Hydroacoustic impact monitoring of the river environment in the waters of the main navigation fairway of the Pripyat River within the Chornobyl Radiation and Ecological Biosphere Reserve

Abstract

Summary The report presents the results of expeditionary research of changes in the general relief of the river bottom, its geomorphological and lithological features, survey of sunken objects of natural and artificial origin, detected navigational hazards, their nature and location in the investigated area of the main navigation fairway of the Pripyat River within the Chornobyl Radiation and Ecological Biosphere Reserve, that were obtained by scientists of the State Institution “Scientific Hydrophysical Centre of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine” (hereinafter – Hydrophysical Centre) in particular in the interests of navigation and hydrographic support of shipping. A planar hydroacoustic survey of the bottom of the aquatorium with a total area of over 4 km2 was carried out with the use of the ship modular sonar complex developed by the Hydrophysical Centre. As the outcome of cruise a significant amount of hydrophysical (hydroacoustic) data was obtained, sunken objects of natural and artificial origin were discovered and identified. According to the results of research, the spatial distribution of micro-and mesoforms of the bottom relief was defined, the structure of the upper part of the bottom sediment thickness was determined and their lithological classification was carried out.