Dynamic complexes of aquatic landscapes in mixing zone of Don River and Taganrog Bay

Abstract

One of the main peculiarities of aquatic systems over ground ones is their high mobility attributable primarily to the intensive water mass dynamics. The mixing zones of river and sea water are considered the most dynamic aquatic system where stream velocity change, wave action, and wind-induced currents lead to periodic changes in aquatic landscapes and their spatial attitude. These conditions lead to the creation of dynamic complexes of aquatic landscapes. Alongside with natural processes, mobility and changeability of aquatic landscapes is largely affected by anthropogenic factors. To reflect the dynamics of aquatic landscape, the term dynamic complex of aquatic landscapes is introduced. A dynamic complex of aquatic landscapes is a combination, on a specific defined area of a water body, of primal aquatic landscapes which, influenced by natural or anthropogenic factors, change their rank and/or positioning for a short or long period of time. In the mixing zone of the Don River and Taganrog Bay, 6 dynamic complexes were singled out: the delta of the Don, Taganrog Bay near-shore area, the eastern and the central areas of Taganrog Bay, the foreshore abrasion-rockslide area, and the area of cumulative spits. The main factors for the formation of dynamic complexes and transformation of aquatic landscapes are increasing amounts of total dissolved solids and reproportion of typomorphic ions; short-term increases in water salinity due to wind-induced activity; long-term increases in salinity due to an influx of large sea water masses from the central part of the Azov Sea; retrogression of the beach; and shifting of cumulative spits due to active wave effect. A task of utmost importance for geography and landscape science is studying the development of natural complexes. One of the main peculiarities of aquatic systems over ground ones is their high mobility attributable primarily to the intensive water mass dynamics. In the study of water bodies, the most common approach is the compositional one: water, bottom sediments, and hydrobionts are studied separately. At the same time, aquatic systems are complex combinations of aquatic landscapes where separate elements are closely interconnected. However, the peculiarities of formation and the dynamics of aquatic landscapes have been least studied.