Recent erosion rate in the Crimean Mountains

Abstract

The rate of chemical, mechanical and total «transit» erosion of the Crimean moun'tains was calculated and corresponding schematic maps were compiled on the basis of data on rivers solid and chemical discharge. The chemical erosion rate averages to 0.007 mm per year, it is prevalent over the karst region of the Main Ridge (about 20% of the total area of the Crimean mountains) where the Upper Jurassic limestones are prone to both surficial and subterraneous dissolution. Mechanical erosion proceeds at a rate of 0.05 mm per year and reaches its maximum in the regions built of terrigenous ilysch. Total «transit» erosion on the average is about 0.06 mm per year, with allowance for flash floods and mudilows it may be high as 0.08 mm per year. Rivers remove from the Crimean mountains about 0,7 mln tons of solid and dissolved substance per year, almost 90% of the quantity being debris produced by the mechanical erosion.