: Fluid vents in the Sea of Marmara were discovered and investigated by several studies. In this paper, a numerical model is created for the first time to determine the possible transport mechanism behind those fluid emissions at the seafloor. The finite volume method is used for numerical simulations by implementing a commercial finite volume code, ANSYS-Fluent. The thermal and physical rock properties used in our models are taken from previous studies. Bathymetry, fault-controlled fluid flow velocities, and temperature distribution patterns for the Central Basin and Western High in the Sea of Marmara are simulated and presented. | Turkish Journal of Earth Sciences Turkish J Earth Sci http earth 2021 30 628-638 TÜBİTAK Research Article doi yer-2101-20 Finite volume modeling of bathymetry and fault-controlled fluid circulation in the Sea of Marmara Elif ŞEN Doğa DÜŞÜNÜR-DOĞAN Department of Geophysical Engineering Faculty of Mines İstanbul Technical University İstanbul Turkey Received Accepted Published Online Final Version Abstract Fluid vents in the Sea of Marmara were discovered and investigated by several studies. In this paper a numerical model is created for the first time to determine the possible transport mechanism behind those fluid emissions at the seafloor. The finite volume method is used for numerical simulations by implementing a commercial finite volume code ANSYS-Fluent. The thermal and physical rock properties used in our models are taken from previous studies. Bathymetry fault-controlled fluid flow velocities and temperature distribution patterns for the Central Basin and Western High in the Sea of Marmara are simulated and presented. Effects of faults thickness of sediments and hydrostatic pressure due to the water column thickness on fluid flow are demonstrated. Driving mechanisms of the fluid flow are also discussed. It is found that both seafloor bathymetry and presence of faults can control the location and distribution of fluid emissions at the seafloor. Key words Sea of Marmara fluid flow temperature numerical simulation 1. Introduction al. 2014 Dupré et al. 2015 Çağatay et al. 2018 Grall et al. Seafloor manifestations of fluid vents are found worldwide on 2018 Ruffine et al. 2018 Sarıtaş et al. 2018 . Following the continental shelves and slopes. The location of the fluid destructive 1999 Kocaeli earthquake Alpar 1999 reported a escapes is often well correlated with the location of the active gas release into the water column in Gulf of İzmit. Kuşçu et al. faults. Among those active faults strike-slip .
