Dynamics of the Yenisei and Pur River Deltas

Variations in the mouth areas of the Yenisei and Pur rivers over the period of 50 years were revealed on the basis of comparison of topographic maps prepared in the 1950s and space images made from the Landsat satellite in 1973 (MSS System) and 1999, 2000 (ETM System). Maps of the drainage network dynamics were compiled; they show that, over a period of many years, mouth areas of northern rivers undergo slow but steady changes, which are indicative of the continuing protrusion of deltas into bays at a rate up to 20 m/year, the increment in mouth areas reaching 0.05–0.07% a year. As noted, secondary water streams die off under the condition of flow concentration in main branches, and small islands get integrated. It was found that, over the period under study, natural variations in the level of the receiving water body and human-induced changes in river basins (construction of a chain of reservoirs) did not have considerable impact on dynamic processes occurring in deltas.