Peer Review Declaration

All papers published in this volume (IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science) have been peer reviewed through processes administered by the Editors. Reviews were conducted by expert referees to the professional and scientific standards expected of a proceedings journal published by IOP Publishing. • Type of peer review: Single-anonymous: authors’ identities are known to the reviewers, reviewers’ identities are hidden from authors. Main criteria used by Reviewers when accepting/declining papers: 1. Relevance to the scope of the Conference 2. Suitability & length of the title 3. Scientific originality 4. Adequacy of the abstract 5. Scientific quality 6. Text quality 7. English level • Conference submission management system: Full paper submission was fully managed by editorial board of Conference • Number of submissions received: 53 full papers • Number of submissions sent for review: 51 full papers • Number of submissions accepted: 48 full papers • Acceptance Rate (Number of Submissions Accepted/Number of Submissions Received X 100): 90.56 % • Average number of reviews per paper: 2 (117 reviews) • Total number of reviewers involved: 51 reviewers (15 institutes) from 3 countries • Any additional info on review process: The review process and revision were conducted 3 rounds on average for each paper since the first submission after presentation at the conference. The first step was to check the format of paper and base quality of English level. The second-round of review was organized for papers with minor remarks from reviewers, for example the graphics or style. The third round required only for papers that need major modifications (scientific discussion on topic). All reviewers were asked to complete the review within enough time ranged no more than three weeks. We have asked authors to revise according to suggestions by reviewers within time ranged between 7-10 days. After being accepted, the final English proofread and format checking our specialists were carried out to ensure the quality prior to submission to IOP EES. • Contact person for queries: Name: Aleksandr Zakupin, Ph.D. Affiliation: Institute for Marine Geology and Geophysics, Department of Seismology Email: [email protected]

Materials for the database on the largest lakes of the Kuril Islands (morphometry, genesis and geographic distribution)

This paper presents generalized modern data on the location, morphometry, and genesis of the largest lake basins of the Kuril Islands, obtained in a series of expeditions of the laboratory of volcanology and volcanic hazard of the Institute of Marine Geology and Geophysics FEB RAS in 2005–2020. The data is supplemented with modern geoinformation open access resources. A sample of the largest of 1099 Kuril lakes has been made according to the areal criterion, thus, 20 objects have been included in the list of studied water bodies, which are represented by 7 volcanic and 13 lagoon lakes. The considered lakes are clearly divided according to genesis, area and height of the mirror, maximum depth, as well as the ratio of the main morphometric characteristics. This information is part of a database currently being created on the largest lakes in the region.

Preface

IV National Scientific Conference with Foreign Participants “Geodynamical Processes and Natural Hazards” 4th GeoProNH 2021 This issue presents the proceedings of the National scientific conference with foreign participants “Geodynamical Processes and Natural Hazards” (4th GeoProNH). The 4th GeoProNH was held from September 6 to 10, 2021, at the Institute of Marine Geology and Geophysics. This Institute is located in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk (Russia) and is rightfully considered a regional center for the study of earth sciences. This conference provides a forum for international researchers, academics and practitioners to discuss, share and exchange their latest research and experience progress associated with the geosciences. The Sakhalin and Kuril Islands are parts of the Pacific Ring of Fire, so this region undergoes almost all possible geohazards: earthquakes, tsunamis, volcano eruptions, etc. We have called for the research papers on natural hazards and geodynamics, hydrophysics (dangerous marine phenomena), geophysics, geochemistry, volcanology, geoecology, geomorphology and other earth sciences. At the same time, we did not limit ourselves exclusively to research papers, many recent papers and reviews can be found in the conference collection. More than a hundred scientists, experts and postgraduates from France, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, and Russia took part in the 4th GeoProNH Conference and discussed the current state of the art and advances in geosciences related to the analysis of natural hazards and/or their preventions. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic situation during the 2021 year, it was not easy to hold a regular conference. There were travel restrictions and regulations from the World Health Organization and the local Government to be complied with to stop the spread of the COVID-19 in terms of physical distancing. In this uncertain condition we didn’t postponed Conference since the most part of participants have confirmed their intention to arrive to Sakhalin and address their research findings at this conference. Thus, the committee of 4th GeoProNH has decided to organize the real meeting with high safety degree. Also, we provided the virtual meeting for our participants from France and Japan, who couldn’t be with us, using ZOOM. The list of notable speakers in 2021 includes such outstanding scientists like, The list of members of scientific and organizing committees of the conference include next scientists, Conference Photos are available in this pdf.

Occurrence of anomalies in soil radon volume activity before tectonic earthquakes

Research subject. Earthquakes are a global problem for the entire world population. Therefore, a search for ways to predict and prevent tectonic events is a highly relevant task. Despite the existence of controversial opinions on the possibility of predicting tectonic earthquakes, research in this direction continues. Among numerous possible precursors of earthquakes, anomalies in the volume radon activity (VRA) are the most physically justifed ones. The aim of this research was to compare the observed anomalies of soil radon with the recorded seismic events in order to fnd common patterns. The research area was the Kuril Islands. VRA monitoring was conducted at the South Kuril Geophysical Station of the Institute of Marine Geology and Geophysics of the Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences.Methods and materials. Measurements were carried out in the advective mode: soil air from a depth of 70 cm was forcibly delivered to the detector using a pump. For a retrospective analysis, we took registered seismic events with a magnitude greater than 4 that occurred within a radius of 500 km from the monitoring station in Yuzhno-Kurilsk during 2011–2018. Statistical data were processed using Microsoft Excel, Statistica software. Results. A method for comparing radon anomalies and earthquakes was developed. Using the developed methodology, it was found that the geodynamic criterion of ≥2 (the ratio of earthquake magnitude to logarithm of distance from event epicenter to the monitoring station in km) can be used when comparing VRA anomalies with tectonic earthquakes. Out of the 166 considered tectonic earthquakes meeting the geodynamic criterion of ≥2.148, the events were preceded by VRA anomalies. The position of the earthquakes was determined relative to the extremum of previous anomalous radon values in the time interval. Eac of the considered earthquakes meeting the geodynamic criterion ≥2, which had been preceded by a radon anomaly, occurred either after its extremum or coincided with it in time. Conclusions. The manifestation of tectonic earthquakes in VRA anomalies after passing the extremum can be considered as a short-term prognostic criterion and be used for distinguishing between “near” and “far” events.

Geological features for the formation of gas-geochemical fields, including helium and hydrogen, in the water and sediments at the Vietnamese part of the South-China Sea

The paper presents the results of a complex joint Russian-Vietnamese geological, geophysical and oceanographic expedition in the South-China Sea (R/V “Akademik M.A. Lavrentyev”, cruise 88, 2019), as well as related joint Russian-Vietnamese marine and land researches in the area of north and south Vietnam under a series of local FEB RAS – VAST grants. The organizers of the marine expedition are the V. I. Ilyichev Pacific Oceanological Institute of the Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (POI FEB RAS) and the Institute of Marine Geology and Geophysics of the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (IMGG VAST). In comparison with the Sea of Japan and the Sea of Okhotsk, it can be noted that the active bottom degassing on the on the Vietnamese shelf and slope have is a local, although the intensity of gas-geochemical anomalies is comparable to similar zones in the Far Eastern Seas. For the first time, anomalous methane fields (up to 5000 nl/l) were found in the water column of the South-China Sea, which are comparable to anomalies on the oil and gas shelf and the gas-hydrate-bearing slope of Sakhalin Island. Metamorphosed sedimentary and volcanic rocks were discovered for the first time in the southern part of Catba Island (Gulf of Tonkin), which indicates the introduction of an endogenous body into the sedimentary strata and its further transformation. In connection with the discovery in 2020 of the large Ken Bau gas field at the southern end of the sedimentary basin of the Red River, the forecast of POI scientists about the presence of significant hydrocarbon reserves in this area was confirmed. The work was carried out within the framework of the joint Vietnam-Russia Laboratory for Marine Sciences and Technology (V. I. Ilyichev Pacific Oceanological Institute of the Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Institute of Marine Geology and Geophysics Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology). The expedition of the R/V “Akademik M.A. Lavrentyev” (cruise 88) is part of a series of expeditions in accordance with the UN Decade dedicated to the Ocean Science for Sustainable Development.

Formation of anomalous gas fields of helium and hydrogen in the Cat Ba, Co To and Bach Long Vi islands, northern Vietnam

Data of methane, helium and hydrogen concentrations in the mineral waters, as well as in the subsurface atmosphere, of the Cat Ba, Co To and Bach Long Vi islands, shows that the regions belong to degassing zones of hydrogen and helium, and points at gas condensate potential of the Bac Bo sedimentary basin. A joint transit of these gases via the fault structures was established. Distribution patterns of hydrogen and helium concentrations from these islands (Tonkin Gulf) were obtained from the gas and water sample data. Thermogenic and metamorphogenic gases detected in hydrogeological wells on Cat Ba island and gas anomalies in subsurface gas indicate natural gas emission through permeability zones. The work was carried out within the framework of the joint Russian-Vietnamese Laboratory on Marine Geosciences (V.I.Il`ichev Pacific Oceanological Institute FEB RAS and Institute of Marine Geology and Geophysics, VAST). The research involves the staff and scientific equipment of the new innovative Laboratory for Integrated Research of the Environment and Mineral Resources (LIREMR) of the POI FEB RAS, created within the framework of the SCIENCE national project.

IN MEMORY OF EVGENY ARKADIEVICH KULIKOV (27.01.1950 – 21.11.2020)

On November 21, 2020, at the age of 70, one of the world’s largest specialists in the science of tsunami, Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Chief Researcher of the Tsunami Laboratory in the Shirshov Institute of Oceanology, the Russian Academy of Sciences, Evgueny Arkadievich Kulikov, suddenly passed away. From 1980 to 1986 he was the Head of the Ocean Physics Laboratory in the Tsunami Department of the Sakhalin Complex Research Institute / Institute of Marine Geology and Geophysics, Far East Scientific Center of the USSR Academy of Sciences (Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk). From 2004 to 2018, E.A. Kulikov headed the Tsunami Laboratory of the Shirshov Institute of Oceanology, Russian Academy of Sciences. E.A. Kulikov had students and colleagues all over the world – in Russia from Sakhalin to Moscow, in Europe, Canada, and the U.S.A. He left a bright mark in oceanology, in the science of tsunami, as well as in the memory of numerous friends and colleagues around the world as a remarkable scientist, teacher, and wonderful person. The presented article describes the main scientific stages of E.A. Kulikov.

Institute of Marine Geology and Geophysics - 30 years for studying geology and geophysics in the marine zones of Vietnam and Eastern Sea

Geological and geophysical investigation and study in the marine zones of Vietnam and Eastern Sea, its application in the mineral exploration, for natural disaster and hazard prevention, environment and resource protection, for sea and island management, marine economic development, sea defence and security is the important, main and long-term tasks of the Institute of Marine Geology and Geophysics. For last 30 years, the institute has a leading role for conducting a numerous projects of national and international programs of marine research and investigation in the marine zones of Vietnam and Eastern Sea. The obtained results and achievements include big, abundant, up to date databases, newest and detailed schemes and maps, valuable published papers, books, and contributions on characteristics of geophysical fields, deep crustal structure, seabed sediment and environment, geological structure and tectonic evolution, seismotectonics and earthquake, tsunami hazard assessment, mineral potential and perspective evaluation. Results of study on geophysical fields, deep crustal structure, seabed topography and geomorphology have been used for determination of outer limits of continental shelf of Vietnam in the Eastern Sea. Big part of the results was gained from research and investigation projects conducted in the Truong Sa and Hoang Sa areas. On the basis of the obtained achievements, some special tasks are proposed to continue conducting the geological and geophysical research and investigation in the sea of Vietnam and adjacent areas.