Azov Research Station

Since 1908, V.I. Vernadsky (at that time a professor at Moscow University ) constantly did a great job of organizing expeditions and creating a laboratory base for searching and studying radioactive minerals. V. I. Vernadsky was one of the first to understand the tremendous importance of studying radioactive processes for all aspects of society. The research of radioactive deposits was reflected in the "Works of the Radium Expedition of the Academy of Sciences" ^[3] , mainly those were expeditions to the Urals , to the Ural , Baikal and Transbaikalia , the Fergana region and the Caucasus , but V.I. Vernadsky pointed out the need for such studies in southern regions, especially on the shores of the Black and Azov Seas . He believed that permanent research stations should be organized for successful work ^[2] . One such station conducting research, including radioecological, on the coasts of the Azov, Black and White Seas is the Azov Research Station.

Radioecological studies

The priority areas of work of ANIS are: marine radioecological research . The study of water areas and coasts is carried out with the involvement of specialists from various disciplines. An assessment of environmental risks and the development of measures to reduce them are being conducted, the administration and the population of the adjacent areas are informed about the environmental situation . Coastal areas are mapped in order to develop natural resources ( thorium and uranium minerals , rare earth metals , natural gas , etc.). ANIS conducts periodic expeditions to the specified regions with mapping of accumulation and migration of monazite sands .

Geomorphology and marine geology

Another direction of the ANIS is the geomorphology of the coast and marine geology , which is expressed in the study of coastal changes, accumulation of sediments and deposits of natural and biogas . .

Renewable Energy

In addition to the radioecological research area, currently important, especially for Ukraine, are the works of ANIS on renewable energy sources . The Sea of ​​Azov is a giant natural methane generator (a grandiose natural methane tank ) in which organic sediments are converted into methane by methanogens . According to expert estimates, the entire water area of ​​the Azov Sea emits more than 100 billion m ^{3 of} methane per year, which exceeds the annual consumption of natural gas throughout Ukraine. The station is developing technology for the extraction of biogas from the seabed ^[4] .

  The SECOLOGY Internet project has been created and is being supported, where the locations of potentially dangerous accumulations of monazite sands with recommendations for the population are indicated.

According to the results of the work of all priority directions of the station, more than 30 articles were published in scientific journals and collections ^{[5] [6]} , as well as in the mass media. The work of ANIS was covered on the television channel "Sigma" .