ICE FORMATIONS WITHIN THE COURSES OF SMALL RIVERS OF THE IRKUT RIVER BASIN

Abstract

The article discusses the ice formations of small rivers in the upper reaches of the Irkut river basin. Morphometric and morphological characteristics of icings were obtained, the map-scheme of ice formations was created and analyzed, features of icing processes and their influence on the relief of small rivers were identified using data of field research for 2021-2022, analysis of cartographic material and satellite images. It has been established that the longest and gentlest icings are confined to the area of the Munku-Sardyk massif, the steepest icings - to the Nuhu-Daban and Tunkinsky Goltsy mountains, the icing coefficients of the rivers vary from low to medium values. The main role of ice formations is to transform the relief of the bottoms and slopes of small river valleys through erosive-accumulative (deep, lateral erosion and the formation of alluvial-iced terraces) and cryogenic processes (preparation of loose material).