International Journal of Agriculture and Environmental Research ISSN: 2455-6939 Volume:02, Issue:06 THE POSSIBLE IMPACT OF ERMENEK DAM ON REGIONAL CLIMATE AND SOCIO-ECONOMİC STRUCTURE Muhittin CELEBI1, Ahmet Hasim KESKIN2 1Selcuk University, Cumra High Educational College, 42500 Konya, Turkey. 2 Water Soil and Deserting Control Institute, Konya, Turkey ABSTRACT Ecological impacts of reservoir have been reported from various aspects such as barrier for migratory animals, eutrophication of reservoirs by plankton blooming, decreasing flow volumes in tail waters, stabilization of flow regimes by flood peak cut, changes in thermal regimes of river water. Dam lakes also effects climatic specifications as temperature and humidity on region. Altough unfavorable effects, dams have a potential as recreation fields, energy, turistic activities etc. It is possible to happen changes in Ermenek region as what kind of effects has seen in area of huge dam lakes. The study tries to determine the climatic effects of Keban Dam, Atatürk Dams and Ermenek Dam by using the data extracted from near meteorology stations. Although there was no statistically significant change on climatic characteristics, the dams caused a partial alteration in humidity and temperature values. Relative humidity has increased in all months and years afther the dam in Ermenek. While the yearly average relative humidity was 47,5% before the dam (average min. %33,4 in July, max. %60,3 December), it has reached to 62,9% by rising each month and year after the impoundment. The increase in humidity will likely reduce the frost damage in terms of frost frequency, intensity and time. 30 hectares of 34.5 hectares irrigated land remained underwater and was expropriated for the Ermenek Dam. If the benefit created by the Turquoise lake will evaluate, economic losses can be compensable. Keywords: Ecological impacts, realfeel humidity, reservoir, Ermenek dam. www.ijaer.in Copyright © IJAER 2016, All right reserved Page 1613 International Journal of Agriculture and Environmental Research ISSN: 2455-6939 Volume:02, Issue:06 1. INTRODUCTION Dam construction for energy and agricultural needs gained momentum after 1960’s. Turkey is the second country with the highest annual hydropower production potential in Europe after Norway with regard to the numerous of dams and hydroelectric power plants. Because of construction of dams, some farmers may remains landless. People may be sufferfrom this situationsocio- economically. Ermenek dam is one of Turkey's leading dam in terms of its height, reservoir volume and energy production capacity. A significant reservoir formed around Ermenek considering Gezende Dam, Tekeçatı Dam and Kayraktepe Dam that are located very close to Ermenek dam. Reservoirs create a favorable environment for recreation activity, relaxation and aquaculture. However, the unprotection of natural and historical presence in the region causes the loss of cultural values from time to time (Baxter, 1977). Due to the higher width ofreservoirs as compared to the river,the evaporation of water from a reservoir surfaceincreases. As a result, lakes improve the moisture content of the air throughout the year (Great Lakes Atlas,1995).For example, the Aral Sea (the fourth-largest lake on the planet), climate changed sharply when it dropped to one third of the volume in 1960. In 1990’s the moisture in the air were estimated to have decreased by about 10% compared to 1960 (Delany, 2005). In the areas that are affected by the lake, the average winter temperature is 1-3 C0 warmer and 1 C0 cooler in summer than the areas that are not affected by the lake (Ackerman and Knox, 2003). On the other hand, it is reported that the extinction of Sturgeon and Trout species has been causedbecause of sets or insufficient measures and the lack of passages in dams (October et al., 2000). The effects of lakes and dams with a large surface on local climate chamber is determined by examining meteorological data based on long years (Güldal and Ağıralioğlu 1994). In this study, the possible effects of Ermenek Dam (Turquoise lake) on environment (in terms of climate and tourism) have been researched using the results Obtained from previous scientific study and meteorological data. The effect of Keban, Atatürk and Karakaya reservoirs (among 1963-2010 years ) was investigated using meteorological data belonging to the periods before the dam was built and afther the dam was made. 2. MATERIAL AND METHOD Long-term (1963-2010) research results obtained from the meteorological station data closest to the Atatürk, Keban and Ermenek dams have been fundamental in this study. For this purpose, selected climatic variables (maximum temperature, minimum temperature, average temperature, rainfall and relative / relative humidity) were evaluated by comparing the results of before and www.ijaer.in Copyright © IJAER 2016, All right reserved Page 1614 International Journal of Agriculture and Environmental Research ISSN: 2455-6939 Volume:02, Issue:06 after periods of Ataturk and Keban Dams. Meteorological data were obtained from the Turkish State Meteorological Service. 211 hectares of 1103 total hectaresarea is arable land. 779 hectares is forest and 30 hectares of 34.5 ha irrigated land remained underwater and was expropriated in Ermenek. Although there is not cultivation of vegetables and field crops in large quantities for commercial purposes in the district, local needs are met. In Ermenek region, mainly products are apples, cherries, walnut, pomegranate, fig and vegetables. Olive cultuvation is rapidly increasing on the slopes of land located in the Goksu valley in recent years. Livestock and aquaculture (trout farm) are also available. Dam site's location is shown in figure 1. Figure 1. Location of Ermenek dam (adapted from Google Earth) The dam site is located 15 km southeast of Ermenek district. Powerhouse (302.4 MW) is located 8 km downstream of the dam. Although the terrain is hilly, there are access roads to the dam and power plant. The project is planned for energy purposes. The dam is located on Ermenek river which is the tributary of the river Goksu. The construction of Ermenek Dam was began in 2002 and it began to keep the water in 2009. Turquoise lake covers 61.45 km2 area and keep 4.5 billion m3 of water (Ermenek Dam HEPP, 2010). It is the Europe’s 6. and the world’s 21. highest dam. www.ijaer.in Copyright © IJAER 2016, All right reserved Page 1615 International Journal of Agriculture and Environmental Research ISSN: 2455-6939 Volume:02, Issue:06 Figure 2. Some view of Ermenek Dam Turquoise lake and swimming pool Canyon in Turquoıse Lake Zeyve bazaar 3. FINDINGS 3.1. Climatic findings Analysis of the Ermenek meteorological stations' annual average temperature and precipitation data from 1960 to 2004are given in table 1. The data related to the period after the impoundment of Ermenek dam are given in Table 2, and the summary of meteorological data (temprature and frost) from Keban, Palu, Siverek and Hilvan meteorology stations near Keban and Atatürk Dams www.ijaer.in Copyright © IJAER 2016, All right reserved Page 1616 International Journal of Agriculture and Environmental Research ISSN: 2455-6939 Volume:02, Issue:06 are given in Table 3. Summaries evaporation, rainfall and humidity data obtained from the meteorological stations around the Atatürk and Keban Dam are given in Table 4. Table 1. Average Temperature (C0), Precipitation (mm) and Humidity (%) in Ermenek (1960-2004) january Feb. March Apr. May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. average Temperature 3,6 3,6 6,3 10,9 14,9 19,8 22,9 22,7 19,8 14,6 8,2 5,1 12,7 Precipitation 76,3 51,7 55,5 33,7 30,8 18,6 11,5 7,1 7,7 38,5 70,9 93,0 495,3 Humidity 60,2 58,7 53,5 48,4 44,3 39,8 33,4 33,6 38,8 44,7 54,7 60,3 47,5 Table2. Climate data after 2012 (under the influence of reservoir) Years january Feb. March Apr. May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Total PRECIPITATION mm 2012 71,0 52,6 61,8 45,8 59,6 11,6 2,0 14,0 4,4 112,6 100,8 285,2 821,4 2013 60,8 59,8 28,8 81,0 94,4 2,8 1,4 2,2 8,0 61,2 27,4 42,0 469,8 2015 79,6 32,4 100,0 3,2 49,8 61,8 29,0 32,6 12,2 62,6 15,6 8,0 486,8 RELATIVE HUMIDITY 2011 80,4 73,5 64,6 73,5 71,1 70,2 2012 85,2 72,0 70,6 61,3 68,8 46,3 40,1 41,8 42,7 71,3 77,1 82,2 2013 85,3 80,4 61,5 66,3 59,7 45,0 39,0 37,4 49,8 46,2 70,8 62,1 2014 73,0 64,3 66,5 66,5 66,5 72,9 41,5 71,9 2015 82,6 87,3 81,0 68,4 62,4 71,2 46,6 54,3 50,7 70,6 60,1 58,2 2016 83,2 78,7 69,4 81,6 76,0 68,9 67,2 65,7 61,1 41,8 44,5 47,7 62,7 69,3 68,6 62,9 MINIMUM, MAXIMUM AND MEAN TEMPERATURES Years january Feb. March Apr. May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Total 2011 -2,7 -6,6 -5,3 -1,2 +3,4 +9,2 +13,3 +15,5 +23,3 +26,0 +28,5 +32,2 +3,8 +4,8 +8,3 +10,9 +15,1 +19,1 2012 -18,6 -16,9 -11,7 -2,4 +0,5 +6,0 +7,5 +10,2 +7,4 +2,6 -3,5 -7,4 +6,8 +8,3 +11,5 +21,1 +21,7 +31,7 +36,3 +32,1 +30,9 +25,1 +20,6 +16,1 -3,0 -3,4 -0,04 +8,5 +11,4 +18,9 +21,6 +20,0 +17,7 +11,6 +6,2 +2,08 2013 -12,2 -6,6 -6,3 +0,8 +2,0 +4,3 +8,0 +10,5 +4,0 -2,9 -3,6 -13,7 +9,9 +14,9 +16,1 +22,4 +25,1 +30,4 +31,1 +31,1 +30,2 +24,6 +18,5 +15,3 -0,8 +2,0 +4,4 +8,7 +14,0 +17,5 +19,9 +20,3 +15,6 +9,1 +6,9 -0,6 2014 -5,8 -10,2 -6,8 -7 +1,9 +3,9 +10,2 -5,1 +13,2 +17,5 +16,5 +16,3 +22 +29,6 +28,8 +30,8 +2,1 +2,4 +4,7 +4,7 +12 16,0 +20,7 +9,4 2015 -16,2 -13,0 -6,2 -4,7 +0,9 +4,7 +8,7 +11,1 +7,8 +0,9 -2,6 -11,9 +12,9 +10,9 +3,2 +20,8 +25,2 +25,3 +30,3 +30,6 +31,3 +23,7 +17,9 +15,5 -1,0 -0,79 +3,1 +5,8 +12,8 +15,1 +20,1 +20,7 +18,8 +11,9 +6,5 +1,5 2016 -16 -9 -6,5 +10,4 +17,7 +17,1 www.ijaer.in Copyright © IJAER 2016, All right reserved Page 1617 International Journal of Agriculture and Environmental Research ISSN: 2455-6939 Volume:02, Issue:06 -2,1 +3,8 +4,2 Table 3.