Geology, geography and global energy

Scientific and Technical Journal

Causes of extreme hydrological situations in the rivers of Altai republic

2015. №4, pp. 48-59

Sukhova M.G. - D.Sc. in Geography, Associate Professor, Gorno-Altaisk State University, 1 Lenkin st., Gorno-Altaisk, Republic of Altai, 649000, Russian Federation, mar_gs@ngs.ru

Kocheeva N.A. - C.Sc. in Geology and Mineralogy, Associate Professor, Gorno-Altaisk State University, 1 Lenkin st., Gorno-Altaisk, Republic of Altai, 649000, Russian Federation

Zhuravleva O.V. - C.Sc. in Geographical Geography, Associate Professor, Gorno-Altaisk State University, 1 Lenkin st., Gorno-Altaisk, Republic of Altai, 649000, Russian Federation

Bakulin A.A. - Post-graduate student, Gorno-Altaisk State University, 1 Lenkin st., Gorno-Altaisk, Republic of Altai, 649000, Russian Federation

Nikolchenko Yu.N. - Undergraduate, Gorno-Altaisk State University, 1 Lenkin st., Gorno-Altaisk, Republic of Altai, 649000, Russian Federation

The paper presents analytical assessment of formation features of the highest snowfall and rainfall runoff in different environmental conditions of the mountainous area. The reasons for floods in all physical and geographical provinces located in Altai Republic are analyzed. The study was done via consideration of the influence of the whole set of factors leading to flooding of the territory. It was established that most often the cause consists in a combination of several factors: high intensity of snowmelt with exceeding amounts of snow storage, deep soil freezing on the catchment and lots of rains during flood recession; extremely high intensity of snowmelt, even when the indicators of snow storage are close to a norm, a considerable depth of soil freezing and humidifying; high intensity of snowmelt with snow storage close to a norm and small losses of runoff; high intensity of precipitation on most parts of the catchment in a combination with low evaporation from a surface; formation of the second wave of a sharp rise of water table which is connected with intensive ablation of glaciers in the mountains. The reasons for the catastrophic increase in water level of 2014 in some areas of the Altai Republic, located in the drainage basin of the Katun River were to cumulative effect of natural and anthropogenic factors contributing to the occurrence of an emergency situation, with the dominant role of natural factors - a record amount of rainfall for the entire period of instrumental observations. The reason for this was extensive stationing cyclone that has spread to most of the Altai mountain region, as a result of the blocking high anticyclone that has spread from the south-east to the western and central Russia in late May - early June.

Key words: формирование максимального стока, горная территория, наводнение, половодье, паводок, причины, formation of the highest runoff, mountainous areas, flooding, high water, flood rise, causes

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