MODELING OF CLIMATE CHANGE EFFECT ON THE CURRENT POWER POTENTIAL OF A SEA STRAIT

Ocean currents represent a potentially notable untapped, energy reservoir (USDOI, 2006). The regions with strong current velocities such as narrow straits connecting two water bodies exhibit high current energy (power) potential especially where the water depths are relatively shallow (EECA, 2009). The Bosphorus, connecting the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara is a typical narrow sea strait generally with a two-layered flow pattern: the upper layer current flows south towards the Sea of Marmara while the underlying one does in the opposite direction towards the Black Sea (Yüksel et al., 2008). The predominant mechanisms are the higher water level of the Black Sea for the upper layer and the denser water of the Sea of Marmara for the lower layer flow (Oğuz et al., 1990). In the present study, both the theoretical and extractable current energy potential of the Bosphorus were studied in the light of two considered climate change scenarios: RCP2.6 and RCP8.5.