Nutrient dynamics and eutrophication in the Sea of Marmara: Data from recent oceanographic research

This work was implemented to study the physicochemical and biological characteristics of the Sea of Marmara and the Turkish straits (TSS: Bosporus and Dardanelles straits) for the period 2010–2013 and to calculate winter and summer fluxes of nutrients (nitrates, phosphates) between the Aegean and Black Seas through the TSS. The brackish Black Sea waters reach the Dardanelles Strait with modified biochemical properties. The salinity and phosphates of the surface waters increased westwards. Biologically labile nutrients of Black Sea origin are utilized through biological processes in the Marmara Sea. On the other hand, increase of nutrients due to land based sources has led to eutrophication problems in the area. The sub surface water layer of Mediterranean origin is oxygen depleted (saturation