Methane content and the rates of microbial processes of the carbon and sulfur cycles were deter mined for the sediments of the Vyborg Bay, Baltic Sea. Formation of the gas bearing surface sediments in the Vyborg Bay was found to depend on the activity of the modern microbial processes of the transformation of organic matter, resulting in production of significant amounts of reduced gases (methane and hydrogen sul fide). Rapid consumption of sulfate in the course of sulfate reduction coupled to organic matter decomposi tion both suppressed anaerobic oxidation of methane and promoted microbial methanogenesis. The gas bearing sediments of this area therefore become a source of methane, and methane concentration in the near bottom water increases significantly.

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