The MARDEP project: The Sea of Marmara observatory infrastructure for multidisciplinary earthquake and environmental research and monitoring

The Sea of Marmara (SoM), located on the North Anatolian Fault, is under the risks of large earthquakes, submarine landslides and tsunamis. It is also under a serious environmental risk. The SoM is also interesting in terms of its oceanographic setting between the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, being characterized by a two-layer flow system. The study of the ecosystems, especially those located along the active faults where methane and hydrogen sulphide are emitted, is an interesting research topic. Because of all its interesting features, the SoM has been selected as an important site for European Seafloor Observatory Network of Excellence (ESONET NoE) and European Multidisciplinary Seafloor Observatory Infrastructure (EMSO) projects. The MARDEP observatory infrastructure has been developed under ESONET NoE project using the ESONET label. It is designed as three fixed modular units located on different fault segments, each connected to a shore station with a buried cable. The observatory will therefore be with real-time data transmission and powered from the shore. The observation sites were selected after detailed site surveys. The design involves nodes and junction boxes and other standards (e.g., Ethernet, serial interface, clock synchronization), adaptable to new developments. The sensor package includes seismometer, piezometer, bubble meter (BOB), methane, oceanographic, and other environmental measuring devices. The proposal will be submitted for funding in 2011. When funded, the observatory will become operational within three years as an EMSO regional department.