SOME ASPECTS OF THE LATEST FLOODING IN THE KHERSON REGION

Abstract

Problem Description and Purpose of the Study. This article examines the problem of flooding of settlements in the Kherson region. The purpose of the study is to identify the latest risks of flooding of populated areas in the Kherson region and to formulate a list of measures aimed at reducing the threats and consequences of flooding. Data & Methods. The research used data from the Kherson Regional Center for Hydrometeorology; Main Department of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine in the Kherson Region; The Department of Civil Protection of the Kherson Regional State Administration, the Office of the Kakhovskaya HPP. Among the research methods, the comparative method, cartographic and geo-informational methods, correlational, expert method were used. Results. Kherson region has the largest share of irrigated land among all regions of Ukraine. This fact, as well as the presence of significant waterless areas, reductions in the relief with the release of groundwater and water loss along the main irrigation canals, leads to constant flooding of certain areas. The most affected areas arelocated in the paludal depressions and coastal lowlands. Due to the strengthening of the continentality of the climate, the precipitation regime is also changing. The territory is characterised by summer-autumn rains with daily precipitation above 30 mm, which causes sudden flooding of downgrades and rise of groundwater in these periods. In order to monitor the potential risk of flooding, it is proposed to monitor interdependence: the water level of the Kakhovka Water Reservoir – the level of groundwater. Although this dependence has a deferred character, thus it is confirmed every year. There are four irrigation systems in the region: North Crimean, Kakhovka, Inhulets and Pravoberezhia (Right-Bank). Each year, the area of irrigated land increases from 0.1 to 1.0 thousand hectares, which significantly increases the risks of flooding in combination with the frequency of heavy rainfall. In a number of settlements with a high probability of flooding, a system of vertical and horizontal drainage has been built, but it requires constant maintenance and usually does not cope with its tasks.