Post-Glacial Terraces of The Marmara Sea and water exchange periods

Semi-enclosed Marmara Sea is a passage between the Aegean Sea (Northeastern Mediterranean Sea) and the Black Sea. The Marmara Sea is connected to the Black Sea and the Aegean Sea through the İstanbul Strait (Bosphorus) and Çanakkale Strait (Dardanelles), respectively. Despite the fact that the late Pleistocene-Holocene connections between the seas have been explored by many scientists, there are still uncertainties about the nature and timing of the connections. Within the scope of this study, a new approach has been displayed for post-glacial connections between the Black Sea, Marmara Sea, and the Aegean Sea. This study is based on 80 shallow seismic reflection lines, multibeam bathymetric data and 15 short gravity cores collected from the northeastern shelf of the Marmara Sea (between Silivri and Golden Horn). The sea bottom and sub-bottom morphology have a highly chaotic structure at the exit of the Büyükçekmece/Küçükçekmece lagoons and further east near the Marmara- İstanbul Strait junction. This chaotic bottom and sub-bottom surface morphologies are mainly controlled by the structure of the basin, current regime of the shelf, coastal drainage systems and by the sea/lake water level changes controlled by climate and the sill depths of the two straits, which in turn determined the water exchange between the seas. The sedimentological interpretation of the seismic reflection profiles and core sediments have allowed us to distinguish five stratigraphic units (S1-S5) and four sedimentary layers (A-D) over the acoustic basement. The lower stratigraphic unit and sedimentary layer are separated from the overlying acoustic basement by a chaotic to parallel and by a high amplitude seismic reflector. Seaward dipping units of the acoustic basement are inferred to be the seaward continuation of the Oligocene–Upper Miocene units widely exposed on land. The presence of three different marine terraces distinguished (T1-T3) along the northeastern shelf of the Marmara Sea have been associated with the six different curves of the post-glacial sea-level changes. From statistical point of view, the most significant terraces occur from -78 m to -80 m (T1), -58 m to -62 m (T2) and -28 m to -32 m at (T3). Considering the global sea level curves, these terraces can be dated 9.25, 12.25 and 13.75 Cal kyr BP, respectively.

___

  • Aksu, A.E., Hiscott, R.N., Yaşar, D., Işler, F.I., Marsh, S. 2002a. Seismic stratigraphy of Late Quaternary deposits from the southwestern Black Sea shelf: evidence for non-catastrophic variations in sea-level during the last 10,000 years. Mar. Geol. 190, 61–94.
  • Aksu, A.E., Hiscott, R.N., Mudie, P.J., Rochon, A., Kaminski, M.A., Abrajano, T, and D. Yaşar 2002b. Persistent Holocene outflow from the Black Sea to the Eastern Mediterranean contradicts Noah’s Flood hypothesis. GSA Today 12 (5), 4–10.
  • Aksu, A.E., Hiscott, R.N., Kaminski, M.A., Mudie, P.J., Gillespie, H., Abrojano, T., Yaşar, D. 2002c. Last glacial–Holocene paleoceanography of the Black Sea and Marmara Sea: stable isotopic, foraminiferal and coccolith evidence. Mar. Geol. 190, 119–149.
  • Aksu, A.E., Jenner, G., Hiscott, R.N., İşler, E.B. 2008. Occurrence, stratigraphy and geochemistry of Late Quaternary tephra layers in the Aegean Sea and the Marmara Sea Mar. Geol. 252, 174–192.
  • Alavi, S.N., Ediger, V., Ergin, M. 1989. Recent sedimentation on the shelf and upper slope in the Bay of Anamur, southern coast of Turkey, Mar. Geol.i 89: 29-56. Fli.igel, E. 1978. Mikrofazielle Untersuchungsmethoden yon Kalken. Springer, Berlin, 454 p.
  • Alpar, B., Yüce, H. 1998. Sea-level variations and their interactions between the Black Sea and the Aegean Sea. Estuar Coast Shelf Sciences, 46, 609-619.
  • Badley, M.E. 1985. Practical Seismic Interpretation. Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, N J, 266 p. Ballard, R.D., Coleman, D.F., Rosenburg, G., 2000. Further evidence of abrupt Holocene drowning of the Black Sea shelf: Marine Geology 170, 253–261.
  • Beşiktepe, Ş., Sur, H.I., Özsoy, E., Latif, M.A., Oğuz, T., Ünlüata, Ü. 1994. The circulation and hydrography of the Marmara Sea. Prog. Oceanogr. 34, 285-334.
  • Boggs, S., Jr. 1987. Principles of Sedimentology and Stratigraphy. Macmillan, New York, 784 p.
  • Brown, Jr., L.F., Fisher, W.L. 1980. Seismic Stratigraphic Interpretation and Petroleum Exploration. AAPG Continuing Education Course Note Series 16, Tulsa, Oklahoma, 125 p.
  • Çağatay, M.N., Algan, O., Sakınç, M., Eastoe, C.J., Egesel, L., Balkıs, N., Ongan, D., Caner., H. 1999. A mid-late Holocene sapropelic sediment unit from the southern Marmara sea shelf and its palaeoceanographic significance, Quaternary Science Reviews 18 (1999) 531-540.
  • Çağatay, N., Görür, N., Algan, O., Eastoe, C., Tchalaliga, A., Ongan, D., Kuhşl, T., Kuşçu, I. 2000. Late Glacial - Holocene paleoceanography of the Sea of Marmara: timing of connections with the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. Mar. Geol. 167, 191–206.
  • Çagatay, M.N., Görür, N., Polonia, A., Demirbağ, E., Sakınç, M., Cormier, M.-H., Capotondi, L., McHugh, C.M.G., Emre, Ö., Eriş, K., 2003. Sea-level changes and depositional environments in the Izmit Gulf, eastern Marmara Sea, during the late glacial–Holocene period. Mar. Geol. 202, 159–173.
  • Çağatay, N., Eriş, K., Ryan, W.B.F., Sancar, Ü., Polonia, A., Akçer, S., Biltekin, D., Gasperini L, Görür, N., Lericolaris, G., Bard, E. 2009. Late pleistocene-holocene evolution of the northern shelf of the Sea of Marmara, Mar. Geol. 265, 87-100.
  • Çağatay, M.N., Wulf, S. Guichard, F. Özmaral, A., Henry, P, Gasperini, L., 2015. Tephra record from the Sea of Marmara for the last 71 ka and its paleoceanographic implications. Marine Geology, 361: 96-110.
  • Campbell, A.C. 1982. The Hamlyn Guide to the Flora and Fauna of the Mediterranean Sea. Hamlyn, London, p. 320.
  • DAMOC 1971. Master plan and feasibility report for water supply and sewerage for Istanbul region. Prepared by the DAMOC Consortium for WHO, Los Angeles, CA, vol. III, part II and III.
  • Degens, E.T., Ross, A. 1974. The Black Sea-Geology, chemistry, and biology. American Association of Petroleum Geologists, Tulsa, Oklahoma, 633 p.
  • Dimitrov, P., 1982. Radiocarbon datings of bottom sediments from the Bulgarian Black Sea shelf. Bulg. Acad. Sci. Oceanol. 9, 45-53.
  • Ediger, V., Okyar, M, Ergin, M. 1993. Seismic stratigraphy of the fault-controlled submarine canyon/valley system on the shelf and upper slope of Anamur Bay, Northeastern Mediterranean Sea. Mar. Geol. 15, 129-142.
  • EIE. 1993. Sediment data and sediment transport amount for surface water in Turkey. Türkiye Elektirik İşleri Etüd Dairesi Genel Müdürlüğü, Ankara, EIE Publ., No.68. 56 p.
  • Ergin, M., Bodur, M.N., Ediger, V. 1991. Distribution of surficial shelf sediments in the northeastern and southwestern parts of the Sea of Marmara: Strait and canyon regimes of the Dardanelles and Bosphorus. Mar. Geol. 96, 313-340.
  • Ergintav, S., Demirbağ, E., Ediger, V., Saatçılar, R., Inan, S., Cankurtaranlar, A., Dikbaş, A., Baş, M. 2011. Structural framework of onshore and offshore Avcılar, ˙Istanbul under the influence of the North Anatolian fault. Geophys. J. Int. 185, 93–105.
  • Eriş, K.K., M., Çağatay, N., Sena, A., Gasperini, L., Mart, Y. 2011. Late glacial to Holocene sea-level changes in the Sea of Marmara: new evidence from high-resolution seismics and core studies, Geo-Marine Letters, V:31, N:1, 1-18.
  • Eriş, K.K., Çağatay, M.N., Akçer, K., Luca, G., Yosi., M. 2010. Late glacial to Holocene sea-level changes in the Sea of Marmara: new evidence from high-resolution seismics and core studies. Geo-Mar Lett 31:1–18.
  • Eriş, K.K., Ryan, W.B.F., Çağatay, M.N., Lericolais, G., Sancar, Ü., Menot, G, Bard, E. 2008. Reply to Comment on “The timing and evolution of the post-glacial transgression across the Sea of Marmara shelf south of Istanbul” by Hiscott et al., Mar. Geol. 248 228-236.
  • Eriş, K.K., Ryan, W.B.F., Çağatay, M.N., Sancar, U., Lericolais, G., Ménot, G., Bard, E. 2007. The timing and evolution of the post-glacial transgression across the Sea of Marmara shelf south of Istanbul. Mar. Geol. 243 (1-4), 57-76.
  • Fairbanks, R.G. 1989. A 17,000 year glacio-eustatic sea-level record: Influence of glacial melting rates on the Younger Dryas event and deep-ocean circulation: Nature, v. 342, p. 637-642.
  • Fleming, K. M. 2000. Glacial Rebound and Sea-level Change Constraints on the Greenland Ice Sheet. Australian National University. PhD Thesis.
  • Fleming, K., Johnston, P., Zwartz, D., Yokoyama, Y., Lambert, K., Chappell, J. 1998. Refining the eustatic sea-level survey since the Last Glacial Maximum using far- and intermediate-field sites. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 163, 327–342.
  • Gökaşan, E., Demirbağ, E., Oktay, F.Y., Ecevitoğlu, B., Şimşek, M., Yüce, H. 1997. On the origin of the Bosphorus. Mar. Geol. 140, 183–199.
  • Gökaşan E., Tur, H., Ergin, M., Görüm, T., Batu,k F.G., Sağcı, N., Ustaömer, T., Emem, O., Alp, H. 2010. Late Quaternary evolution of the Çanakkale Strait region (Dardanelles, NW Turkey): implications of a major erosional event for the postglacial Mediterranean-Marmara Sea connection. Geo-Mar Lett (2010) 30:113-131.
  • Gökaşan, E., Ergin, M., ÖzyalvaÇ, M., Ibrahim Sur, H., Tur, H., Görum, T., Ustaömer, T., Gül Batuk, F., Alp, H., Birkan, H., Türker, A., Gezgin, E., Özturan, M., 2008. Factors controlling the morphological evolution of the Canakkale Strait (Dardanelles, Turkey). Geo-Mar Letters 28, 107–129.
  • Gornitz, V., 2009: Sea level change, post-glacial. In Encyclopedia of Paleoclimatology and Ancient Environments. V. Gornitz, Ed., Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series. Springer, 887-893.
  • Görür, N., Çağatay, M.N., Emre, Ö., Alpar, B., Sakınç, M., Islamoğlu, Y., Algan, O., Erkal, T., Keçer, M., Akkök R., Karlık, G. 2001. Is the abrupt drowning of the Black Sea shelf at 7150 yr BP a myth? Mar. Geol. 176, 65-73.
  • Hiscott, A.E., Aksu, R.N, Mudie, P.J, Kaminski, M.A., Abrajano, T., Yaşar, D., Rochon, A. 2007. The Marmara Sea gateway since 16 ky BP: non-catastrophic causes of paleoceanographic events in the Black Sea at 8.4 and 7.15 ky BP. In: Yanko-Hombach, V., Gilbert, A.S., Dolukhanov, P.M. (Eds.), The Black Sea Flood Question. Springer, The Netherlands, 89–117.
  • Hiscott, R.N., Aksu, A.E, Yaşar, D., Kaminski, M.A., Mudie, P.J., Kostylev, V.E, MacDonald, J.C., Işler, F.I., Lord, A.R. 2002. Deltas south of the Bosphorus Strait record persistent Black Sea outflow to the Marmara Sea since ~10 ka. Mar. Geol. 190:95-118.
  • Hiscott, R.N., Aksu, A.E., Mudie, P.J. 2008. Comment on “The timing and evolution of the post-glacial transgression across the Sea of Marmara shelf south of Istanbul” by Eriş et al., Mar. Geol. 243, 57–76 Mar. Geol., Volume 248, Issues 3-4, 25 February 2008, Pages 228-236.
  • http://www.globalwarmingart.com
  • http://www.globalwarmingart.com/wiki/Image:Post-Glacial_Sea_Level_png
  • Kaminski, M.A., Aksu, A.E., Box, M., Hiscott, R.N., Filipescu, S., Al-Salameen, M. 2002. Late glacial to Holocene benthic foraminifera in the Marmara Sea: implications for Black Sea-Mediterranean Sea connections following the last deglaciation. Mar. Geol. 190: 165–202.
  • Keven, G. 2002. Archaeology: An Introduction. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press. Pages. 165–167.
  • Kuprin, P.N., Scherbakov, F.A., Morgunov, I.I., 1974. Correlation, age and distribution of the postglacial continental terrace sediments of the Black Sea. Baltica 5, 241-249.
  • Lane-Serff, G.F., Rohling, E.J., Bryden, H.L., Charnock, H. 1977. Postglacial connection of the Black Sea to the Mediterranean and its relation to the timing of sapropel formation. Paleoceanography Volume 12, Issue 2. Pages 169–174.
  • Londeix, L., Herreyre, Y., Turon,J.L., Fletcher, W., 2009. Last Glacial to Holocene hydrology of the Marmara Sea inferred from a dinoflagellate cyst record Palaeobotany and Palynology 158 (2009) 52–71
  • Major, C., Ryan, W., Lericolais, G., Hajdas, I. 2002. Constraints on Black Sea outflow to the Sea of Marmara during the last glacial–interglacial transition. Mar. Geol. 190, 19–34.
  • Major, C.O., Goldstein S.L., Ryan, W.B.F., Lericolais, G., Piotrowski, A.M., Hajdas, I. 2006. The co-evolution of Black Sealevel and composition through the last deglaciation and its paleoclimatic significance. Quat. Sci. Rev. 25, 2031–2047.
  • Martin, R. E., Leorri, E., McLaughlin, P.P. 2007. Holocene sea level climate change in the Black Sea: Multiple marine incursions related to freshwater discharge events. 2007 Quaternary International 167-168, 61-72.
  • McHugh, W.D., Hansell, D.A, Morgana, JA. 2007. Reprint of Dissolved organic carbon and nitrogen in the Western Black Sea. Marine Chemistry 105 (1-2), 140-150.
  • McHugh, C.M.G., Gurung, D., Giosan, L., Ryan, W.B.F., Mart, Y., Sancar, U., Burckle, L., Çağatay, M.N., 2008. The last reconnection of the Marmara Sea (Turkey) to the World Ocean: a paleoceanographic and paleoclimatic perspective. Mar. Geol 255 (1-2), 64-82.
  • Meriç, E., Algan, O. 2007. Paleoenvironments of the Marmara Sea (Turkey) Coasts from paleontological and sedimentological data. Quaternary International 167-168, 128-148.
  • Milliman, J.D., Weiler Y ., Stanley D.J 1972. Morphology and carbonate sedimentation on shallow banks in the Alborian Sea. In: D.J. Stanley (Editor), The Mediterranean Sea A Natural Sedimentation Laboratory. Dowden, Hutchinson and Ross, Stroudsburg, Pa., 241, 259 p.
  • Milne, G.A., Longb, A.J., Bassetta, S.E. 2005. Modelling Holocene relative sea-level observations from the Caribbean and South America. Quaternary Science Reviews 24, 1183–1202.
  • Mitchum, R.M., Vail, P.R., Sangree, J.B. 1977. Seismic stratigraphy and global changes of sea level, part 6: Stratigraphic interpretation of seismic reflection patterns in depositional sequences. In: C.E. Payton (Editor), Seismic Stratigraphy--Applications to Hydrocarbon Exploration. AAPG Mem., 26: 117-133.
  • Myers, P.G., Wielki, C., Goldstein, S.B, Rohling, E.J. 2003. Hydraulic calculations of postglacial connections between the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. Mar. Geol. 201, 253-267.
  • Newman, K.R., 2003. Using Submerged Shorelines to Constrain Recent Tectonics in the Marmara Sea, Northwestern Turkey. Department of Geology, Senior Thesis, Smith College. 49 pp.
  • Oguz T., Özsoy E., Latif M., Sur H.I. and Ünlüata Ü., 1990. Modeling of hydraulically controlled exchange flow in the Bosphorus Strait. J. Phys. Oceanogr., 20: 945-965
  • Okyar, M., Ediger, V., Ergin, M. 1994. Seismic stratigraphy of the southeastern Black Sea shelf from high-resolution seismic records. Mar. Geol., Volume 121, Issues 3-4, November 1994, Pages 213-230.
  • Özsoy, E., Di Iorio, D., Gregg, M., Backhaus, J.O. 2001. Mixing in the Bosphorus Strait and the Black Sea continental shelf: observations and a model of the dense water outflow J. Mar. Syst., 31 (2001), pp. 99-135
  • Peltier, W.R., Fairbanks, R.G., 2006. Global glacial ice volume and Last Glacial Maximum duration from an extended Barbados sea level record. Quaternary Science Reviews 25 (23-24), 3322-3337.
  • Polat, Ç., Tuğrul, S. 1996. Chemical exchange between the Mediterranean and Black Sea via the Turkish Straits. In: Briand, F. (Ed.), Dynamics of Mediterranean Straits and Channels. Bulletin de l’Institut Oce.anographique, Monaco, Special No. 17, CIESME Science Series 2, 167-186.
  • Polonia, A., Gasperini, L., Amorosi, A., Bonatti E., Bortoluzzi, G., Çağatay, N., Capotondi, L., Cormier, M.H., Görür, N., McHugh, C., Seeber, L. 2004. Holocene slip rate of the North Anatolian Fault beneath the Sea of Marmara. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 227, 411–426.
  • Rank, D., Özsoy, E. , Salihoğlu I. 1999. Oxygen -18, deuterium and tritium in the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara. J. Environ. Radioact. 43, 231-245.
  • Ryan, W.B.F. 2007. Status of the Black Sea Flood hypothesis. Yanko-Hombach, V., Gilbert, A.S., Panin, N., Dolukhanov, P. (Edit.), The Black Sea Flood Question-Changes in Coastline, Climate and Human Settlement, Springer, Dordrecht, 63-88.
  • Ryan, W.B.F., Major, C.O., Lericolais, G., Goldstein, S.L. 2003. Catastrophic flooding of the Black Sea. Annual Review of Earth and Planetary Sciences 31: 525-554.
  • Ryan, W.B.F., Pitman III, W.C., Major, C.O., Shimkus, K., Moskalenko, V., Jones, J.A., Dimitrov, P., Görür, N., Sakınç¸, M., Yüce, H., 1997. An abrupt drowning of Black Sea shelf. Mar. Geol. 138, 119–126.
  • Sangree, J.B., Widmier. J.M. 1977. Seismic stratigraphy and global changes of sea level, part 9: Seismic interpretation of clastic depositional facies. In: C.E. Payton (Editor), Seismic Stratigraphy--Applications to Hydrocarbon Exploration. AAPG Mem., 26: 165-184.
  • Schattner U, Lazar M, Tibor G et al. 2010. Filling up the shelf – A sedimentary response to the last post-glacial sea rise. Marine Geology 278: 165–176.
  • Shimkus, K.M., Evsyukov, Y.D., Solovjeva, R.N., 1980. Submarine terraces of the lower shelf zone and their nature. In: Malovitsky, Y.P., Shimkus, K.M. (Eds.), Geological and Geophysical Studies of the Pre-Oceanic zone. P.P. Shirshov Inst. Of Oceanology Acad Sci USSR, Moscow, pp 81-92.
  • Siddall, M., Rohling, E.J., Almogi-Labin, A., Hemleben, Ch., Meischner, D., Schmelzer. I. Smeed. D.A. 2003. Sea-level fluctuations during the last glacial cycle. Nature 423, 853-858.
  • Smith, A. D., Taymaz, T., Oktay, F., Yüce, H., Alpar, B., Başaran, H., Jackson, J. A., Kara,S., Şimşek, M., 1995. High-resolution seismic profiling in the Sea of Marmara (northwest Turkey): Late Quaternary sedimentation and sea-level changes. Geological Society of America Bulletin, August 1995 923-936
  • Stanford, J. D., Hemingway, R., Rohling, E. J., Challenor, P. G., Medina-Elizade, M. and Lester, A. J. 2011. Sea-level probability for the last deglaciation: A statistical analysis of far-field records, Global Planet. Change, 79, 193–203.
  • Stuiver, M. and Reimer, P.J. 1993: Extended 14C data base and revised CALIB 3.0 14C age calibration program . Radiocarbon 35, 215-230
  • Tolun, L., Çağatay, M. N. and Carrigan, W. J. 2002. Organic geochemistry and origin of late Glacial-Holocene sapropelic layers and associated sediments in Marmara Sea, Mar. Geol., 190, 47 – 60
  • Ünlüata Ü., Oguz T., Latif M. and Özsoy E., 1990. On the physical oceanography of the Turkish Straits. In: Pratt L.J. (ed.). The physical oceanography of sea straits, Kluwer Academic Publishers, Boston, pp 25-60.
  • Vail, P.R., Mitchum, Jr.R.M., Thompson, S.III. 1977. Seismic stratigraphy and global changes of sea level, part 3: Relative changes of sea level from coastal onlap. In: C.E. Payton (Editor), Seismic Stratigraphy--Applications to Hydrocarbon Exploration. AAPG Mem., 26: 63-81.
  • Yaltırak, C., Sakınç, M., Aksu, A.E., Hiscott, R.N., Galleb, B., Ülgen, U.B. 2002. Late Pleistocene uplift history along the southwestern Marmara Sea determined from raised coastal deposits and global sea-level variations. Mar. Geol. 190:283-305.