The Use of the Complex of Electromagnetic Soundings for Study of Electrical Conductivity of Bottom Sediments of the Lake Baikal

The study of the bottom sediments of the Lake Baikal is part of a wide scientific field devoted to the study of the deep structure of the Baikal rift zone. Studies in this direction have been conducted since the middle of 20th century. The study of the bottom of the Lake Baikal is a rather complicated process, connected with many technical difficulties. In conditions of a deep water body it is very difficult to extract whole samples of bottom sediments for their further analysis. In this connection, the application of remote methods of investigation of the sedimentary stratum, for example, geophysical methods, is an urgent topic.

One of the solutions to this problem is the use of the complex of electromagnetic soundings to study the section of bottom sediments of the Lake Baikal in terms of electrical conductivity. An integrated approach with the use of magnetotelluric sounding technology and the method of electromagnetic soundings and induced polarization makes it possible to perform studies on bottom sediments at depths of the reservoir from 0 to 2 km. It allows to determine the distribution of the electrical conductivity of bottom sediments at depths of up to 5–7 km and the structure of the conductivity of the underlying rocks or their specific resistance.