ASYMMETRY OF SEDIMENT DRIFT TO THE CENTRAL BAIKAL BASIN

Abstract

The asymmetric pattern of sediment drift to the Central Baikal Basin (hereafter, the Central Basin) is an unexplored but important property that affects the functioning of the complicated lake geosystem. The asymmetry of the sediment drift is predetermined by the fact that the northwestern wall of the rift valley formed along the large deep-seated fault is six times steeper than the opposite wall. The drainage area related to the basin morphology shows even greater asymmetry. About 99% of the drainage basin extends to the south-east from the lake basin. Such structural–tectonic and drainage basin asymmetries were responsible for the no less sharp disproportion of sediment drift to the Central Basin from the northwestern and opposite sides. The present paper is an attempt to elucidate the character and degree of asymmetry of sediment drift, an unexplored issue in the study of Baikal.