MONITORING OF FLOODING EVENTS ON THE RIVERS OF THE NORTH-WESTERN CAUCASUS IN 2014-2020

Abstract

The rivers of the Northwestern Caucasus between Anapa and Tuapse are characterized by a flood runoff regime. Floods leading to material damage occur on the rivers of the region every year. After the 2012 flood, a network of automatic level gauges is developing in the region, recording water levels every 10 minutes. During the expeditions of the SSC RAS in the winter period 2019-2020 the analysis of the installation sites of 69 level gauges was carried out. The features of level gauges influencing the collection of observations are identified: the installation options, floodplain vegetation, the features of the channel, floodplain and river valley. The analysis of the accumulated for 2014–2020 database of level observations on rivers with catchment areas from 1.4 km2 to 1245 km2 was carried out. 34 778 periods of growth, 70 135 periods of stagnation, 39 485 periods of decline and 42 032 gaps were identified. Of these, 3398 flood situations were considered. More than 100 flood events were recorded on 11 level gauges: on the rivers Abin, Shebsh, Psekups, Pshish (3 gauges), Nechepsukho, Dzhubga, Vulan, Pshada and Mezyb. Less than 10 flood situations were recorded on 14 level gauges. To increase the efficiency of the network of automatic level gauges, it is necessary to expand it to the watersheds between rivers Abin and Khable, as well as on Pshish on the northern macroslope and on the watersheds of Pshada, Nechepsukho and Tuapse on the southern macroslope.