Variations in Radon Activity in the Groundwater of the Southern Baikal Region: Emanation Response of Earthquakes

The results of study of the emanation response to large seismic events within the Baikal region for a year are study. In the course of this study, monitoring of the radioactivity of underground waters in the Southern Baikal region was organized and a set of the most significant earthquakes was identified. The radii of the influence zones of these seismic events were calculated, and these zones were grouped in accordance with their spatial position relative to the sampling station. Three types of emanation responses to seismic events have been identified, one of which reflects the emanation field response not to the event itself, but to the process of its preparation; i.e., it is a precursor effect. The grouping of seismic events in terms of their distance from the sampling station virtually coincides with how the events are grouped based on the type of emanation response. The results obtained show that the identification of short-term emanation precursors of strong earthquakes within the Baikal region is possible if a seismic event is strong enough and if a monitoring station is located within the zone of influence of the event.