Deepwater helium in Lake Baikal as an earthquake precursor

In this paper, attention is paid to the importance of short-term prognosis of earthquakes. The variability of determination methods is noted. One of the geochemical methods, based on study of the helium content in deep water of Lake Baikal, is considered; such a method has not been used for open deep-water basins within the zones of high seismic danger. It is established that in the period of earthquake preparation, variations in the helium content deep underwater in Lake Baikal are recorded. A sharp decrease in the helium content two days before the earthquake was recorded first time for a long period of observation, as well as the consequent increase. Further study of the helium content deep underwater in Lake Baikal is recommended, and, should these data be proved, it is recommended as a short-term precursor of earthquakes.     

Deformation and seismic effects in the ice cover of Lake Baikal

The mechanics of the ice cover of Lake Baikal has been studied through monitoring of its deformation and seismic effects and full-sizeuniaxial compression and shear tests in 2005–2007. We measured the shear strength of ice specimens and large in situ blocks (σ = 0.2?1.9 MPa) and investigated it as a function of air temperature and ice structure. Deformation was analyzed in terms of various natural controls, such as air temperature and pressure, wind, sub-ice currents, and local earthquakes. Precise strain measurements along ice cracks were used to explore the strain behavior of ice, including the cases of dynamic failure (ice shocks). Measurements by seismic station Baikal-12 were used to monitor diurnal background micro seismicity variations and to record an ice quake with its magnitude (M = 0.3–0.8; E = 104–105 J) comparable to a medium-size rock burst or a small earthquake. Ice quakes were studied in terms of their nucleation, dynamics, and after effects, as well as the strain and seismic responses of the ice, using sub-ice explosions in the latter case. The natural conditions of deformation in the elastoviscoplastic Baikal ice are similar to lithospheric processes and thus can be employed in tectonophysical modeling with scientific and practical implications for hazard mitigation.     

Chloritoid in the bottom sediments of the Akademichesky Ridge of Lake Baikal,an indicator of eolian transportation

We present results of study of Holocene and Late Pleistocene deposits recovered on the underwater Akademichesky Ridge in Lake Baikal. The change in mineral composition and grain size in the bottom sediment core is closely consistent with the change of major diatom complexes marking the Holocene–Late Pleistocene boundary. A high content of chloritoid (up to 14.6%) has been found among the heavy minerals of the sand fraction of Late Pleistocene clays. The concentration of chloritoid in Holocene mud is no higher than 1.2%. The source of chloritoid is chloritoid shales of the Anaya Formation (Upper Proterozoic), widespread in the watershed of the Primorsky Ridge in the upper reaches of the Lena and Anaya Rivers. Chloritoid was transported to the area of the Akademichesky Ridge by predominant western and northwestern winds, which is also evidenced from the absence of mechanical impacts on the surface of its grains. The high contents of chloritoid in the Late Pleistocene sediments are due to the more intense eolian transportation at that time as compared with the Holocene.     

Climatic factors as risks of recent ecological changes in the shallow zone of Lake Baikal

Eutrophication processes have been recorded in many world’s freshwater reservoirs, which are sources of drinking water. More and more investigations show that global warming is the main natural factor that causes eutrophication. In recent years, signs of eutrophication have also been recorded in Lake Baikal containing 20% of the world’s freshwater reserves. Therefore, we performed the first comprehensive analysis of long-term changes in climatic parameters capable to provoke negative changes in the shallow zone. The largest number of anomalies of climatic indices has been recorded in the 21st century. Moreover, the current decade has been the most favorable for the emergence of negative processes in the lake (outbreak of the mass growth of algae and aquatic vegetation, rotting of their remains at the bottom and on the shores of the lake, changes in the structure and zoning of biocoenoses, etc.). The main natural conditions favoring the emergence of negative signs are elevated temperatures of the air and lake shore water, reduced amount of precipitation, reduced inflow of river waters into Baikal and lowering of its water level, low-water season, and weakening of wind currents, water exchange processes, and, as a result, water self-purification. In the period of continuing global warming, it is necessary to study the climate effect on the processes in the shallow zone and to carry out long-term monitoring for elucidation of recent and expected changes in the ecological state of Lake Baikal and for their valid interpretation.     

Clay minerals in Lake Mobutu Sese Seko (Lake Albert) — Their diagenetic changes as an indicator of the paleoclimate

The mineralogy and chemistry of cores from Lake Mobutu Sese Seko (East Africa) were studied. The base of the longest core was¹⁴C-dated at 28,000 years B.P. The clay fraction contains smectite (S), illite (I), kaolinite (K) and interstratified illite-smectite (I—S). These clays vary in a cyclic pattern. The following sequence was observed in the longest core from top to bottom: S (I+K) I—S (S, + I, + K) I (I—S, +(K)) I—S (I, +S, +K) S (I+K).This sequence is related to the Pleistocene evolution of Lake Mobutu Sese Seko. The occurrence of illite is explained as a diagenetic transformation of smectite into illite. During the illite formation (> 12,500 years B.P.) the lake was in a closed basin stage, a conclusion supported by the presence of phillipsite and chabazite zeolites and the occurrence of protodolomitic oolites together with the illite.

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Zusammenfassung Sedimentkerne aus dem Albert-See wurden mineralogisch untersucht. C¹⁴-Datierungen ergaben für das Kernende des längsten Kerns ein Alter von 28 000 Jahren v. h. Die Tonfraktion enthält Smektit (S), Illit (I), Kaolinit (K) und Wechsellagerungsmineralien (I—S). Der Anteil der einzelnen Mineralien ändert sich zyklisch mit der Tiefe. Vom Hangenden zum Liegenden läßt sich folgende Abfolge beobachten: S (I+K) I—S (S, + I, + K) I (I—S, +(K)) I—S (I, + S, +K) S (I+K).Diese Abfolge steht im Zusammenhang mit der Pleistozänen Entwicklung des Albert-Sees. Das Auftreten von Illit wild als diagenetische Umwandlung aus Smektit erklärt. Zum Zeitpunkt der Illitbildung (> 12500 v. h.) war der Albert-See abflußlos und hochkonzentriert. Diese Tatsache wird unterstrichen durch die Vergesellschaftung von Illit mit den Zeolithen Phillipsit und Chabasit. Das gleichzeitige Auftreten von protodolomitischen Oolithen zeigt, daß der Seespiegel wesentlich tiefer als heute lag.

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Résumé Des carrottes de sondage provenant du Lac Albert ont fait l'objet d'études minéralogiques. L'extrémité inférieure des carrottes les plus longues ont, datées par le C¹⁴, un âge de 28.000 années. La fraction argileuse comprend de la smectite (S), de l'illite (I), de la kaolinite (K), et des minéraux à feuillets (I—S). La proportion des minéraux change cycliquement avec la profondeur. Du haut vers le bas, on observe la suite suivante: S (I+K) I—S (S, + I, + K) I (I—S, +(K)) I—S (I, + S, +K) S (I+K). Cette suite est en liaison étroite avec le développement du Lac Albert au Pléistocène. La présence d'illite s'explique par la transformation diagénétique à partir de la smectite. Au moment de la formation de l'illite (> 12.5000), le Lac Albert était sans écoulement et était marqué par une forte concentration. Ce fait est souligné par l'association d'illite avec les zéolites, la philippsite et la chabasite. La présence simultanée d'oolites protodolomitiques montre que le niveau du lac était nettement plus bas qu'ajourd'hui.

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— — . 28 000 . (S), (), () (I-S). . : S(I+) – I – S (S₁ + I₁ + ₁) – I(I – S + []) I – S (I + S + ) – S (I + ). . , . (12600 ) . . , .

     

Modern climate changes and deep water temperature of Lake Baikal

This paper presents the results on measurements of water temperature in Lake Baikal of 1972–2007. The abnormal warming during this period was accompanied by gradual increase of the upper 300 m layer temperature, but did not affect the water state of the deep zone. Temperature fluctuations in 1972–1992 mainly depended on dynamic influence of atmosphere on the water column causing inter-annual changes in the activity of deep convection. Published in Russian in Doklady Akademii Nauk, 2009, Vol. 426, No. 5, pp. 685–689. Presented by Academician M.A. Grachev September 11, 2008 The article was translated by the authors.     

Observed trends of climate and land cover changes in Lake Baikal basin

Land cover and vegetation in Lake Baikal basin (LBB) are considered to be highly susceptible to climate change. However, there is less information on the change trends in both climate and land cover in LBB and thus less understanding of the watershed sensitivity and adaptability to climate change. Here we identified the spatial and temporal patterns of changes in climate (from 1979 to 2016), land cover, and vegetation (from 2000 to 2010) in the LBB. During the past 40 years, there was a little increase in precipitation while air temperature has increased by 1.4 °C. During the past 10 years, land cover has changed significantly. Herein grassland, water bodies, permanent snow, and ice decreased by 485.40 km², 161.55 km² and 2.83 km², respectively. However, forest and wetland increased by 111.40 km² and 202.90 km², respectively. About 83.67 km² area of water bodies has been converted into the wetland. Also, there was a significant change in Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), the NDVI maximum value was 1 in 2000, decreased to 0.9 in 2010. Evidently, it was in the mountainous areas and in the river basin that the vegetation shifted. Our findings have implications for predicting the safety of water resources and water eco-environment in LBB under global change.     

从第三极到北极： 湖冰研究进展

在全球气候变暖背景下, 第三极和北极地区的增温尤其明显, 冰冻圈对气候变化有着更为敏感的响应。湖冰作为冰冻圈的重要组成部分, 其变化不仅是气候的指示器, 同时也通过改变能量平衡、 大气环流、 辐射平衡等影响区域气候。通过对比不同观测手段及主要模型模拟方法在湖冰研究中的优缺点及适用性, 总结了第三极和北极湖冰变化的时空特征, 结果表明：第三极和北极地区湖冰均显示初冰日推迟、 消融日提前、 封冻期缩短的趋势; 第三极和北极地区湖冰厚度呈持续减少趋势; 未来湖冰的这些变化将更加显著。第三极和北极地区湖冰的变化主要受到气温的影响, 同时也受到风速、 湖泊理化性质的限制。在系统梳理第三极和北极地区湖冰变化的基础上, 总结了湖冰研究面临的问题和挑战, 为未来湖冰研究提供科学依据。     

Lake-level changes during the past 100,000 years at Lake Baikal, southern Siberia

Lake-level changes inferred from seismic surveying and core sampling of the floor of Lake Baikal near the Selenga River delta can be used to constrain regional climatic history and appear to be correlated to global climate changes represented by marine oxygen isotope stages (MIS). The reflection pattern and correlation to the isotope stages indicate that the topset and progradational foreset sediments of the deltas formed during periods of stable lake levels and warm climatic conditions. During warm stages, the lake level was high, and during cold stages it was low. The drop in the lake level due to cooling from MIS 5 through MIS 4 is estimated to be 33-38 m; from MIS 3 through MIS 2, it fell an additional 11-15 m. Because the lake level is chiefly controlled by evaporation and river input, we infer that more water was supplied to Lake Baikal during warm stages.     

Lipid Biomarkers of Bottom Sediments in Gusinoe Lake (Lake Baikal Basin) as Indicators for Lake Sedimentogenesis Paleoreconstruction

Doklady Earth Sciences - Small lakes, being less stable systems as compared to large lakes, are sensitive to climate variations and are characterized by high sedimentation rates, and thus, they...     

A computer-assisted thin-section study of Lake Baikal sediments: a tool for understanding sedimentary processes and deciphering their climatic signal

A freeze-drying technique for cutting thin-sections of soft sediments without disturbance is used to study several Lake Baikal sedimentary microstructures. Image analysis methodology is applied to selected thin-sections. This new technique provides quantification of the size, shape, orientation and packing of the objects forming the sedimentary structures. Sedimentary processes, which were previously poorly documented, have been identified, and others are better understood. Spheroidal lens-like pure aggregates of the diatom genus Synedra are found in hemipelagic sediments, providing a new insight into their traditional paleoecological interpretation. They are possibly related to a transportation mechanism from the littoral zone or to lacustrine snow. Laminae of Aulacoseira have also been recorded. Evidence of rapid sedimentation suggests they are due to massive algal blooms. The depositional mechanism that was suggested by other studies for explaining the laminations at the Buguldeika uplift is confirmed: the hemipelagic sedimentation is interrupted by terrigenous pulses due to discharge events. The sedimentation rate appears to be increasing during these pulses. Preliminary results from the Academician Ridge show stronger microbioturbation during cold periods. This observation strengthens the hypothesis of intense water circulation during colder times. Thin-section image analysis provides crucial information for deciphering lacustrine records and their regional and palaeoclimatic significance. Received: 27 November 1998 / Accepted: 13 September 1999     

Elemental composition of peat organic matter as an indicator of trophic conditions of marsh ecosystems in the south of the Baikal region

Based on measurements of the concentrations of C, N, P, and chlorophyll-a, as well as on palynological analysis of the core Vdr 2011 of peaty sediments from the Vydrinaya River along the southern coast of Lake Baikal, the geochemical characteristics of eutrophy were compared to pollen indices of changes in the environment and the mode of marsh ecosystem transformations into various trophic states was specified. It was shown that geochemical parameters of the changes in the environment may be considered as the characteristics of trophic conditions in ecosystems in the course of paleo-reconstructions.