RESEARCH OF THE BEDROCK GEOLOGY OF THE CENTRAL BALTIC SEA

Knowledge of bedrock geology of the Central Baltic Sea (CBS) developed gradually in the last decades of the 20 th century. In this period, a deep seismic survey, tectonic analysis ranging over an internal structure of entrails and followed hydrocarbon prospective drilling was performed in the eastern segment of CBS. The geological systems have been subdivided into series and regional stages. At the same time marine expeditions made key point to recent sedimentation and geodynamic processes. After the 1990s international and EU-supported geological-geophysical projects were successfully performed in many aspects of the Baltic marine geology. These data enlightened the Baltic Sea history, development, present status and were used as a basis for 1:500 000 or 1:200 000, versus 1:50 000, mapping. The paper aims to present a historical viewpoint to enlighten the methodology and innovations and to evalu- ate the exploration of bedrock geology of the CBS as is reflected on existing regional geological maps.