Environmental Monitoring of the Littoral Zone of Lake Baikal Using a Network of Automatic Hydro-Meteorological Stations: Development and Trial Run.

An automatic hydro-meteorological station (AHMS) was designed to monitor the littoral zone of Lake Baikal in areas with high anthropogenic pressure. The developed AHMS was installed near the Bolshiye Koty settlement (southern basin). This AHMS is the first experience focused on obtaining the necessary competencies for the development of a monitoring network of the Baikal natural territory.

Methane hydrate emergence from Lake Baikal: direct observations, modelling, and hydrate footprints in seasonal ice cover.

This paper provides a novel report of methane hydrates rising from bottom sediments to the surface of Lake Baikal, validated by photo and video records. The ascent of hydrates in the water column was confirmed by hydroacoustic data showing rising objects with velocities significantly exceeding the typical speeds (18-25 cm s) of gas bubbles. Mathematical modelling along with velocity and depth estimates of the presumed methane hydrates coincided with values observed from echograms.

Spatial distribution of methane over Lake Baikal surface.

The results of application of a high sensitivity methane laser detector to investigations of the methane concentration in the atmosphere over Baikal lake are presented as well as methane flows from the water into the atmosphere. The measurements were conducted at a stationary station and aboard the research vessel "Vereschagin" during two summer expeditions in 2003 and 2004. Mean background concentration was equal to (2.