R/V “Professor Panov”: 15 Years of Marine Scientific Research

• Main Authors: G.G. Matishov, O.V. Stepanyan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Federal State Budget Scientific Institution «Marine Hydrophysical Institute of RAS» 2018-10-01
• Series: Physical Oceanography
• Subjects: r/v “professor panov”; marine research; hydrology; hydro-chemistry; hydro-biology; lithology; paleo-geography; biological invasions; the azov sea; the taganrog bay
• Online Access: http://physical-oceanography.ru/repository/2018/5/en_201805_07.pdf

The Taganrog Bay of the Azov Sea has attracted attention of scientists for more than 100 years. In different periods intensity of research sometimes increased, sometimes decreased; and in 2003 alone, when the Southern scientific center of RAS (SSC RAS) was formed, it became possible to perform the year-round, large-scale and comprehensive studies of the marine environment and biota both in the Bay and in the river Don which is the most important river-way of the southern Russia. The investigations carried out in course of the past 15 years have permitted to solve many riddles existing in the Taganrog Bay paleo-history, to study formation of its bio-productivity and the features of its hydrological and hydro-biological regimes, to perform large-scale assessment of anthropogenic activity (pollution, fishing, poaching, shipping, etc.). Such a marine scientific research would be impossible but for the research vessel (R/V) “Professor Panov” named in honor of the outstanding Russian marine geologist and geo-morphologist, professor of the Leningrad and the Rostov universities D. G. Panov. During 15 years, due to the R/V “Professor Panov” more than 150 expeditions were performed that permitted to collect a significant amount of modern information which significantly expanded our notions on the Taganrog Bay and the Sea of Azov. The expeditions on board the R/V “Professor Panov” are complex and answer the purposes and problems of modern oceanology in the fields of hydrology, hydro-biology, hydro-chemistry, lithology, paleo-geography, ornithology, etc.