity of using sea-friendly products should be understood. Developed maritime countries are approaching these similar problems with more nature and sea-friendly solutions.
Effective and continuous cooperation mechanisms should be developed with the Black Sea riparian countries within the scope of reducing the level of inorganic nitrogen and phosphorus salts that make up the chemical structure of the existing water mixture in the water coming from the upper and lower water currents in the Strait of Istanbul to the Sea of Marmara with its upper flow. In addition, it is recommended to support the formation of ecological conditions that balance the existing phytoplankton population in the region of 0-14 meters where the effect of the upper layer is felt and up to 25 meters in deep places. In addition, within the possibilities, control, and protection of the species and numbers of upper-level organisms such as fish and shellfish fed by the rehabilitation and filtration of seawater can be ensured. As a result of these studies, policies suitable for fishing can be developed, and the migration of fish species, especially fish species, and protection of fish shelter and spawning areas between the Black Sea, Sea of Marmara and Aegean Seas, which are connected by the straits, which are international passageways. The protection area status of the Strait of Istanbul, the Sea of Marmara, and the Strait of Canakkale, which form the Turkish Straits Sea Area, needs to be improved with the effect of mucilage. It is recommended to carry out studies to take samples from the coastal organization of the transitional waters, in cooperation with the state authority and academic institutions, especially between the Black Sea entrance of the Strait of Istanbul and the Sea of Marmara exit of the Strait of Canakkale.
It is necessary to develop mucilage and similar pollution control systems and ultimately to contribute to the natural cleaning systems of the marine ecosystem.
