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Evidence and implications of massive erosion along the Strait of İstanbul (Bosphorus)

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Abstract

The Strait of İstanbul (SoI) (Bosphorus) is a narrow valley, which has evolved tectonically from a stream, and in which thick sediment deposits have accumulated in the course of its evolution. Detailed seismic and multi-beam bathymetric data have revealed that the upper parts of the deeper channel deposits consist of parallel strata, which have mostly been eroded subsequently to their deposition. The resulting erosion surface is represented by the present channel floor in the strait, the estimated volume of the eroded material being approximately 2×108 m3 . Erosion rate and seafloor morphology indicate that the flow direction was from the south to the north. This inner channel may have been formed by an abrupt flooding of the Black Sea by Mediterranean waters at the beginning of the latest connection between the Marmara and the Black seas. Subsequently, the Mediterranean bottom current of the modern two-way flow system, which was established at about 5–4 ka b.p., has given the latest shape to the strait floor.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the Research Foundation of Istanbul University (grants 1766/21122001). We thank the TN-DNHO, and the crew of the R/V T.C.G. Çubuklu for their enthusiasm and help during seismic and bathymetric data collection. We are also grateful to T. Ustaömer, F.Y. Oktay, O. Algan, and H.İ. Sur for their valuable contributions. Constructive comments by W.B. Ryan, G. Kelling and the editor of the journal B.W. Flemming were very helpful for the improvement of the paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Natural Sciences Research Center, Yıldız Technical University, 34349 Besiktas, Istanbul, Turkey

    Erkan Gökaşan & Tolga Görüm

  2. Department of Geophysics, İstanbul University, Avcılar, İstanbul, Turkey

    Hüseyin Tur & Faruk Çağlak

  3. Department of Geophysics, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey

    Berkan Ecevitoğlu

  4. Department of Navigation, Hydrography and Oceanography, Turkish Navy, Çubuklu, Istanbul, Turkey

    Ahmet Türker, Buğser Tok, Halim Birkan & Mehmet Şimşek

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  1. Erkan Gökaşan
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Correspondence to Erkan Gökaşan.

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Gökaşan, E., Tur, H., Ecevitoğlu, B. et al. Evidence and implications of massive erosion along the Strait of İstanbul (Bosphorus). Geo-Mar Lett 25, 324–342 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00367-005-0216-3

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