POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL THREAT OBJECTS INVESTIGATION AT THE NOVAYA ZEMLYA DEPRESSION

The article is devoted to the water area research at Novaya Zemlya depression of the Kara Sea, where, according to archival data, radioactive waste was flooded. The research concerned observations of the environment state and underwater nuclear and radiation hazardous facilities, such as the nuclear fleet flooded here reactors, vessels loaded with solid radioactive waste and numerous groups of containers. The research was carried out using the technology of route sonar and video shooting based on the use of towed uninhabited underwater vehicles (BNPA) developed at IO RAS. Objects condition monitoring was provided using underwater gammaray REM spectrometers developed at the National Research Center “Kurchatov Institute”. As a result of the research, individual objects have been identified and their location archival data has been clarified. Observations of benthos and the structure of the water column in the burial area were done.