International Journal of Environment and Geoinformatics

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 However, in the light of tsunami catalogs based on historical documents, it is possible to say that Sea of Marmara has tsunamigenic potential.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.