Bilim 2001 Black Sea Cruise

Two quasisynoptic survey of the South-western Black Sea region with near mesoscale resolution were carried out during May – June 2001. The general plan were to obtain two quasisynoptic surveys of the region with near mesoscale resolution ~25 km and sub-mesoscale survey with finer resolution in areas of interest. 

The survey was divided into two legs, each of about 6 days. The initial quasisynoptic survey, Leg 1, was carried out during May 22-28, 2001. The second leg was carried out during June 12-18, 2001. The network of stations for each leg is given in Figure.

The objectives of the following projects directed the cruise research plan.

• Biogeochemical processes studies in the Black Sea, Marmara Sea, Aegean Sea and the Mediterranean and real-time forecasting studies (TUBITAK)

• The Black Sea Ecosystem Processes, Prediction and Operational Data Managements (Supported by NATO)

General objective was.

• to understand the physics and ecosystem dynamics of the South Western Black Sea region

Specific Objectives were

• to understand the dynamics of the rim current along the western shelf and canyons

• to quantify exchange of materials (passive, active) across the rim current, and the shelf-deep water,

• to understand role of the mesoscale circulation on the ecosystem,

• to acquire complete and coherent interdisciplinary observations,

• to support studies and modeling in the region,

• to acquire data to carry out hindcasting experiments with coupled physical and biological numerical model.

Bilim May-June 2001 Cruise 
Station locations

Summary of the measurements

• SeaBird CTD equipped with temperature, conductivity, Beam Transmission, Fluorescence, PAR/Irradiance, pH and Oxidation Reduction Potential sensors were lowered at every station from surface to nominal depth of 500m.

• Dissolved nutrients (PO4, NO3, NO2, NH4, and Si) using two-channel Technicon autoanalyzer were measured at samples collected with rosette system attached to CTD.

• Chlorophyll-a and pheopigments-a using Spectrofluorometer.

• Size fractionated Chl-a and primary production measurements for different size groups phytoplankton.

• Determination of the phytoplankton (sampling by Niskin bottles) and zooplankton (net sampling) biomasses. Study on the taxonomic groups will be done for the determination of biodiversity.

• Hindcasting studies using data collected in this cruise are continuing using Harvard Ocean Prediction System

Participants for the Bilim May-June 2001 Expedition