Причины экстремально высокого уровня воды трансграничного озера Ханка

Abstract

Reasons of the extremely high water level in Lake Khanka (it was 0.5 m higher the historical maximum over the past years) have been revealed within the frameworks of the carried out exploration. The lake capacity characteristics alteration due to the natural and anthropogenic factors’ impact has been assessed. We have considered the factors that form the Lake Khanka level regime, i.e. natural: atmosphere circulation, atmospheric perspiration, river inflow to the lake, evaporation from the lake surface, and outflow; anthropogenic: economic activities on the catchment on Russian and Chinese territories (hydro/melioration and the runoff transfer). The passage capacity of the Sungachi River, the only outflow from the lake, has been analyzed in details at different water levels in Lake Khanka. The paper is based on summing up and analysis of information on the lake hydro/meteorological regime and economic activities on its catchment, as well as reference literature. As a result of the study the authors for the first time has identified the main reason of the abnormal rise of the Kanka level. It was found that the significant transformation of the lake level regime occurred due to the Mulinkhe Rivers runoff transfer to Lake Malaya Khanka from the People’s Republic of China. A forecast of the lake level for 2016 taking into consideration different scenarios of the basin moistening has been given. In connection with the forecasted rise of the water level in Lake Khanka in the nearest future we propose a number of measures aimed to minimize inevitable damage to the Russian party.