GEOLOGICAL TRACES OF BOTTOM CURRENTS IN T HE GOTLAND DEEP OF THE BALTIC SEA

Erosional-accumulative bottom forms (EAF) represent the geological tra ces of bottom currents. According to the seismoacoustic and geological data they are revealed in the Gotland Deep of the Baltic Sea. Drain c urrents play the principal role in their formation over the halocline, inflow currents and drain countercurrents dominate in the halocline a nd lower. The near-bottom-streams generated in the halocline and below it flow around the eastern, northern and western slopes and deepen to the hollow center like a cyclonic spiral. The storms and hurricanes r einforcing the erosional accumulative processes act as trigger mechani sms which participate in the EAF formation at all depths. The greatest influence of storms is observed near the eastern slopes where all EAF and lithologic boundaries are deepened in comparison with the western slope.