ДИНАМІКА МУТНОСТІ РІЧКОВОЇ ВОДИ ЛІВОБЕРЕЖНИХ ПРИТОК ДНІПРА (НА ПРИКЛАДІ СУМСЬКОЇ ОБЛАСТІ)

Abstract

The article is devoted to the study of sediment runoff, especially one of the characteristics that reflects erosion processes in the catchment area, water turbidity using the example of the rivers of the Sumy region. The main purpose of the article is the spatial and temporal analysis of the turbidity indicators of the rivers of the Sumy region (left-bank tributaries of the Dnieper). The article highlights information on the sediment runoff of the rivers in the region for the entire period of observations, describes modern own studies of the turbidity of river water and establishes the features of the formation of sediment runoff in the rivers of the region. It was found that the indicators of turbidity of river water grow in the direction from north to south of the study area, in the zone of mixed forests are minimal, and in the forest-steppe – maximum; high values of the average turbidity index characteristic of small rivers in the region, аmong the average rivers, the maximum values were recorded for the Sula and Vorskla rivers; during floods, turbidity values are maximum, and during low water periods, they are minimal; there is a tendency to an increase in the indicators of maximum and average turbidity of river water. Particular attention is paid to the influence of river regulation on turbidity indicators. It was found that the deceleration of water exchange is facilitated by the accumulation of sediments in the channel above the dam (high indicators of the thickness of the silt layer), and also below the dam (the creation of a channel island, probably due to the uneven throughput of the dam’s gate valves, which creates a different flow rate from the right and left banks). Decreased flow velocity, increased water turbidity and, as a consequence, siltation, deterioration of river water quality (appearance of swamp odor, decrease in transparency, color change) leads to changes in the species composition of aquatic organisms, extinction of river species and the appearance of atypical river species, overgrowth. In their conclusions, the authors argue that sediment runoff is formed mainly due to washout from the surface of the catchment area, high turbidity indicators in rivers whose basin is more prone to erosion, where the indicators of plowing of the basin surface are maximum, water protection zones and coastal protective belts are destroyed, but when studying the turbidity of river water it is necessary take into account additional factors.