International Journal of Environment and Geoinformatics

157-163

Authors: Aykut Gökbarlas, Murat Gündüz

The purpose of this study is to examine the temperature and salinity variability of the İzmir Bay based on available in-situ measurements between 1996 and 2013 in summer. The analyses were made for the whole Bay and also for the sub-basins of the İzmir Bay namely; inner and outer. The similarities and differences were tried to be revealed. The main finding of the study is that there is a strong increase of temperature during the last 10 years. After 2003, it is very interesting that the temperature increase almost 2°C in all two basins. This trend is greater than global warming which is almost 0.5°C. Although the salinity has decreasing trend in all the subbasins, there is an anomaly in 2007. The salinity increases in this year. The impact of such warming and the anomaly in the salinity on the İzmir Bay needs more investigation.

173-181

Authors: Ayşah Öztekin, Levent Bat

In this study, abundance, distribution and type of seafloor litter were determined in the Sinop Inceburun coast which is the northeast point of Turkey. Study was carried out in October 2014 and proposed methods by Guidance on Monitoring of Marine Litter in European Seas’ published by European Marine Strategy Framework Directive Technical Subgroup on Marine Litter section of seafloor litter adopted the region. Seafloor litter density was found mean 808.74±215.02 pieces per km-2. The amount of litter was found maximum in 34 m depth. When results were evaluated in terms of the type of material plastic was found 95.35% and encountered litter items were mainly composed of plastic bags. The size groups were found generally small than 50 cm x 50 cm in the classification according to the size groups. The data obtained from the study demonstrate that the seafloor in the region have highly littered compared to the other studies in the Black Sea. Marine litter pollution is a growing problem in the world all of the world’s oceans and also the Black Sea. Necessary measurements must be taken to solve this problem.

193-205

Authors: Mustafa Dihkan, Nilgün Güneroğlu, Abdülaziz Güneroğlu and Fevzi Karslı

Coastal urbanization problem was emanated from willingness of coastal living. Urban sprawl is one of the most important coastal problems in Turkey as it is in Trabzon city which is known for its natural and historical assets. In order to ensure the sustainability and ecological continuity of the city, an ecosystem based coastal planning is an issue of high priority. Protection and usage balance of the coastal areas could also ensure transition of the natural values to future generations. Trabzon city has been under severe urbanization problem for the last 30 years due to migration from rural to coastal areas of the city. It is thought that recently completed motorway and its service roads accelerated the urbanization on coastal periphery. Therefore, the problem must be resolved as soon as possible to achieve the good environmental status of the coast in the city. Thus, as a solution, DPSIR framework was proposed for systematic evaluation and documentation of the related critical issues by starting with a questionnaire composed of open ended questions for determination of major coastal problems in the city. As a step forward, the problems are quantitatively investigated and confirmed by using remote sensing techniques and census data compiled from TUIK databases. As a result major drivers were defined as "coastal urbanization", "coastal land filling" and "coastal transportation" for the city of Trabzon. It is recommended that single authority (composed of various specialists) must take the responsibility of coastal planning in the region. Moreover, the rights of the municipalities on the coastal zone must urgently be stopped by applying continues independent monitoring. Finally, taxation and land owning policies have to be revised on coastal areas to balance and encourage alternative city planning strategies.

214-226

Authors: Gülsen Erginal

This study discusses the relationship between tourism and geomorphologic features, climatic comfort and natural vegetation cover in the coastal region from İğneada to Kastro Bay on the Black Sea. From the point of view of climatic comfort, Thermo-Hygrometric Index (THI) values indicate that May, June, September and October are favorable for coastal tourism while in the months of July and August temperatures are too hot. SSI index values indicate that comfort levels prevail for most people in June and September although the weather can be perceived by some people as cool. In July and August, when the temperatures are higher, the climate is comfortable part of the time, but it is rather hot and sticky. Despite climatic comfort conditions not being suitable for long-duration coastal tourism in the Kıyıköy-İğneada area, the floristic richness of the area and presence of longose forests offer many opportunities in terms of ecotourism. There are also numerous lakes and streams presenting unique possibilities for a variety of so-far unexploited tourism activities. Geomorphologically, uncontaminated sandy beaches and coastal spits as well as sheltered bays such as Kastro Bay are among the important assets of the area in terms of coastal tourism.

63-78

Authors: Cem Gazioğlu

Tsunamis are one of the most dreadful natural disasters; they could cause abysmal damage to all kind of lives in the hinterland within instantly. It is a major right-lateral moving fault that runs along the tectonic boundary between the Eurasian Plate to the north and the Anatolian Plate to the south. The western segment of the North Anatolian Fault splits into three main branches. The northern one of NAF is generally subdivided in several subsegments that have been the source of frequent large historical earthquakes. The Sea of Marmara coasts is located on the western extension of the NAFZ which is one of the most important active faults with strike-slip characteristics, which are not likely to generate tsunami. However, in the light of tsunami catalogs based on historical documents, it is possible to say that Sea of Marmara has tsunamigenic potential. The İstanbul shorelines, Gemlik Bay, Kapıdağ N-NE shores, Gelibolu, Hersek Peinsula and Gulf of İzmit are one of the most significant geohazards in Sea of Marmara due to the tsunami effect.

94-102

Authors: Levent Bat, Elif Arıcı, Murat Sezgin, Fatih Şahin

The purpose of the current study is to evaluate the levels of seven heavy metals (arsenic, copper, zinc, mercury, lead, cadmium and iron) and metal (aluminium,) in the edible tissues of Scophthalmus maximus, Spicara maena, Chelidonichthys lucerna, Alosa fallax and Scorpaena porcus caught in Sinop coasts of the Black Sea. The samples were obtained during the fishing season in 2013 directly from the Turkish fishing vessels. Hg, Cd and Pb were not detected in the edible part of all fish samples. The metal levels in edible tissues did not exceed the standard guideline values. Estimated hazard index (HI) suggest that these metals in the edible tissues of the fish were not toxic for consumers, where the HIs of all the considered metals were below the value of 1.

116-127

Authors: Bülent Bayram, G. Çiğdem Çavdaroğlu, Dursun Zafer Şeker, Sıtkı Külür

The human face includes different colors and forms due to its complexity. Therefore, facial image processing comprises even more problems than image processing of other objects. Interest point detection is one of the important problems in computer vision, which is the key aspect of solving problems such as facial expression analysis, age analysis, sex defining, facial recognition, and three-dimensional face modelling in augmented reality. To accomplish these tasks, facial interest points need automatic definition. A hybrid algorithm was developed to detect automatically interest regions and points in multiple images in the resented study. The study used processed facial images from an authorized image database with a resolution of 1600 x 1200, taken in standardized illumination conditions by using an InSpeck Mega Capturor II optical 3D structured light digitizer and 1000-W halogen lamp. The presented study integrated skin color analysis with the Haar classification method, processing 11 male and 25 female facial images with the developed algorithm. The average accuracy of facial interest point detection was 0.68 mm after testing all images.

139-156

Authors: Engin Meriç, Niyazi Avşar, M. Baki Yokeş, Fuat Şaroğlu, Erdoğan Ölmez, İpek F. Barut

In the last ten years, morphological abnormalities and colored tests have been observed in benthic foraminifera specimens collected from Aegean and Southwestern coasts of Turkey. Specific morphological abnormalities show distinct distribution patterns, suggesting the need for special environmental conditions facilitating the development of such abnormalities. Physical and chemical parameters have been proposed to be responsible for these morphological changes. The benthic foraminifera, Cibicidella variabilis (d’Orbigny) specimens have been collected from different locations on the East Aegean coast of Turkey. Some of them, especially those from Dikili Bay, were found to have variable number of apertures, ranging from one to five. These apertures not structurally, but positionally differ. The abundance of certain test forms in specific locations draws attention. The aim of this study is to determine the possible causes of this aberrant morphology observed in tests of Cibicidella variabilis (d’Orbigny). Cibicidella variabilis (d’Orbigny) shows a wide distribution range on the Aegean coast of Turkey, and has been found in Saros Bay, Gökçeada, Bozcaada, Çanakkale, Edremit Bay, Dikili Bay, Çandarlı Bay, Karaburun Peninsula, Kuşadası, Güllük Bay, Gulf of Gökova, Gulf of Datça, and Marmaris Bay. But, the individuals collected from Gulf of Edremit, Dikili Bay, Çandarlı Bay, Gulf of Gökova, and Gulf of Datça were morphologically different than those collected from the rest of the regions. The variation in the number of apertures, as well as their positions were typical in these samples. Besides, the variations in the shape of the tests observed in adult individuals, but not in juveniles indicates that some environmental factors, which were specific to these regions, might have been involved in this unusual test development. The submarine springs caused by the tectonic activities are typical of the Aegean Sea. It is well documented that these kinds of springs change the characteristics of the surrounding habitat and its fauna. Therefore, it is possible that some of the trace elements, which are abundant in hot spring waters, may be related with the abnormal test morphology observed in our samples. On the other hand, it is also possible that, not only the chemical and physical conditions of the surrounding water, but also its biological properties may affect the test development.

1-7

Authors: Bachari Nour El Islam, Houma, Fouzia, Amarouche, Khalid

Bay of Bejaia-Jijel extends over a length of 100 km with the presence of the ports, the beaches of rivers that discharge of the bay. This area characterized by strong economic activity, namely tourism and fisheries. However, severe erosion, high hydrodynamic activity and significant silting of ports affect this bay. Hence, the interest of this study, which tries to explain these phenomena, based on multisource data with multitasking models. First, we developed an algorithm that can convert satellite images in coastline vector. This technique applied to three images LANDSAT TM and OLI sensed in 1987, 2011; 2015. The multi-temporal monitoring coastlines show that the region suffered severe erosion. This erosion is 4.6 m / year for the period of 1987/2011 and 1.5 m / year for the period 2011/2015. To explain this phenomenon we interested to do a study of hydrodynamics using the SWAN software. We used a long time series of wind speed and direction to discern extreme cases in the region. For maximum wind, the significant wave height recorded very high values and a very active orbital current with a speed that exceeds 0.7 m / s. Numerical modelling has allowed us to explain the erosion but does not explain the speed difference coastline. To find the explanation of erosion speed difference between the two periods we consulted the administrative archive of the region. In the archive, the number of authorized hourglasses is, 12 in the 90s, but 36 quarries operate haphazardly. In this period the balance of suspended matter is completely unbalanced which promotes erosion. After 2008, these quarries were closed therefore the balance of the suspended material has improved and consequently coastal erosion has decreased.

17-24

Authors: Murat Selim Çepni and Ozan Arslan

Several studies worldwide have been developed that seek to explain the occurrence of traffic accidents from different perspectives. The analyses have addressed legal perspectives, technical attributes of vehicles and infrastructure as well as the psychological, behavioral and socio-economic components of the road system users. Recently, some analysis techniques based on the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) have been used, which allow the generation of spatial distribution maps, models and risk estimates from a spatial perspective. Sometimes analyses of traffic accidents are performed using quantitative statistical techniques, which place significant importance on the evolution of accidents. Studies such as those in references have shown that conventional statistical models are sometimes inadequate to model the frequency of traffic accidents, as they may provide erroneous inferences. GIS approach has been used to explore different spatial and temporal visualization technologies to reveal accident patterns and significant factors relating to vehicle crashes, or as a management system for accident analysis and the determination of hot spots. This paper examines the relationship between urban road accidents and variables related to road infrastructure, environment and traffic volumes. Some accident-prone sections in the city of Kocaeli are specifically identified by GIS tools. Urban road accidents in Kocaeli are a serious problem and it is believed that accidents can be related to infrastructure characteristics. The study aimed to establish the relationship between urban road accidents and the road infrastructure variables and revealed some possible accident prone locations for the period of 2013 and 2015 in Kocaeli city.

36-42

Authors: Lütfiye Karasaka, Hakan Karabörk, Ahmet Güntel and Fatih Esirtgen

The data produced by photogrammetric methods have become used more effectively and efficiently to take place of digital aerial cameras to aerial film cameras. Digital aerial cameras have distinct properties according to imaging geometry, sensor numbers, the placement of camera cones and image recording techniques. Since 2000, many studies have been done upon the geometric analysis of the rapidly developing digital imaging system. Intergraph DMC and Vexcel Ultracam are among the most popular digital imaging systems in this area. These cameras are large-format digital aerial camera systems. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the geometric performance of DMCII-250e and Vexcel UltraCamX large-format digital aerial camera systems. The test flights were performed in Bursa province. Two different image blocks which are 10 cm GSD and 30 cm GSD were acquired at different flight altitudes. The image measurements for aerial triangulation were performed by Mescioglu Engineering Inc. The images were processed with Match-AT software. It has been compared the residuals of coordinates and RMS of ground control points and check points triangulated image blocks.

54-62

Authors: Osman Orhan, Sefa Yalvaç and Semih Ekercin

The main purpose of this paper is to investigate climate change impact that have been occurred on Salt Lake located in the central Anatolia is one of the area that has been faced to extinction. In order to monitor current status of the Salt Lake, Landsat satellite images has been obtained between the year of 2000 and 2014 (for the months of February, May, August and November). Satellite images has been processed by using ArcGIS and ERDAS softwares and the water surface area has been determined. The time series of water surface areas has been analyzed with auto-correlation method and repeated pattern has been detected. The seasonal part of the time series which period is 1 year and causes about 400 km² fluctuations has been removed with Moving Average filter, successfully. As a result of filtration process, non-seasonal time series of water surface area of Salt Lake were obtained. It is understood from the non-seasonal time series that the water surface area showed variability between 2000 and 2010 and after 2010 it is stable until 2014. In order to explain the variability, meteorological data (precipitation and temperature) of the surrounding area has been acquired from the related service. The cross-correlation analyses has been performed with the movement of the water surface area and meteorological time series. As a result of analysis, the relationship between water surface changes in Salt Lake and meteorological data have correlated up to 80%. Consequently, several conclusion have been detected that the topography of the region play a direct role of the correlation coefficients and the water surface changes are effected from the environmental events that is occurred in the south of Salt Lake sub-Basin.