Geoecological Characteristics of Lake Seliger

Data of hydrological and hydrochemical observations conducted in August 2000 at Lake Seliger and its major tributaries are presented. The analyzed characteristics included: O₂, H₂S, CH₄, microelements; mineral and organic compounds of P and N, ionic composition components (HCO₃ ^–, Cl^–, Na⁺, K⁺, dry residue, pH; color index, electrical conductivity. Bottom sediment samples were analyzed for microelement concentrations, CH₄, oil hydrocarbons. The influence of the basin on the ecological state of the lake was assessed, and tendencies in the evolution of its ecosystem are analyzed. It is shown that the ecological conditions of the lake has not changed significantly since 1960–1991, however, nutrient concentrations in the lake water was found to increase.     

Influence of the economic activities on coasts upon the coastal waters of the Black Sea

The contemporary state of the ecosystem, coastal waters and coasts of the Black Sea can be assessed as critical. The main causes of unfavourable ecological changes of the sea, and especially its shelf waters, are the natural and anthropogenic changes in river runoff increase of biogenic compounds, organic matter, pollutants and toxic agents carried to the sea in river waters, pollution of the sea water basin with petroleum. This work is devoted to an assessment of the role of sea coasts in the change of its ecological state because up till now the majority of researchers considered the influence of quantitative and qualitative changes of the river runoff produced by the economic activities to be decisive. It is shown that even according to at present incomplete data the contribution of coasts of biogenic compounds to the coastal sea waters is comparable with the contribution of the runoff of large rivers; it is significant for oil hydrocarbons, and decisive with regard to surface acting agents (SAA), phenols and pesticides. In a number of areas the ecological state of the coastal waters is almost completely determined by the inflow of pollutants from coasts. The integral assessment of the quality of coastal sea waters on different areas of the sea proved that the quality of the water along the coasts of Georgia, Russia and the Ukraine varies from moderately polluted to extremely dirty.     

The concept of a bilayer hydrosphere: From the origins to the methodological approaches

This paper considers the results of development of the bilayer hydrosphere concept of the Earth offered by the author in 2000. The bilayering concept is logically based on the classical works in the field of geochemistry and is in the context of mid-twentieth century studies on the structure of the biosphere. The research methods based on this concept are interdisciplinary in nature and make it possible to unify and thereby to facilitate the solution of many problems in the field of oceanology, hydrology and other geographic sciences related to geochemistry.     

Remote Sensing–Based Assessment of the Water Supply of Lake Bolshoye Turali

Izvestiya, Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics - A set of space images covering the period from 2003 has been used to examine the natural water inflow into Lake Bolshoye Turali for the first time. This...     

Formation and Evolution of the Anaerobic Zone in the Black Sea from the Most Recent Salinization to the Present State: Retrospective Estimation Based on Mathematical Modeling

It is established that the formation and evolution of the anaerobic zone of the Black Sea are associated with the beginning and development of the most recent salinization of the sea and the formation of pycnocline at intermediate depths; a deterioration of deep-water aeration and the formation of anaerobic conditions in deeper layers; the rate of sulfate-reduction first in the near-bed layer and later, as oxygen is depleted, in the water mass. Formalization of these processes based on refined present-day data on water balance enabled the reproduction of profiles of water salinity and vertical-exchange coefficient for different formation stages of salinity regime in the Black Sea. The vertical distribution of oxygen and hydrogen sulfide is reconstructed, and the rates of oxygen consumption in water column and sulfate reduction in the near-bed layer and at the upper boundary of the anaerobic zone are evaluated in numerical experiments. The obtained data show the transformation of the vertical distribution of oxygen and hydrogen sulfide in the Black Sea from the beginning of its most recent salinization to the present-day state. It is shown that the anaerobic zone rises from 2000 to 200 m within 500–600 years (in the period 3.9–4.5 Ka from the beginning of water exchange through the Bosphorus), and next the upper boundary of the anaerobic zone slowly ascends up to its present-day position (130–180 m). Mathematical modeling was used to evaluate the fluxes of oxygen and hydrogen sulfide at different formation stages of the anaerobic zone in the sea.__________Translated from Vodnye Resursy, Vol. 32, No. 3, 2005, pp. 307–321.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Leonov, Shaporenko.     

Characteristics of the Ecosystems of Water Bodies Separating from Kandalaksha Bay of the White Sea

The coastal water bodies that separate from White Sea water area due to Kandalaksha coast rise are examined. The hydrological and hydrochemical characteristics of these water bodies are found to notably differ from these in the bays and straits connected with them. Extreme values of water temperature and salinity were recorded. High concentrations of oxygen (>20 mg/l) were recorded in the near-surface water layers and high concentrations of hydrogen sulfide (>90 mg/l) in bottom waters. The species composition of phyto- and zooplankton was found to be poor. The characteristics of enzymatic destruction in subsurface waters of lakes are an order of magnitude greater than those in White Sea open areas.     

Current Problems in Organizing Water Protection Zones at Water Bodies: Case Study of the Uglich Reservoir

A retrospective review of the current scientific publications on the problems of water protection zones at water bodies is given. The content of regulations on water protection zone in the RF Water Code 2006 now in force is interpreted. The legislations regarding the establishment of water protection zones and riparian buffer strips at water bodies in Russia and other countries are compared and analyzed. The technologies and specifics of the development of geoinformation system “Water Protection Zone and Riparian Buffer Strip of a Water Body” are demonstrated as applied to determining the boundary of the water protection zone and riparian buffer strip for the Uglich Reservoir. Assessment of the anthropogenic load onto a drainage basin within the water protection zone of the Uglich Reservoir and a method for geoecological zoning of its territory are considered as an example.     

Stability and variations in hydrochemical characteristics of Lake Glubokoe under conditions of a natural reserve

Studies in Lake Glubokoe (Ruzskii District, Moscow Province), which is slightly affected by anthropogenic load, are reported. Its current environmental state is characterized, and the stability and variability of some important hydrochemical characteristics, such as dissolved oxygen and carbon dioxide content, pH, nutrient concentrations, water salinity and chemistry is estimated for a long period.