Scientists from METU Marine Sciences Institute carried out a 1-week scientific summer expedition in the Black Sea in the last week of August.
During the expedition, many parameters, especially the physical, chemical and biological properties of sea water, were examined and data on the structure of the sea was collected with measurements and samples taken from different points, while invisible, metal-rich particle clouds were mapped.
Institute Deputy Director Prof. Dr. Mustafa Yücel said that they have been following the formation in question for 7-8 years, and in the last 3 years, they have researched it in more detail with new technologies and methodologies developed with the support of the European Research Council (ERC).
Yücel explained that the research was carried out in the west of the Black Sea, extending approximately 150 kilometers from the area where the Sakarya River flows into the sea, and that they took vertical measurements at different stations and detected particle clouds on site with special sensors.
Stating that the structure of the Black Sea was decisive in the emergence of this formation, Yücel stated that the Black Sea has the largest oxygen-free sea volume in the world after a depth of approximately 100 meters, and that special microbial formations and reactions occur at the border between this oxygenated and oxygen-free environment.
Stating that the particles formed in this process were known before, but where they came from, how far they were carried and their content were not revealed in detail, Yücel said, "The cloud consisting of nano particles that we mapped and characterized in the Black Sea is actually an important indicator. It is possible that larger particles brought by rivers or particles that come with dust descending from the atmosphere to the sea dissolve and accumulate there." he said.
High iron and manganese density
Emphasizing that the particles coming from the shore contain many elements and are especially rich in metals, Yücel mentioned that this material is dissolved in the special conditions of the Black Sea, re-precipitated and carried to the open sea.
Yücel continued his words as follows:
We found especially high levels of iron and manganese. In addition to iron and manganese, we also detected metals such as copper, zinc, tungsten and molybdenum. The particles are micro-sized, and a significant portion extends to nano-size; you cannot see them with the naked eye. When you look at the water, it looks like normal water. There is no color change. These are particles that cannot be seen with the naked eye in water.
"Pollution may not remain on the shore"
Underlining that the research is important in understanding the distribution of marine pollution, especially that metal-related pollution may not be limited to the coast, Yücel said that this mechanism is important not only in terms of the spread of pollution originating from Türkiye, but also in terms of pollutants coming from other shores of the Black Sea reaching Türkiye.
Pointing out that extreme weather events that may increase with climate change may have an impact on this structure, Yücel said, "If water begins to mix more frequently and more vertically due to climate change, extreme weather events, and very large storms, the place where this metal-rich cloud is located may approach the surface and become toxic to different fish or economically important species." he said.
Yücel noted that the research could open the door to new research not only in terms of marine sciences, but also in terms of nanotechnology and material science.
Yücel stated that examining the formation mechanisms in nature can inspire the development of new technologies and continued as follows:
It's like biomimicry, you study how an organism in nature makes a shell, how a protein is made, and from there you find a shortcut in biotechnology, which is a bit like that. We have found something in nanotechnology that can open up new mechanisms and new synthesis pathways.
Yücel mentioned that the interest in nano particle forms of metals is increasing and stated that it is important to investigate such natural formations, especially in terms of new materials used in energy, battery, microchip and electronic technologies.
It may also contribute to research on life in space
Stating that another dimension of the research is space sciences, Yücel shared his determination that some features of the newly discovered oceans in the Solar System may be similar to the oxygen-free and dark environment of the Black Sea.
Yücel said, "If we understand how the nature of these particles in the Black Sea is formed, we can also provide input for identifying the particles in the ocean materials ejected outward in the Solar System and understanding the content of the oceans there." he said.
Reminding that spacecraft analyze the particles in such eruptions, Yücel evaluated that understanding the mechanism in the Black Sea can produce information that can be used in these studies.
Yücel concluded his words as follows:
