Meteorological Factors Cited in Significant Sea Level Recession Near Turkey's Marmara Region

An unusual recession of the sea level was documented near Turkey's Marmara Sea, specifically in the Tekirdağ area, where the water withdrew an estimated 20 meters from the shoreline. This pronounced retreat from the Sea of Marmara generated concern among local residents and environmental observers, as the water level had not dropped to such a mark in many years. The Sea of Marmara, an economically vital waterway connecting the Aegean and Black Seas, maintains a distinct two-layer current system, making it sensitive to sustained environmental changes.

Scientific personnel from the Kandilli Observatory formally stated that this localized event appears to be meteorological in origin, correlating with rapid decreases in atmospheric pressure, rather than stemming from seismic activity. This observation aligns with the inverted barometer effect in oceanography, where pressure changes influence sea level. The Kandilli Observatory, which monitors the North Anatolian Fault zone traversing the sea, has discounted a tectonic trigger for this specific incident.

While the immediate cause is linked to atmospheric conditions, researchers emphasize the necessity of continuous surveillance of sea level variations due to potential long-term consequences for the region's biodiversity and its substantial tourism sector. The Marmara region is a significant contributor to the Turkish Gross Domestic Product, accounting for 44.5% of the national total. The ecosystem is already subject to chronic stress from pollution, including industrial runoff and nutrient loading associated with the population concentration over the past four decades, which has previously exacerbated issues such as mucilage outbreaks.

Meteorological drivers, including strong winds and pressure changes, are recognized factors in short-term sea level fluctuations in the Sea of Marmara, with southerly winds sometimes displacing surface water southward. The sea level's inverse relationship with barometric pressure in lower frequency bands has been noted in prior studies focused on the southern coast. This recent, dramatic recession underscores the dynamic interaction between atmospheric forces and marine environments, even as the region manages ongoing ecological challenges like the recurrence of 'sea snot' or mucilage.

For context, the mean sea-level rise rate in the Marmara Sea was calculated at 8.79 mm/yr between 1984 and 2009, a long-term trend driven by anthropogenic climate change that increases the frequency of coastal erosion and flooding. This recent event near Tekirdağ, attributed to weather, highlights the vulnerability of these economically crucial coastal zones to rapid environmental shifts.