Spatio-Temporal Features of Hydroecological Changes in the Vorskla River Basin
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17308/geo/1609-0683/2025/3/84-92Keywords:
climate change, water consumption, water pollutants, drainage water, mine water, bottom sedimentsAbstract
The purpose is to determine hydroecological trends for the river basin from KMA based on an integrated analysis of time series on change in climatic conditions in the catchment area, water consumption and quality. It is also necessary to assess the transformation of the pollutants composition in the bottom sediments of the Vorskla River along its entire length. Materials and methods. The Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring data, including time series for water consumption, 20 indicators and a specifi c combinatorial index of water pollution, were processed using the correlation-regression analysis method. The author's data on the content of 15 pollutants in bottom sediments were summarized through a total pollution indicator using the MAC values and regional background. Results and discussion. The changes in climate indicators in the catchment area and water consumption of the Vorskla River for 1961-1990 and 1991-2020 as well as the dependence of water quality on 20 indicators on water consumption for the period 2008-2022, were revealed using statistical methods. The results of calculating the total pollution index of bottom sediments, taking into account the content of 15 pollutants relative to the MAC and regional background values, were presented. Conclusion. The average annual value of water discharge of the Vorskla River decreased by 17 % when comparing two 30-year periods, and since 2009 there has been a steady trend towards decreasing water content. The climatic de terminacy of water discharge has sharply decreased in 1991-2020 compared to the previous period. The most sensitive indicators of the self-purifi cation capacity of the river are sulfates, zinc and chemical oxygen demand, the values of which decrease with increased water content. A targeted decrease in concentrations in bottom sediments from the source to the mouth of the river was found among 15 pollutants for a complex of 6 heavy metals.
