Russian Rivers Research Articles

Changes in the smoltification age of Atlantic salmon (<i>Salmo salar </i>L.) of the Yokanga, Kharlovka and Vostochnaya Litsa Rivers (the Murmansk Region)

Throughout the world, in recent decades, there has been a decrease in the abundance of Atlantic salmon, the main reason for which is a decrease in its survival rate during life at sea. Its value has a direct dependence on the length and, accordingly, the age of the smolts. Foreign researchers have found that the nature of long-term changes in the age structure of smolts can vary significantly by region. At the same time, the age of Atlantic salmon in Russian rivers, which account for a significant part of the area of the range of this species, was not considered. In this regard, the analysis of long-term data characterizing the age composition of salmon smolts of some rivers of the Murmansk region has been carried out. It has found been that in the first years of the period 2000-2018, the age structure of Atlantic salmon smolts was transformed in the rivers Yokanga, Kharlovka and Vostochnaya Litsa. As a result, fish at the age of 6 ceased to occur among them, the abundance of fish at the age of 5+ significantly decreased and the abundance of fish in the age groups of 3+ or 4+ significantly increased. The most likely reason for this is the change in the temperature regime of rivers since the mid-1990s, as a result of which the life time in the rivers of juvenile salmon has been reduced. Rejuvenation of the smolt population may have ambiguous consequences for the abundance of adult salmon, which are determined by the cumulative effect of reducing natural mortality at the stage from eggs to smolts, increasing their abundance and reducing their length, and reducing the survival rate during salmon life in the sea.

Transformation of the Major and Trace Element Composition of Dissolved Matter Runoff in the Mouths of Medium and Small Rivers of Russia’s Black Sea Coast

Transformation of the Major and Trace Element Composition of Dissolved Matter Runoff in the Mouths of Medium and Small Rivers of Russia’s Black Sea Coast

BIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE FISH FAUNA IN THE SEVERNAYA DVINA ESTUARINE AREA

The Severnaya Dvina is rightfully considered one of the largest rivers in Russia’s European North and is the main catchment for fisheries in the Arkhangelsk Region. Its lower course is under enormous pressure from numerous pollution sources located along its tributaries and in the estuary. This situation leads to changes in fish habitat conditions, their species diversity, as well as biological parameters, population structure, population dynamics, and stock. This article presents the results of a study of the fish population in the estuarine region of the Severnaya Dvina in 2019 by classical ichthyological research methods using passive (stake nets) and active (draft nets) fishing gear. The species composition and taxonomic diversity of the fish fauna are presented. We determined the affiliations of the fish with faunistic complexes and ecological groups differing in dietary and natural reproduction characteristics (spawning substrates, egg-laying methods, and spawning periods). The economic significance of the fish fauna was assessed, rare and scant fish species listed in the regional Red Data Book were identified. The biological characteristics (length-weight structure, age and sexual composition) of the populations of the main commercial fish species are described. The dietary habits of the two most important species groups, coregonids (whitefish) and cyprinids (bream), are considered. The fish species diversity in the Severnaya Dvina estuary is quite high. The list totals 36 fish species. The biological characteristics of the fish were found to be within the average range for the given species. The commercially important whitefish and bream are benthos feeders (potential competitors for food). But the tension of this competition is reduced due to their different dominant feed items.

Runoff of Russian Rivers under Current and Projected Climate Change: a Review 2. Climate Change Impact on the Water Regime of Russian Rivers in the XXI Century

The present overview is the second part of the article “Runoff of Russian Rivers Under Current and Projected Climate Change: A Review,” which focuses on modern assessment of possible changes in the runoff characteristics of Russian rivers in the XXI century under projected global climate change. The article considers two assessment groups: based on (1) climate models and (2) hydrological models, using data of climate model simulations. The review mainly presents works that have been published over the last 7−8 years, since the release of the previous IPCC Assessment Report and the National Assessment Report of Roshydromet. It is noted that, in recent years, there has been a shift regarding the methodology of assessment of hydrological consequences of projected climate change—from simulations based on climate models to simulations based on regional hydrological models that allow one to simulate characteristics of the water regime of rivers over a historical period more accurately and to assess their possible changes in the future with lower uncertainty than climate models.

Multidecadal declines in particulate mercury and sediment export from Russian rivers in the pan-Arctic basin

SignificanceRussian rivers are the predominant source of riverine mercury to the Arctic Ocean, where methylmercury biomagnifies to high levels in food webs. Pollution controls are thought to have decreased late-20th-century mercury loading to Arctic watersheds, but there are no published long-term observations on mercury in Russian rivers. Here, we present a unique hydrochemistry dataset to determine trends in Russian river particulate mercury concentrations and fluxes in recent decades. Using hydrologic and mercury deposition modeling together with multivariate time series analysis, we determine that 70 to 90% declines in particulate mercury fluxes were driven by pollution reductions and sedimentation in reservoirs. Results suggest that Russian rivers likely dominated over all other sources of mercury to the Arctic Ocean until recently.

Hazards of riverbed processes in Russian rivers: Evaluation criteria, mapping and regional analysis

The danger of riverbed processes is considered. Their speed varies from the first few months of the flood to the most dynamic process in nature. It happened in front of people. This may make life on the river bank and the utilization of river resources more difficult. This paper introduces the causes and consequences of the danger performance of riverbed processes, and focuses on the mapping methods of the danger assessment of riverbed processes: determining the danger degree of riverbed processes and different methods of displaying it on the map. An example of displaying danger on the previously drawn map is given, and the distribution of different types and expression degrees of dangerous riverbed processes under various natural conditions in Russia is briefly analyzed.

The Last Vikings: Russian Boat Bandits and the Formation of Princely Power

Abstract The Viking age ended in the twelfth century in Scandinavia. Rising royal powers recruited most magnates and secured the development of medieval maritime trade. Only a few people who were marginalized to the peripheries turned to piracy. The situation in the Eastern Baltic and along Russian rivers was different. The Viking culture arrived there in the ninth century, but princely power formed late. Control of remote areas was superficial. Raiding by private gangs of young men and warlords continued: this activity was part of the economy and local societies benefited from it. The culture faded away gradually after the late fourteenth century but still in the seventeenth century, dragon ships raided along Siberian rivers. This activity provided the context for the formation of the early modern Muscovite economy, which differed from the West European pattern. This difference is essential to understand the situation in Russia today.

Variations in mercury concentrations in the muscles of fish in biotopes within the water body and in different water bodies of Russia

Abstract. In recent decades, researchers from Papanin Institute for Biology of Inland Waters Russian Academy of Sciences have been studying mercury concentrations in the muscles of fish from water bodies situated in different natural and climatic zones. Overall, more than 5000 fish samples from 102 lakes and 35 rivers in Russia were analysed. In the absence of local sources of mercury entering the water body, its concentrations in the fish muscles varied in wide ranges, exceeding two orders of magnitude. Minimum concentration (<0.03 mg/kg wet weight) was recorded in the muscles of omul, rotan (Chinese sleeper), minnow, and bleak (Lake Baikal, Transbaikalia and European Russia). Maximum mercury concentration (2-3 mg/kg wet weight) was recorded in the muscles of perches from lakes in the northwest of Russia (Vologda and Novgorod regions, Karelia). Most of the measurement results ranged from 0.05 to 0.30 mg/kg wet weight. Differences in mercury concentrations in the muscles of fish of the same species, similar in size and from one water body, as a rule, did not exceed ranges of one order of magnitude. In the absence of local mercury sources, mercury concentrations in fish muscles from closely spaced water bodies could have more than tenfold differences.

Содержание тяжёлых металлов в компонентах малой реки, не подверженной влиянию антропогенной деятельности

The article presents the results of the analysis of surface waters, bottom sediments and muscles of the silver carp (Carassius auratus gibelio) from the upper reaches of the Olgokhta River. The results of laboratory studies have shown that the content of nutrients (NH4+, NO3-, NO2-, PO43-) in the river water does not exceed the maximum permissible values.Heavy metals (Fe, Mn, Zn, Pb, Cu and Ni) in river water, with the exception of iron and manganese, are within the MPC. The high concentrations of Fe and Mn are explained by the peculiarity of the Burein geochemical province. The increased zinc content in bottom sediments is explained by the increased geochemical activity of this metal. The content of heavy metals in the muscles of carp compared to other rivers in Russia is one of the lowest. Presumably, zinc and iron accumulate most in the muscles. The data obtained on the composition and quality of water, bottom sediments, as well as the concentration of metals in the muscles of the silver carp can be considered background for the region due to the absence of anthropogenic load on the watercourse.

Oxygen regime of rivers in the area of sources of economic impact according to long-term monitoring of the Russian meteorological service

The results of long-term observations of the hydrochemical service of the Russian Meteorological Service on the content of dissolved oxygen in the rivers of Russia are considered. Data on the basins of the Amur, Lena, Ob, Volga for 1988-2007 is analyzed. We compared the average monthly oxygen concentrations above and below the sources of exposure – cities, large industrial enterprises – in total, about 100 paired sections were used. The study showed that in about half of these river sections, sometimes (in 14.8 % of cases) small changes in oxygen concentration (6.5-8.3 %) are observed. Wherein, both a decrease and an increase in oxygen concentration can occur below the sources of anthropogenic impact. The latter is typical for winter time, when the flow of heated wastewater into the river leads to formation of an air-hole and the flow of oxygen from the atmosphere into the water. Small rivers in cities experience the greatest stress; however, in general, for all the rivers under consideration, the anthropogenic change in the oxygen regime of the rivers is small and does not significantly affect the sustainability of the development of the territories.

Russian Rivers Streamflow Forecasting Using Hydrograph Extrapolation Method

This paper presents a method of hydrograph extrapolation, intended for simple and efficient streamflow forecasting with up to 10 days lead time. The forecast of discharges or water levels is expressed by a linear formula depending on their values on the date of the forecast release and the five previous days. Such forecast techniques were developed for more than 2700 stream gauging stations across Russia. Forecast verification has shown that this method can be successfully applied to large rivers with a smooth shape of hydrographs, while for small mountain catchments, the accuracy of the method tends to be lower. The method has been implemented into real-time continuous operations in the Hydrometcentre of Russia. In the territory of Russia, 18 regions have been identified with a single dependency of the maximum lead time of good forecasts on the area and average slope of the catchment surface for different catchments of each region; the possibilities of forecasting river streamflow by the method of hydrograph extrapolation are approximately estimated. The proposed method can be considered as a first approximation while solving the problem of forecasting river flow in conditions of a lack of meteorological information or when it is necessary to quickly develop a forecasting system for a large number of catchments.

Improvement of methods of hydrological forecasting using geoinformation technologies

This article discusses the possibility of improving hydrological forecasting methods based on a neural network. The hydrological series, its importance and forecasting features are considered. For hydrological forecasting using the MapInfoProfessional geoinformation system, an electronic map has been developed containing information about the rivers of Russia, as well as gauging stations on the Ob River. The electronic map is the basis for creating a module for short-term hydrological forecasting based on an artificial neural network. The features of a neural network, methods of its training and implementation are considered. The developed artificial neural network is a layer of neurons with a linear activation function and a delay line at the input. To predict the levels of hydrological series, real water levels at gauging stations of the Ob River in the Novosibirsk region will be used. The developed module and its capabilities have been tested. The study was carried out on the basis of models of hydrological series, as well as on the basis of levels of real hydrological series. Based on the study, dependence of the root-mean-square error on the number of previous values of series was revealed. The study also shows that it is possible to use a neural network for the current one-step forecasting of levels of hydrological series in conditions of insufficient information about the runoff region and its characteristics.

МНОГОЛЕТНЯЯ ИЗМЕНЧИВОСТЬ ИОННОГО СТОКА КРУПНЫХ РЕК АРКТИЧЕСКОЙ ЗОНЫ РОССИИ

Studies of river ion runoff and its temporal variability are important. It affects coastal waters and is interrelated with climatic changes in the Arctic region. Long-term data on the chemical runoff of macrocomponents (chlorides, sulfates, hydrocarbonates, calcium and magnesium ions) at the outlet sections of large Arctic rivers in Russia - Pechora, Usa, Yenisei, Ob, Pur, Taz, Lena, Yana and Kolyma are given. The values of volumes and modules of chemical runoff were calculated on the basis of long-term (1980-2018) hydrological and hydrochemical information from the state observation system of Roshydrom-et. It is shown that the change in the absolute values of the chemical runoff is consistent with the water inflow. Greatest contribution to the ionic runoff is made by hydrocarbonates. The intra-annual change in the water inflow and the macrocomponents runoff occurs synchronously. There is a decisive role of water runoff in the formation of chemical runoff from the catchments of large Arctic rivers. Comparison of the chemical runoff modulus indicator made it possible to classify them into low, medium or high ionic runoff rivers. It was found that the maximum runoff of macrocomponents occurs from the catchment of the Usa river. It is may be due to active processes of chemical denudation and climate change.

ОСОБЕННОСТИ ХИМИЧЕСКОГО СОСТАВА И КАЧЕСТВА ВОДЫ В БАССЕЙНЕ РЕКИ ЛЕНЫ

Introduction. The Lena River is one of the largest rivers in Russia and the main transport artery of Yakutia. Methods. In the course of the study, we considered the water regime of the Lena River in 1981–2019 in relation to the monthly average water discharge. The hydrochemical runoff was quantitatively assessed based on the widely used landscape-hydrological method. The analysis made it possible to estimate the relationship between the natural water quality and the environmental state of catchments. Results. An increase in the winter temperature reduced the depth of soil freezing and increased the drainage properties of soil as well as the number and duration of winter thaws. The most pronounced annual water discharge was observed in the Aldan River basin in the eastern part of the Lena River basin. The current state of the surface water quality was assessed by the main hydrochemical characteristics: water salinity, principal ions (sulfates (SO4 2–)), nutrients (nitrite nitrogen (NO2–)), organic matter (BOD5 and COD), oil products, phenols, and iron (Fe) and copper (Cu) compounds. The water has quality class 3 and is characterized as “polluted” or “very polluted” in different zones of the river basin, with the situation being most acute in the Olekma River. Conclusions. We present the results of an analysis of the spatial and temporal variations in the content of the most informative hydrochemical components for two periods (2001–2009 and 2010–2019) in the Lena River basin in accordance with the most stringent commercial fishing standards in force. We also plotted and mapped the temporal variations in the main pollutants. Graphs and maps of the time dynamics of the main pollutants are constructed.

Прогнозирование стока рек России методом экстраполяции гидрографа

Forecasting the flow of Russian rivers by hydrograph extrapolation / Borsch S.V., Koliy V.M., Semenova N.K., Simonov Yu.A., Khristoforov A.V. // Hydrometeorological Research and Forecasting, 2021, no. 2 (380), pp. 77-94. An automated system has been developed based on the hydrograph extrapolation method, which allows the year-round daily forecasting of water level and streamflow for the Russian rivers with up to 10-day lead time. The forecast of discharges or water levels is expressed by a linear formula depending on their values on the date of the forecast issue and five previous days. The forecasting scheme limits the possible minimum and maximum values of the discharge or water level based on historical data. Forecast schemes were obtained for 2776 river gauges. The time period from 2010 to 2019 with daily observations of discharge and water level was used. The forecast verification shows that this method can be successfully applied to large rivers with smooth hydrographs. Keywords: daily discharge and water levels, short- and medium-term forecasts, hydrograph extrapolation method, forecast verification, maximum lead time of satisfactory forecasts, self-learning of an automated system for preparing and issuing forecasts

The influence of Eurasian beaver Castor fiber activity on fish assemblages in small steppe rivers in Russia

The influence of Eurasian beaver Castor fiber activity on fish assemblages in small steppe rivers in Russia

Comparative analysis of the requirements of the River Register rules and European Regulations for ship arrangements

The article presents the results of comparative analysis requirements of the River Register Rules and ES-TRIN standard for ship arrangements of inland navigation vessels. In the framework of the European agreement on main inland waterways of international importance are expected operations of vessels on international transport corridor, part of which are the inland waterways of Russia. In this regard, becomes relevant the question of the comparison of requirements of normative-technical documentation for vessels operating on inland waterways of Russia and European inland waterways. The purpose of the work is to analyze the requirements of the River Register Rules and the ES-TRIN standard for ship arrangements, as well as to detect differences in approaches required by the operating conditions of ships on the rivers of Russia and Europe. As a research method, we used a comparative analysis of the requirements of the River Register Rules and the ES-TRIN standard, including by comparing the results of calculations of elements of anchor, mooring, towing, steering arrangements, made in accordance with the requirements of these regulatory documents for specific ship projects. It is shown that when calculating the total length of anchor chains for specific ship projects, the requirements of the River Register Rules are significantly "tougher" than the values calculated according to the requirements of the ES-TRIN standard (for "O" class vessels — by 2 times). The values of the breaking force of the towrope of tugs calculated according to the River Register Rules or class "O" vessels are significantly higher (up to 92 %) compared to the values calculated according to ES-TRIN. It is noted that the methods for determining the mass of anchors and maneuverability criteria given in the River Register Rules and the ES-TRIN standard have fundamental differences that do not allow obtaining comparable results. The materials presented in the article can be used by design organizations when designing vessels that are supposed to be operated on the European inland waterways as well as by specialists of the River Register when improving their regulatory and technical base.

Ground Penetrating Radar Investigations of the River Ice Cover in the Integrated Monitoring of Dangerous Hydrological Phenomena

Ice jams are dangerous hydrological phenomena characteristic of most rivers of Russia. To reduce the risk of flooding of settlements during the spring flood, the development of technology for integrated monitoring of the river ice cover, based on the methods of GPR and the Earth remote sensing (ERS), is proposed. The advantage of the technology is the ability to obtain detailed information in vast and inaccessible areas with a bleak climate. The results of an experimental study of a site of 0.4 km2 in the Khatystakh arm of the Lena River are presented. The OKO-2 GPR (Logis-Geotech group of companies, Russia) determined the thickness and structure of the ice cover. Satellite images determined the tonal characteristics of the ice cover in contact with sand and water. The combination of GPR results and ERS images made it possible to obtain detailed information about the spatial change in the thickness and structure of the ice cover. The prospect of integrated information lies in the possibility of integral assessments, and their use in modeling, monitoring and forecasting ice conditions in the spring.

A Comparative Assessment of River Water Quality in Mountain Regions of Russia and Armenia

The paper highlights results obtained from collation between river water quality in mountain regions of Russia and Armenia employing two different methodological approaches: a method of a complex assessment by hydrochemical parameters by a Specific Combinatorial Water Pollution Index (SCWPI) and the Canadian Water Quality Index (CWQI). Assessment was done of water quality of typical, identical in terms of conditions of formation small- and medium-size mountain rivers in Russia (river Terek basin: the Malka, the Baksan, the Cherek) and Armenia (rivers Kura-Araks basin: the Vorotan, the Voghchi, the Pambak). Collation was done between results of a complex assessment of water quality in mountain rivers obtained employing two indices: SCWPI and CCME WQI and two sets of norms: maximum allowable concentrations (MAC) set for fishery waters and ecological norms, and critical water pollution indices (CPI) and the highest excursive indices, defined. As shown, the river water quality classes by both indices coincide when using ecological norms, whereas difference in assessment results obtained through different methods employing common MAC set for fishery waters is primarily determined by more stringent values of MAC set for heavy metals. As an ultimate result, water quality in the studied rivers is characterized as marginal (the 4th class) for the Malka, the Baksan, the Cherek and the Voghchi and fair (the 3rd class) for the Vorotan and the Pambak. Methodological approaches to river water quality and pollution levels to be developed need to focus primarily on application of ecological (regional) norms or background hydrochemical parameters accounting for natural and climatic peculiarities of river watersheds.

Preliminary Screening for Microplastic Concentrations in the Surface Water of the Ob and Tom Rivers in Siberia, Russia

To date, the largest Russian rivers discharging to the Arctic Ocean remain a “blank spot” on the world map of data on the distribution of microplastics in freshwater systems. This study characterizes the abundance and morphology of microplastics in surface water of the Ob River and its large tributary, the Tom River, in western Siberia. The average number of particles for the two rivers ranged from 44.2 to 51.2 items per m3 or from 79.4 to 87.5 μg per m3 in the Tom River and in the Ob River, respectively. Of the recovered microplastics, 93.5% were less than 1 mm in their largest dimension, the largest group (45.5% of total counts) consisted of particles with sizes range 0.30–1.00 mm. Generally, microfragments of irregular shape were the most abundant among the Ob and Tom samples (47.4%) and exceeded microfibers (22.1%), microfilms (20.8%), and microspheres (9.74%) by average counts. Results from this study provide a baseline for understanding the scale of the transport of microplastics by the Ob River system into the Arctic Ocean and add to currently available data on microplastics abundance and diversity in freshwater systems of differing global geographic locations.