UDC 550.844+546.791.027+632.126

https://doi.org/10.26516/2541-9641.2025.4.99

EDN: SWHNBO

Frontier ORP records in groundwater from the Baikal Rift System in the fall of 2025: magnetospheric control of weak earthquakes

S.V. Rasskazov^1,2, I.A. Aslamov³, S.V. Snopkov^2,4, V.I. Archipenko³, A.M. Ilyasova¹, E.P. Chebykin^1,3, I.S. Chuvashova¹, I.S. Chuvashova¹

¹Institute of the Earth's Crust SB RAS, Irkutsk, Russia

²Irkutsk State University, Irkutsk, Russia

³ Limnological Institute SB RAS, Irkutsk, Russia

⁴Irkutsk National Research Technical University, Irkutsk, Russia

Abstract. Relationships between variations in the oxidation-reduction potential of groundwater in the Kultuk area and earthquakes in the Baikal Rift System (BRS) are considered in the time interval from October 24 to December 31, 2025. At the beginning of this interval (from October 24 to 30), the final earthquakes of the CO pulse with a relatively low energy class (K < 11.5) are established. After a seismic structural reorganization, from November 13 to 28, weak earthquakes (K = 9.5–10.5) accompany the excitation of the magnetosphere, and after a next seismic structural reorganization, from December 8 to 20, they fall into episodes of low Kp. From the general analysis of data obtained in November and December, it is inferred that there is a connection between variations in the ORP of the groundwater from the Kultuk area and weak earthquakes of the BRS at the beginning and end of 2025 with magnetic storms, while in mid-2025, 4 seismic impulses are deciphered, during which magnetic storms do not have a significant impact on the state of the earth's crust. Seismicity in 2025 is characterized as a process confined to one year. During the occurrence of strong earthquakes in preceding interval 2020–2024, the annual quasiperiodicity of seismic activity is not obvious, but an annual discreteness of crustal processes is observed from variations in lithium concentration (Na/Li temperature) of groundwater at station 27. Li concentrations peak in the first five months of each year (from January to May). In the second half of 2025, a new phenomenon was reveled: shutdowns of measuring equipment in wells at the Kultuk area due to earthquakes and magnetic storms. It is suggested that the increased frequency of magnetic storms in early and late 2025 may have led to an increase in Li concentrations in groundwater and a decrease in seismic activity.

Keywords: groundwater, monitoring, oxidation-reduction potential, earthquakes, Baikal

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Rasskazov Sergei Vasilevich,

doctor of geological and mineralogical sciences, professor,

664025, Irkutsk, Lenin st., 3,

Irkutsk State University, Faculty of Geology,

Head of Dynamic Geology Char,

664033, Irkutsk, Lermontov st., 128,

Institute of the Earth's Crust SB RAS,

Head of the Laboratory for Isotopic and Geochronological Studies,

tel.: (3952) 51–16–59,

email: rassk@crust.irk.ru

 

Chebykin Eugene Pavlovich,

Candidate of Chemical Sciences, Senior Researcher,

664033, Irkutsk, Lermontov st., 128,

Institute of the Earth's Crust SB RAS,

664033, Irkutsk, Ulan-Batorskaya st., 3,

Limnological Institute SB RAS,

email: epcheb@yandex.ru

 

Snopkov Sergei Viktorovich,

Candidate of Geological and Mineralogical Sciences,

664025, Irkutsk, Lenin sr., 3,

Irkutsk State University, Faculty of Geology,

Associate Professor,

664074, Irkutsk, Kurchatov st., 3,

Siberian School of Geosciences, Irkutsk National Research Technical University,

Leading Researcher,

email: snopkov_serg@mail.ru.

 

Aslamov Ilya Aleksandrovich,

Candidate of physical and mathematical sciences, Senior Researcher,

664033, Irkutsk, Ulan-Batorskaya st., 3,

Limnological Institute SB RAS,

email: ilya_aslamov@bk.ru.

 

Arkhipenko Vladislav Ivanovich,

Main Electronics Engineer,

664033, Irkutsk, st. Ulan-Batorskaya, 3,

Limnological Institute SB RAS,

email: vladarxip@gmail.com.

 

Ilyasova Aigul Maratovna,

candidate of geological and mineralogical sciences,

664033, Irkutsk, Lermontov st., 128,

Institute of the Earth's Crust SB RAS,

Leading Engineer

email: ila@crust.irk.ru.