ZONES OF SEISMOGENIC RUPTURES IN THE BAIKAL RIFT: SPATIAL LOCATION AND SEISMIC POTENTIAL

Seismic hazard assessment remains one of the priorities of tectonically active regions. It is based on the data for sesimogenic ruptures indicating the segments of active surface faults. Based on the predecessor data, continuous satellite imagery interpretation, drone aerial photography, GPR profiling and morphostructural analysis, the authors of this paper have obtained new data concerning the location and main parameters of seismogenic ruptures in the Baikal rift. GIS format has been used to map surface ruptures along the Baikal coast with compiling the relevant digital database available on the http://activetectonics.ru website. By a number of features the ruptures are grouped into 20 zones, 6 of which consist of the secondary ruptures in the Khamar-Daban Range. The latter could result from a simultaneous impact of structural (tectonic structure), seismic and climatic factors (glacial retreat and load relief) which presently allows them to be classified as seismogravitational structures. Length-based and maximum single acting displacement-based calculations were made of the maximum possible magnitudes for the primary rupture zones. Seismic potential of the best-studied seismogenic zones of the Baikal rift is М W =7.2–7.3 and M S =7.3–7.5. On one hand, the present paper summarizes once again the results of the studies of seismogenic ruptures in the Baikal rift and on the other takes this issue to the next level. The obtained results have important implications for refinement of seismic hazard assessment and development of educational tourism in the region.