Unification of geological and geophysical characteristics of gas hydrate-bearing structures in Lake Baikal

Abstract

We carried out the unification of the geological and geophysical characteristics of the gas hydrate-bearing structures of Lake Baikal. For this purpose, we conducted a comprehensive compilation and analysis of all currently available primary and processed data. The study included a detailed examination of >400 seismic and acoustic profiles, 50 sonograms of side-view sonar, 60 bathymetric schemes of multipath echo sounder, and >1,000 primary descriptions of sediment cores. This resulted in the identification of six reference (model and typical) gas hydrate-bearing structures (two mud volcanoes, two hydrate mounds, and two seeps), which most fully characterize each of the listed types. Unification of characteristics of hydrate-bearing structures of Lake Baikal and allocation of supporting structures facilitates the research of already known ones and will help in the search for new places with near-surface gas hydrates in bottom sediments.