Comparison of Grain Size Trend Analysis and Multi-Index Pollution Assessment of Marine Sediments of the Gülbahçe Bay, Aegean Sea

Authors : Ezgi TALAS, Muhammet DUMAN

Pages : 159-179

Doi:10.30897/ijegeo.1292129

View : 34 | Download : 57

Publication Date : 2023-06-15

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :In this study, 46 elements plus total carbonate and total organic carbon contents were measured in 48 sea bottom sediments to determine the pollution levels in the study area and their source to understand better the natural and anthropogenic processes in the study area. Also current flows and sediment transport pathways inferred using multidisciplinary methods by interrelation between grain size trend analysis, shallow seismic and acoustic doppler current profiler analysis to unravel the hydro-sedimentary processes in a micro-tidal environment. Four main factors that were affecting the study area were identified as lithogenic factor insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(50.6%); anthropogenic factor caused by untreated domestic waste insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(13.2%);, anthropogenic factor caused by marine traffic/port activities insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(9.3%); and anthropogenic factor caused by small-scale industrial activities insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(with 6.9% of the total variance);. The main source of metals in the study area were determined as untreated domestic waste discharges insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(total organic carbon and sulfur);, maritime traffic/harbor activities insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(copper and zinc);, and discharges of other wastes caused by urbanization. The main metal element that poses the most significant risk for benthic organisms was determined as nickel in the study area. All environmental indices showed non to moderate pollution existing in Gülbahçe Bay. It has been observed that most prominent feature of the distribution of elemental concentrations and assessment of pollution indices were that the pollutants carried inwards to Gülbahçe Bay from Izmir Central Bay with inflows, following the sediment transport directions.
Keywords : Pollution indices, principal component analysis, sediment trend analysis, Posidonia oceanica habitat map, Gülbahçe Bay Aegean Sea,