The Effect of Dam Construction on the Uldza River in Mongolia on the Hydrological Regime of the Torey Lakes
Abstract: Possible consequences of the construction of the Uldza River reservoir in Mongolia related to a change in the hydrological regime of the Torey Lakes and of the transboundary basin are analyzed. Climatic and hydrological characteristics of the Uldza River and the Torey Lakes are analyzed based on data of hydrological surveys of 1965–2020. It is revealed that the main factor of variability of their hydrological regimes is represented by cyclic climate changes accompanied by large temperature amplitudes, the extremely uneven distribution of precipitation over seasons and particular years, high water filtration and evaporation losses (often exceeding the local runoff), and the periodic drying up of rivers and lakes. The configuration and filling and drawdown modes under different water conditions of the designed reservoir are simulated using available material of the tender documentation for the Mongolian Onon-Ulz project, open raster data of satellite sounding of the Earth, various GIS sources, and other global data. Based on the simulation results, quantitative estimates of possible mean monthly deviations of the regulated runoff, levels, and area of the water surface of Lake Barun-Torey from the natural ones are obtained. Calculations of the operating conditions of the designed reservoir show that it can only be filled at a probability of the flow rate of 50% or lower. Thus, it will remain unfilled for a long time, which casts some doubt on the economic expediency of its creation. Despite the low absolute discharge, its relative deviations from the natural conditions vary widely (from 3 to 192%). The effect of the reservoir on the deviation of the discharge and the levels and area of the lakes as compared to natural conditions is the most significant in dry periods. Thus, the creation of the reservoir may result in a significant change in the natural hydrological conditions of the Uldza River and the Torey Lakes and in negative consequences for the ecosystem. © 2023, Pleiades Publishing, Ltd.
Библиографическая ссылка Nikitin V.M. , Abasov N.V. , Osipchuk E.N. The Effect of Dam Construction on the Uldza River in Mongolia on the Hydrological Regime of the Torey Lakes // Geography and Natural Resources. Vol.44. No.1. 2023. P.48-55. DOI: 10.1134/S1875372823010055
Проиндексировано: WOS
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