Within the scope of the project "Research on Site Assessment Parameters for the Sinop Nuclear Power Plant (NPP)" being carried out by the Institute of Earth and Marine Sciences, oceanography studies including the Sinop region are carried out by the TÜBİTAK MAM Environment and Cleaner Production Institute.

Within the scope of oceanography studies, the 2nd Marine Research Expedition was carried out with R/V TÜBİTAK Marmara Research Vessel between 16 - 23 January 2014. Our researchers Dr. Bilge TUTAK and Dr. Sinan HÜSREVOĞLU and 14 crew members of R/V TÜBİTAK Marmara Research Vessel participated in the study. Prior to the expedition, relevant inspections and audits were carried out by the client and supervisory institutions EÜAŞ (Electricity Generation Corporation) and TAEK (Turkish Atomic Energy Authority).

Within the scope of the study, conductivity/salinity and temperature profiles were measured with Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) device with 3D current and CTD (Conductivity-Temperature-Depth) device at 54 stations up to 500m depth on lines reaching 850 nautical miles in Sinop region.

It is aimed to determine the intake and discharge points of the plant cooling water according to energy efficiency and environmental impact criteria with the oceanography work package of the location studies of the Sinop Nuclear Power Plant (NPP). A 3D numerical modeling system of the Sinop region will be created using the data to be obtained after the marine studies to be repeated every 2 months for 1 year.

Photographs: Aykut GÜLER (EÜAŞ), Batuhan İşcan (TAEK), Sinan HÜSREVOĞLU, Bilge TUTAK, Sibel ÜNLÜ (TAEK),