SPECIFIC FEATURES OF WATER CHEMISTRY AND QUALITY IN THE LENA RIVER BASIN

Abstract

Introduction. The Lena River is one of the largest rivers in Russia and the main transport artery of Yakutia. Methods. In the course of the study, we considered the water regime of the Lena River in 1981–2019 in relation to the monthly average water discharge. The hydrochemical runoff was quantitatively assessed based on the widely used landscape-hydrological method. The analysis made it possible to estimate the relationship between the natural water quality and the environmental state of catchments. Results. An increase in the winter temperature reduced the depth of soil freezing and increased the drainage properties of soil as well as the number and duration of winter thaws. The most pronounced annual water discharge was observed in the Aldan River basin in the eastern part of the Lena River basin. The current state of the surface water quality was assessed by the main hydrochemical characteristics: water salinity, principal ions (sulfates (SO4 2–)), nutrients (nitrite nitrogen (NO2–)), organic matter (BOD5 and COD), oil products, phenols, and iron (Fe) and copper (Cu) compounds. The water has quality class 3 and is characterized as “polluted” or “very polluted” in different zones of the river basin, with the situation being most acute in the Olekma River. Conclusions. We present the results of an analysis of the spatial and temporal variations in the content of the most informative hydrochemical components for two periods (2001–2009 and 2010–2019) in the Lena River basin in accordance with the most stringent commercial fishing standards in force. We also plotted and mapped the temporal variations in the main pollutants. Graphs and maps of the time dynamics of the main pollutants are constructed.