Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The Functioning of the Cascade Lithodynamic System of the Kuda River Basin (Upper Angara Region)

  • Research Techniques
  • Published:
Geography and Natural Resources Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The redistribution of sediments in the Kuda river basin as a result of erosion-accumulation processes is investigated from the systems perspective. The current geodynamic position of the basin associated with the transition zone from the Siberian platform to the Baikal rift is emphasized. The contribution of cryogenic, karst and aeolian processes to the mobilization of matter in the system is considered. A quantitative assessment of the amount of transported material in the upper (slope), middle (ravine) and lower (riverbed) lithodynamic zones of the basin was made. Time series of the main hydroclimatic indicators were used to determine the long-term dynamics of the functioning of the basin. Using the satellite images, we identified changes in the economic activities within the basin over the past 30 years. They imply a reduction in croplands and an expansion of grasslands. Calculations show that the annual volume of sediments transported within the basin reaches 3 184 430 tons. Most of them (89%) are involved in the movement by the runoff of storm water, and only 364 405 tons are transported with the runoff of melt water. The role of gully erosion in ablation and sediment transportation is insignificant, because most of the gullies are inactive with a reduction in agriculture; the average growth rate of the heads of gullies does not exceed 0.5 m/year. Channel processes contribute primarily to the redistribution of sediments between adjacent sections of the channel, and their transport to large distances is limited by karst processes and by a significant anthropogenic transformation of the bottoms of the valleys. The annual flow of suspended and transported sediments is a mere 31 000 tons, and the main ablation of material from the system occurs in a dissolved form. In general, the mechanical volume of sediment yield from the system makes up 1%. The rest of material is redistributed in the basin and causes an enhanced accumulation. It is shown that almost half of the sediments is intercepted by large ponds; the rest is accumulated in the bottoms of the valleys in areas with active karst development, on floodplains as well as in talus and proluvial trains. The study determined a general trend in the transformation of the relief as a result of the functioning of the basin implying its planation.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Simonov, Yu.G. and Simonova, T.Yu., River Basin and Basin Organization of the Landscape Geosphere, Soil Erosion and Channel Processes, R.S. Chalov, Ed., 2004, no. 14, pp. 7–32 [in Russian].

  2. Simonov, Yu.G. and Simonova, T.Yu., Structural Analysis of the Types of Functioning and Evolution of River Basins, Proc. Sci. Conf. “Hydrology and Geomorphology of River Systems” (October 7–10, 1997, Irkutsk), Irkutsk, 1997, pp. 13–23 [in Russian].

  3. Alekseevskii, N.I. and Chalov, R.S., Sediment Movement and Channel Processes, Moscow: Izd. Mosk. Univ., 1997 [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  4. Khmeleva, N.V., Vinogradova, N.N., Samoilova, A.A., and Shevchenko, B.F., The Mountain River Basin and Exogenous Processes Within It (Results of Station-Based Investigations), Moscow: Izd. Mosk. Univ., 2000 [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  5. Golosov, V.N., Erosion-Accumulation Processes Within River Basins of Developed Plains, Moscow: GEOS, 2006 [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  6. Korytny, L.M., The Basin Concept: From Hydrology to Nature Management, Geogr. Nat. Resour., 2017, vol. 38, issue 2, pp. 111–121.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Chorley, R.J. and Kennedy, B.A., Physical Geography: A Systems Approach, London: Prentice-Hall, 1971.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Proc. 8 th IAG. Int. Conf. on Geomorphology “Geomorphology and Sustainability” (August 27–31, 2013, Paris), Paris, 2013, Abstracts Volumes 1–2.

  9. Medvedeva, R.A., Golosov, V.N. and Yermolaev, O.P., Spatiotemporal Assessment of Gully Erosion in the Zone of Intensive Farming in the European part of Russia, Geogr. Nat. Resour., 2018, no. 3, pp. 29–37 [in Russian].

  10. Makkaveev, N.I., River Basin and Erosion Within Its Basin, Moscow: Izd. AN SSSR, 1955 [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  11. Dedkov, A.P., Mozzherin, V.I., Stupishin, A.V., and Trofimov, A.M., Climatic Geomorphology of Denudation Plains, Kazan: Izd. Kazan. Univ., 1977 [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  12. Bazhenova, O.I. and Martyanova, G.N., Response of Steppe and Forest-Steppe Morphodynamical Systems to Current Climate Change, Geogr. Prir. Resur., 2000, no. 4, pp. 23–32 [in Russian].

  13. Chalov, R.S., Erosion-Accumulation Processes and Erosion-Channel Systems (ECS): Basic Notions, Structure, Functioning Mechanisms, in Ecology of Erosion-Channel Systems of Russia, Moscow: Izd. Mosk. Univ., 2002, pp. 8–15 [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  14. Mats, V.D., Efimova, I.M. and Kul’chitskii, A.A., Ancient Valleys of Western Cisbaikalia (History of Formation), Geomorfologiya, 2010, no. 2, pp. 91–101 [in Russian].

  15. Bazhenova, O.I. and Martyanova, G.N., Assessment of Changes in Geocryological Conditions of Subarid Regions of Siberia Under Current Climate Warming, Geogr. Prir. Resur., 2003, no. 4, pp. 51–58 [in Russian].

  16. Bazhenova, O.I., Lyubtseva, E.M., Ryzhov, Yu.V., and Makarov, S.A., Spatio-Temporal Analysis of the Dynamics of Erosion Processes in the South of Eastern Siberia, Novosibirsk: Nauka, 1997 [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  17. Kichigina, N.V., Dynamics of Streamflow Characteristics of the Rivers Within the Angara Basin Under Regional Climatic Changes, Geogr. Nat. Resour., 2010, vol. 31, issue 2, pp. 132–136.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Zagorul’ko, N.A., Features in the Basic Ionic Composition of Surface Waters Within the Kuda River Basin, Vestn. Irk. Technk Univ., 2014, no. 2 (85), pp. 61–67 [in Russian].

  19. Leshchikov, F.N., Cryogenic Soils of the Angara Region and Cisbaikalia, Novosibirsk: Nauka, 1978 [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  20. Uglanov, I.N., Boyarkin, V.M., Ivanov, I.N., and Filippova, S.A., Natural-Melioration Conditions of Forest-Steppe Regions of Eastern Siberia, Irkutsk: Izd. Irk. Univ., 1990 [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  21. Bazhenova, O.I., Tyumentseva, E.M. and Tukhta, S.A., Extreme Phases of Denudation and Questions of Geomorphological Security of the Upper Angara Region, Geogr. Nat. Resour., 2016, vol. 37, issue 3, pp. 246–256.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Tukhta, S.A., Quantitative Assessment of the Intensity of Storm-Induced Soil Losses Within the Kuda River Basin (Lena-Angara Forest-Steppe), Geogr. Prir. Resur., 2017, no. 4, pp. 94–104 [in Russian].

  23. Ryzhov, Yu.V., Gullying in the South of Eastern Siberia, Novosibirsk: Geo, 2015 [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  24. Bychkov, V.I., Linear Erosion in the Northern Part of Ust-Orda Buryat National Okrug, Izv. SO AN SSSR, 1961, no. 3, pp. 90–97 [in Russian].

  25. Opekunova, M.Yu. and Tukhta, S.A., Floodplain-Channel Complexes of the Kuda River (Upper Angara Region), Vestn. Buryat. Univ., Ser. Biol. Geogr., 2017, no. 4, pp. 107–113 [in Russian].

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. V. B. Sochava Institute of Geography, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Irkutsk, 664033, Russia

    S. A. Tukhta, O. I. Bazhenova & Yu. V. Ryzhov

  2. Irkutsk Scientific Center, Irkutsk, 664033, Russia

    O. I. Bazhenova & Yu. V. Ryzhov

  3. Institute of the Earth’s Crust, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Irkutsk, 664033, Russia

    Yu. V. Ryzhov

Authors
  1. S. A. Tukhta
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. O. I. Bazhenova
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Yu. V. Ryzhov
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to S. A. Tukhta, O. I. Bazhenova or Yu. V. Ryzhov.

Additional information

Russian Text © S.A. Tukhta, O.I. Bazhenova, Yu. V. Ryzhov, 2019, published in Geografiya i Prirodnye Resursy, 2019, Vol. 40, No. 2, pp. 147–158.

This work as done within the Integration Program of Irkutsk Scientific Center SB RAS (0341-2017-0001) and with the financial support from the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (17-29-05064).

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Tukhta, S.A., Bazhenova, O.I. & Ryzhov, Y.V. The Functioning of the Cascade Lithodynamic System of the Kuda River Basin (Upper Angara Region). Geogr. Nat. Resour. 40, 169–179 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1134/S1875372819020100

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S1875372819020100

Keywords

Search

Navigation