PROGRAM
of the BFU’02 Cruise in the Baltic Sea and in the Gulf of Finland
August 7 – August 18, 2002
RV ‘Sibiriakov’
Objectives were: the detailed research of hydrophysical, hydrochemical and hydrobiological
processes and their variability in the Proper and coastal parts of the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of
Finland; estimation of ecological state of the Baltic Sea waters; observations at stations of
International Baltic Sea Monitoring program (HELCOM-stations); monitoring in the area of
Bornholm Deep.
In the BFU’2002 expedition scientists from ‘Sevmorgeo’ geological company (Russia) were
participating to carry out the annual stage of geoecological monitoring in the eastern part of the Gulf
of Finland and the research of geoecological situation in the Baltic Proper, Bornholm Deep and
Kaliningrad shelf.
Program
The program of the BFU’2002 Cruise consisted of the following activities:
1. Research of hydrophysical, hydrochemical factors influencing the state of the Baltic Sea and the
Gulf of Finland ecosystem, including

study of hydrophysical characteristics spatial-time variability on the oceanographic sites and at
the HELCOM stations;

study of hydrochemical characteristics and pollutants spatial-time variability on the
oceanographic sites and at the HELCOM stations;

determination of nutrients content in water, and at certain stations in the upper layers of bottom
sediments;

study of quantitative composition and qualitative distribution of phyto- and zooplankton and
zoobenthos (determinations and final analysis are to be held in stationary on-shore laboratories in
St. Petersburg);

estimation of bottom sediments pollution in the main sedimentation basins in the eastern Gulf of
Finland, Bornholm Deep and Kaliningrad shelf;

estimation of near-bottom waters pollution in the main sedimentation basins in the eastern Gulf
of Finland and geochemical processes in the barrier zone ‘bottom-water’;

estimation of ecological situation in the eastern Gulf of Finland and character of anthropogenic
load from the Neva estuary spreading to the Gulf of Finland Proper.

estimation of bottom sediments pollution in the main sedimentation basins of the western Gulf
of Finland and character of the Baltic Proper pollution with technogenic products incoming from the
Russian Gulf of Finland;

determination of toxic substances content in Bornholm Deep;

estimation of geoecological situation in Bornholm Deep.
2. Methodological works aimed at

development of observations method for estimation of eutrophication speed;

improving of in-situ experiment methods for the sake of the World ocean and coastal waters
protection;

development of experimental works method in areas of chemical munitions dumping.
3. Training and education in the fields of marine and coastal sciences and in data collection and
analyses.

training and education of students from the Universities of Russia, Great Britain, Spain and
Portugal within the framework of UNESCO-IOC ‘Baltic Floating University’ Programme;

organisation of educational-scientific seminars with participation of scientists and students;

development of international collaboration in the sphere of environmental and marine
investigations.
Station scheme BFU-2002 Cruise in the Eastern Gulf of Finland
N
60.50
20F
19F
29F
40F
39F
38F
60.00
36F
35F
33F
28F
12F
11F
18F
17F 13F
27F
31F
3Y
10F
9F
34F
32F
7F
26F
6F
5F
4F
2F
3F
8F
25F
24F
59.50
26.00
26.50
27.00
27.50
28.00
28.50
29.00
29.50
30.00
E
Station scheme BFU-2002 in the Western Gulf of Finland and Baltic Sea
N
60.00
19
G5
G4
48F14GF2
JML
LL15
BY28
BY29
59.00
BY21
58.00
BY20
BY19
BY15
BY11
57.00
BY10
BY9
ST9
56.00
BCSIII10
BY7
K7
BN4
BN8
55.00
K6
54.00
10.00
12.00
14.00
16.00
18.00
20.00
22.00
24.00
26.00
28.00
30.00
E
Station scheme BFU-2002 in the Bornholm Deep
N 56.00
BH1
BH2
55.50
BH6
BH7
BH5 BH4 BH10
BH11
BH8
BH3
BH9
BH12
BH13
BH14 BH15 BH16 BH17
55.00
BH18 BH19 BH20
BH21 BH22
54.50
54.00
14.50
15.00
15.50
16.00
16.50
17.00
17.50
E