Impact of anthropogenic activity on the chemical regime of underground waters

Jale V Jafarli

doi:10.15421/112162

Abstract

    The article is dedicated to definition of the tendency to change and pattern of formation of the chemical regime of underground waters in the Turyanchay-Girdimanchay interfluve in the Shirvan steppe, Azerbaijan as a result of anthropogenic activity. The subsoil waters studied are spread in the zone between the Turyanchay and Girdimanchay rivers. From 1930 to 2019 based on analysis of the observation of the chemical regime of subsoil waters, the natural regime of the groundwaters in the studied area strongly changed as a result of irrigation and construction works. In 1930 the average mineralization degree of subsoil waters was 26.8 gram/liter in the zone. The level of subsoil waters approaches the surface and is exposed to strong evaporation as a result of irrigation and filtration of waters from irrigation channels. Consequently, the mineralization rate of subsoil waters increased and mass secondary salinization process occurred in the irrigated lands. The average mineralization degree of subsoil waters was 33.6–34.5 gram/liter in the research zone in the 1960s-1970s. Collector-drainage networks were built and basic washing of soils is carried out in order the prevent secondary salinization and regulate the level of subsoil waters. After the 1970s the mineralization rate of subsoil waters began to decrease due to basic washing, intensive irrigation and the activity of the collector-drainage network.The average mineralization degree decreased to 15.1 gram/liter. The mineralization degree of the water in the Main Shirvan Collector which takes subsoil waters formed in the zone with 253,000 hectares and which discaharges them into the Caspian Sea decreased more than 3 times in comparison with 1995. At present the mineralization degree of collector water is 1.8–2.5 gram/liter while its mineralization degree was 8.81 gram/liter in 1995. Formation of the process in a favourable direction enchances the potential of using collector water for irrigation, technical and other purposes and creates a basis for elimination of water deficiency in drought years. The research shows that anthropogenic activity mainly plays an important role in formation of the chemical regime of subsoil waters.   

Highlights

The article is dedicated to definition of the tendency to change and pattern of formation of the chemical regime of underground waters in the Turyanchay-G irdimanchay interfluve in the Shirvan steppe, Azerbaijan as a result of anthropogenic activity
The mineralization degree of the water in the Main Shirvan Collector which takes subsoil waters formed in the zone with 253,000 hectares and which discaharges them into the Caspian Sea decreased more than 3 times in comparison with 1995
The chemical regime of underground waters in the research zone was studied on the basis of chemical regime of flow in the Main Shirvan Collector, which takes waters of the initial collector- drainage networks built for regulation of their level and sheds them into the Caspian Sea

Summary

Вплив антропогенної діяльності на хімічний режим ґрунтових вод

Інтенсивного зрошення та завдяки діям колекторно-д ренажної мережі, після 1970 року відбувалося поступове зниження мінералізації ґрунтових вод. Mountains to the North, by the Kur River to the south, The aim of the research consists of definition of tendency to change and patterns of formation of the chemical regime in subsoil waters under anthropoghenic impacts in the zone between the Turyanchay and Girdimanchay rivers of the Shirvan region. The studies are based on the chemical analysis 5.0m according to hydroisogypsum map and observation and results of analysis of water samples taken from materials of 2019 (Gulmamedov and Jafarli, 2019) The fixed observation wells located in a chequer form every river-bed depth of subsoil waters is 1–3m in the areas.

Change in the level and chemical regimes of

Findings

Average Mineralization