River channel hydromorphology in the northern part of the European territory of Russia and prognostic evaluation of their changes

In paper we perform an assessment of channel dynamics in the lower courses of Rivers Severnaya Dvina, Mezen’, Vychegda and Pechora in the past, present and future according to the development of channel forms, periodical long-term changes of water runoff and possible scenarios of hydroclimate trends in the XXI century. The study emphasized low channel stability of the northern rivers, prevalence of complex types of braided channel patterns. Fluvial response to human impacts have been evaluated, which is mostly related to channel dredging for navigation maintenance based on simplification of channel structure. Hydraulic geometry relationships have been used for predictive assessment of channel changes within braided reaches. Results indicate that the rise of braiding intensity will be related both to water flow increase through water delivery into floodplain branches and water flow decrease followed by modifications of bars to islands.

1. Ruslovye protsessy i vodnye puti na rekakh basseyna Severnoy Dviny (Channel processes and waterways on the rivers of the Severnaya Dvina basin). Moscow: OOO “Zhurnal “RT” (Publ.). 2012. 492 p.

2. Chalov R.S., Zavadskiy A.S., Ruleva S.N., and Chalov S.R. Morphology, channel and shallows deformation on the Mezen river (downstream). Geogr. vestn.2010. No. 3 (14). P. 11–23. (in Russ.)

3. L’vovskaya E.A., Ruleva S.N., and Chalov R.S. Hydro-morphological analysis of branched channels on the Pechora river. Vestт. Mosл. Univ. Ser. 5. Geogr. 2015. No. 1. P. 78–86. (in Russ.)

4. Chalov R.S., L’vovskaya E.A., Ruleva S.N., and Zavadskiy A.S. Morphodynamics of the channel of the Pechora River (from Pechora city to the river mouth) against the background of channel characteristic along its length, in Eroziya pochv i ruslovye protsessy (Soil erosion and channel processes). Moscow: Geogr. f-t MGU (Publ.), 2015. Iss. 19. P. 211–235.

5. L’vovskaya E.A.Retrospektivnyy analiz, sovremennoe sostoyanie i otsenka vozmozhnykh izmeneniy ruslovykh protsessov na bol’shikh rekakh Severa ETR (Channels of the great rivers of the northern part of European Russia: retrospective analysis, current state and evaluation of possible changes): PhD thesis. Moscow: MGU (Publ.), 2016. 30 p.

6. Chalov R.S. and Reznikov P.N. Sediment load and channel forming conditions on the rivers in the Severnaya Dvina basin. Geomorfologiya (Geomorphology RAS). 2005. No. 2. P. 73–85. (in Russ.)

7. Vlasov B.N. and Chalov R.S. Zoning of the European part of the USSR according to the passing of riverbed forming discharge in the rivers. Vestn. Mosk. Univ. Ser. 5. Geogr. 1991. No. 6. P. 32–42. (in Russ.)

8. Vodnye resursy Rossii i ikh ispol’zovanie (Water resources of Russia and their usage). S.-Petersburg: GGI (Publ.), 2008. 600 p.

9. Chalov R.S., Lyu Shuguan, and Alekseevskiy N.I.Stok nanosov i ruslovye protsessy na bol’shikh rekakh Rossii i Kitaya (Sediment load and channel processes on the great rivers of Russia and China). Moscow: MGU (Publ.), 2000. 212 p.

10. Alekseevskiy N.I.Formirovanie i dvizhenie rechnykh nanosov(Formation and movement of river sediments). Moscow: MGU (Publ.), 1998. 201 p.

11. Alabyan A.M., Alekseevskiy N.I., Evseeva L.S., Zhuk V.A., Ivanov V.V., Surkov V.V., Frolova N.L., Chalov R.S., and Chernov A.V. Genetic analysis of the causes of spring flooding of the Small Severnaya Dvina valley near Velikiy Ustyug, in Eroziya pochv i ruslovie protsessy(Soil erosion and channel processes). Moscow: MGU (Publ.), 2003. Iss. 14. P. 104–130.

12. Vodnye puti basseyna Leny (Waterways in the Lena basin). Moscow: MIKIS (Publ.), 1995. 600 p.

13. Chalov R.S.Geograficheskie issledovaniya ruslovykh protsessov(Geographical research of channel processes). Moscow: MGU (Publ.), 1979. 232 p.

14. Chalov R.S., Alabyan A.M., Ivanov V.V., Lodina R.V., and Panin A.V.Morfodinamika rusel ravninnykh rek(Morphodynamics of lowland river channels). Moscow: GEOS (Publ.), 1998. 288 p.

15. Chalov R.S.Ruslovedenie: teoriya, geografiya, praktika. T. 1. Ruslovye protsessy: faktory, mekhanizmy, formy proyavleniya i usloviya formirovaniya rechnykh rusel(Science of channel processes: theory, geography, praxis. T. 1. Channel processes: factors, mechanisms, forms of manifestation and formation conditions of river channels). Moscow: LKI (Publ.), 2008. 608 p.

16. Zavadskiy A.S.Gidrologo-morfologicheskiy analiz svobodnogo meandrirovaniya rusel ravninnykh rek (Hydro-morphological analysis of unobstructed meandering of lowland river channels): PhD thesis. Moscow: MGU (Publ.), 2006. 26 p.

17. Chalov R.S., Zavadskiy A.S., and Panin A.V.Rechnye izluchiny (River meanders). Moscow: MGU (Publ.), 2004. 371 p.

18. Proektirovanie sudovykh khodov na svobodnykh rekakh(Fairways designing on unobstructed rivers). TsNIIEVT writing. Moscow: Transport (Publ.), 1964. Iss. 36. 262 p.

19. Kargapolova I.N.Reaktsiya rusel rek na izmenenie vodnosti i antropogennoe vozdeystvie za poslednee stoletie(River channel reaction in water flow fluctuation and human impact over the last century): PhD thesis. Moscow: MGU (Publ.), 2006. 27 p.

20. Budyko M.I.Klimat v proshlom i budushchem (Climate in the past and in the future). Leningrad: Gidrometeoizdat (Publ.), 1980. 352 p.

21. Ekologo-geograficheskie posledstviya global’nogo potepleniya klimata XXI veka na Vostochno-Evropeyskoy ravnine i v Zapadnoy Sibiri(Ecological and geographical consequences of global warming in the XXI century on the East European plain and in West Siberia). Moscow: MAKS Press (Publ.), 2011. 496 p.

22. L’vovskaya E.A. and Chalov R.S. Methodical aspects of channel processes prediction by water flow fluctuations. Geomorfologiya (Geomorphology RAS). 2013. No. 3. P. 78–88. (in Russ.)

23. Chalov R.S., Zavadskiy A.S., Ruleva S.N., Belyy B.V., Botavin D.V., Garrison L.M., and Turykin L.A. Channel processes at the confluence of the rivers Vychegda and Sysola and their regulation for solving transport and hydroeconomic issues within the boundaries of the Syktyvkar waterway transport hub, in Eroziya pochv i ruslovye protsessy (Soil erosion and channel processes). Moscow: Geogr f-t MGU (Publ.), 2012. Iss. 18. P. 270–287.