METHANE DISTRIBUTION WITHIN NEAR-BOTTOM WATERS AND SEDIMENTS OF THE SOUTHERN BALTIC

The discussed data have been collected in four separate areas of the Southern Baltic where at the sea-bottom were previously recorded small crater-like depressions (<<pockmarks>>) and acoustics anomaleous. Each area is characterized by individual distribution of the pockmarks and anomaleous, as well contrusting sub-bottom geological features. Nevertheless, the Methane contents in the near-bottom waters and especially, sediments of these stadied areas were similarly controled by the presence of the pockmarks and acoustics anomaleous. On the base of the data it is presumable concluded that the Methane have been originated in near-bottom sediments by bacterial oxidation both singenetic organic matter, and using some gases migrated from deeper parts of the sedimentary cover.