Interpretation of Measurement Results of the Potential Difference in Lake Baikal

Abstract

A model is proposed in which the electrical voltage measured between the electrodes in Lake Baikal is a consequence of two effects: electrochemical processes near the electrodes and a positive charge current flowing through the lake. The electrochemical component of the voltage in the case of lead electrodes arises due to the difference in concentrations of carbonate anion—\({\text{CO}}_{3}^{{2 - }}\) at different depths. In the case of the use of chlorine-silver electrodes, only the effect of the positive charge current flowing through the lake is measured. We proposed an interpretation of an increase of electrical voltage registered in Lake Baikal during an earthquake in August 2008. The reason for the increase in voltage is the release of positively charged hydrogen-containing gases from the Earth’s interior.