İpek F. Barut

Assessment of natural radioactivity concentrations and gamma dose rate levels in Kayseri, Turkey.

This study assesses the level of background radiation for Kayseri province of Turkey. Natural radionuclide activity concentrations in soil samples were determined using high-resolution gamma spectroscopy. Outdoor gamma dose measurements in air at 1 m above ground level were determined using a portable gamma scintillation detector. The obtained results of uranium and thorium series as well as potassium ((40)K) are discussed. The present data were compared with the data obtained from different areas in Turkey. From the measured gamma-ray spectra, the average activity concentrations were determined for (238)U (range from 3.91 to 794.25 Bq kg(-1)), (232)Th (range from 0.68 to 245.55 Bq kg(-1)) and (40)K (range from 23.68 to 2718.71 Bq kg(-1)). The average activity concentrations of (238)U, (232)Th and (40)K were found to be 35.51, 37.27 and 429.66 Bq kg(-1), respectively, and 11.53 Bq kg(-1) for the fission product (137)Cs. The highest values of (238)U, (232)Th and (40)K concentrations (794.25 Bq kg(-1), 245.55 Bq kg(-1), 2718.71 Bq kg(-1), respectively) were observed in abnormal samples at Hayriye village. The average outdoor gamma dose rate in air at 1 m above the ground was determined as 114.43 nGy h(-1). Using the data obtained in this study, the average annual effective dose for a person living in Kayseri was found to be about 140.34 µSv.

Distribution of Microflora, Meiofauna, and Macrofauna Assemblages in the Hypersaline Environment of Northeastern Aegean Sea Coasts

ABSTRACT Bassler-Veit, B.; Barut, I.F.; Meric, E.; Avsar, N.; Nazik, A.; Kapan-Yeşilyurt, S., and Yildiz, A., 2013. Distribution of microflora, meiofauna, and macrofauna assemblages in the hypersaline environment of northeastern Aegean Sea coasts. In this study, the morphology and taxonomy of microflora (charophytes and diatoms), meiofauna (benthic foraminifera and ostracoda), and macrofauna (mollusk) assemblages of the recent surface sediments from saltpans, hypersaline lagoons, and salt lakes of the Gulf of Saros (NW Turkey) were investigated. In total, 44 samples were collected from recent surface sediments in salt pans, hypersaline lagoons, and salt lakes of the Gulf of Saros (Enez Salt Lake, Isik Lake, Kuvalak Lake, Enez Gala Lake, Dalyan Lake, and Tasaltı Lake; Karagol, Vakif, and Erikli salt pans; and Uzungol Lagoon), Gallipoli Peninsula (salt pan), Biga Peninsula (Diremin and Azmak Lagoons and Dalyan Salt Lake), and Gokceada Island (salt lake). Surface sediments were collected, and some physical properties were measured, such as temperature, pH, and salt content. Grain size was determined and classified for each sample. In this study, foraminifera, ostracoda, and mollusca faunas in the normal marine environment were used as indicators and compared with the lagoonal environment, which has increased salt content during the summer months.

THE EFFECT OF SUBMARINE THERMAL SPRINGS OF DOĞANBEY CAPE (SEFERİHİSAR-İZMİR) ON FORAMINIFER, OSTRACOD AND MOLLUSC ASSEMBLAGES

Bu calisma, Kusadasi Korfezi’nin kuzey ucunu olusturan Doganbey Burnu’nun kiyi alanindaki farkli noktalarda bulunan denizici sicak su cikislarinin, yakin cevrede yasamini surduren cesitli mikro ve makrofauna topluluklari uzerindeki etkisini arastirmak amaciyla yapilmistir. Doganbey Burnu’nun guneydogusunda farkli derinliklerde 15 noktadan kepce ile genc cokel ornekleri alinip, bunlarin icermis oldugu bentik foraminifer, ostrakod ve mollusk faunasi degerlendirilmistir. Bentik foraminiferler 35 cins, 61 tur, ostrakodlar 16 cins 20 tur, gastropodlar 14 cins ve 18 tur, bivalvler ise 14 cins ve 15 tur olarak bulunmustur.. Ayrica calisma alaninda, Ege kiyilarinda sikca rastlanilan foraminifer kavkilarindaki renklenme, sekil bozuklugu ile gocmen bentik foraminiferlerin varligi tespit edilmistir. Calisilan bolgede tanimlanan foraminifer, ostrakod ve mollusk faunasi tipik Ege faunasina paralellik sunmaktadir. Tipik Ege bentik foraminifer toplulugu icindeki Amphistegina lobifera Larsen bireylerinin yasadigi ekolojik kosullarinin bolluk dagilimi uzerinde etkisi bilinmektedir. Bolge icin Amphistegina lobifera Larsen’nin ideal yasam araligi 18.00-32.00 m derinlik ve yaklasik 19-20o C sicaklik olarak belirlenmistir. Bir diger ozellik olarak CTD cihazi ile yapilan olcumlerde iletkenlik degerlerinin sicak su kaynagina yaklastikca arttigi ancak birey sayisinin azaldigi tespit edilmistir. Sediment orneklerinde kimyasal analizler X-Isini Floresans Analiz Spektrometresi (WDXRF) ile yapilmistir. Sediment orneklerinde agir metallerden Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn ve Pb degerlerine bakilmis, bu degerlerin. DB1-DB6 arasi orneklerde ve DB15 de Cr>Ni>Mn, DB8-DB11 arasi ornekler ile DB13 ve DB14 de Mn>Cr>Ni, DB7 ve DB12 de Cr>Mn>Ni, oldugu tespit edilmistir. Radyoaktif elementlerden U ve Th DB9, DB10 ve DB11 de yuksek degerdedir. Eser elementlerden Sr degeri DB7-DB11 arasi orneklerde yuksektir. Sedimentlerin kimyasal ve radyoaktif ozelliklerinin bentik foraminifer kavkilarinda etkisi gozlenirken ostrakod ve mollusk kavkilarinda herhangi bir etki belirlenmemistir.

Hydrological properties of Yesilcay (Agva) Stream Basin (NW Turkey)

This study seeks to determine the hydrological and hydrogeological properties of the basin of Yesilcay (Agva) Stream which runs 19.2 km through the settlement of Agva and flows into the Black Sea (Turkey). To this end, the precipitation and evaporation characteristics of the study area were calculated by means of the Thornthwaite (1948) and Schendel (1968) methods on the basis of the meteorological data for the last 45 years (1966-2010). It was deduced that the Schendel method yielded results very close to values of pan evaporation measured in the area. Therefore, this method is more suitable to use for the study area. The calculations performed reveal that precipitation occurring in the study area will not be sufficient to have access to the amount of water that can be used safely. Therefore, it is of great significance to utilize as water source the karstic limestones present in the study area, and Yesilcay and Goksu Streams flowing into the Black Sea.