ANALYZING FLOW ENERGY POTENTIAL OF THE BOSPHORUS STRAIT
Ocean currents represent a potentially notable, currently untapped, reservoir of energy. 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 that generally exhibits a two-layered flow pattern: the upper layer current flows south towards the Sea of Marmara while the underlying current flows in opposite direction towards the Black Sea (Yüksel et al., 2008). The predominant mechanisms for the upper and lower layer flows are the higher water level of the Black Sea and the denser water of the Sea of Marmara, respectively.