Method to localize snowmelt runoff pollutant sources of surface water bodies by paired geoinformation and hydrological analyses

Abstract

The quality of melt runoff from agricultural fields significantly affects the quality of surface water bodies and their ecosystem services. Currently, methods based on geographic information systems (GIS) are used with aim to reduce the risk of pollution of surface water bodies. Thus do make possible a localization of pollutants sources at rural areas and their transport routes to the water bodies. This paper presents the results of geoinformation analysis of the results of melt runoff sampling as well as cartographic modeling of melt runoff on the territory of the summer field dacha (SFD) of the RSAU-MTAA.In early April 2018 a specially designed fields monitoring was accomplished. Twenty water samples were taken at the locations of ten catchment’s outlets located within the SFD territory. Chemical analyzes identified 5 inorganic chemical components with high concentration values. Digital elevation model (DEM) of the plot area was generated from UAV data for the analysis of the territory’s topography. Spatial analysis of samples in combination with hydrological analysis of DTM showed differentiation in pollution of snowmelt runoff by catchments. This enabled to identify some catchments as providers of the biggest negative contribution to the quality of melt runoff.