gesjGEOGRAPHY, ENVIRONMENT, SUSTAINABILITYGEOGRAPHY, ENVIRONMENT, SUSTAINABILITY2071-93882542-1565Russian Geographical Society10.24057/2071-9388-2017-10-3-4-19gesj-291Research ArticleGEOGRAPHYГеографияEVALUATION OF GLACIER MELT CONTRIBUTION TO RUNOFF IN THE NORTH CAUCASUS ALPINE CATCHMENTS USING ISOTOPIC METHODS AND ENERGY BALANCE MODELINGRetsE.

PhD in geography, Research Associate,

119333, Moscow, ul. Gubkina 3

ChizhovaJ.

PhD in geography, Senior Researcher of the Laboratory of Isotope Geochemistry and Geochronology,

119017, Moscow, Staromonetniy per., 35

eacentr@yandex.ruBudantsevaN.

PhD in geography, Senior Research Scientists of the Department of Landscape Geochemistry and Soil Geography, Faculty of Geography,

119991, Moscow, GSP-1, Leninskie Gory

FrolovaN.

DSc in Geography, Professor of the Department of Hydrology,

Member of the IAHS, a Member of the Hydrological Commission of the International Geographical Union,

119991, Moscow, GSP-1, Leninskie Gory, Faculty of Geography

KireevaM.

PhD in geography, Senior Researcher of the Department of Hydrology,

119991, Moscow, GSP-1, Leninskie Gory, Faculty of Geography

LoshakovaN.

first year Master program student, Department of Hydrology,

119991, Moscow, GSP-1, Leninskie Gory, Faculty of Geography

TokarevI.

PhD. in geology, Senior Researcher,

198504, St. Petersburg, Ulianovskaya st., 1

Vasil’chukYu.

DSc in Geology and Mineralogy, Professor of the Department of Landscape Geochemistry and Soil Geography,

119991, Moscow, GSP-1, Leninskie Gory, Faculty of Geography

Water Problems Institute, Russian Academy of SciencesRussian FederationIGEM RASRussian FederationLomonosov Moscow State UniversityRussian FederationCenter for Geo-Environmental Research and Modeling (GEOMODEL) at St. Petersburg UniversityRussian Federation201703102017103419Copyright © Rets E., Chizhova J., Budantseva N., Frolova N., Kireeva M., Loshakova N., Tokarev I., Vasil’chuk Y., 20172017Rets E., Chizhova J., Budantseva N., Frolova N., Kireeva M., Loshakova N., Tokarev I., Vasil’chuk Y.Rets E., Chizhova J., Budantseva N., Frolova N., Kireeva M., Loshakova N., Tokarev I., Vasil’chuk Y.Данная работа распространяется под лицензией Creative Commons Attribution 4.0.This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.https://ges.rgo.ru/jour/article/view/291

Frequency and intensity of river floods rise observed in the North Caucasus during last decades is considered to be driven by recent climate change. In order to predict possible future trends in extreme hydrological events in the context of climate change, it is essential to estimate the contribution of different feed sources in complicated flow-forming processes in the alpine part of the North Caucasus. A study was carried out for the Djankuat River basin, the representative for the North Caucasus system. Simultaneous measurements of electrical conductivity, isotopic and ion balance equations, and energy balance modeling of ice and snow melt were used to evaluate the contribution of different sources and processes in the Djankuat River runoff regime formation. A forecast of possible future changes in the Djankuat glacier melting regime according to the predicted climate changes was done.

stable isotopeelectrical conductivityCaucasusalpine riverhydrograph separationPopovnin V., Gajdamukha M., Suchilina Z., Lavrenov A., Pozhidaeva D., Smirnov A. and Rostiashvili A.; Russian Science  Foundation; Russian Foundation for Basic ResearchReferencesAleinikov, A. (2001). Vzaimosvyaz’ dvizheniya gornogo lednika i yego balansa massy na primere lednika Dzhankuat, Tsentr. Kavkaz [Interrelation between mountain glacier motionand its mass balance: case study of the Dzhankuat glacier, Central Caucasus]. Avtoreferat diss. kand. geogr. nauk. M.: MGU [Extended Abstract of Cand. Sci. (Geogr.) Dissertation,Moscow: Moscow State Univ]. 24 p. (in Russian)Aleinikov, A. (2001). Vzaimosvyaz’ dvizheniya gornogo lednika i yego balansa massy na primere lednika Dzhankuat, Tsentr. Kavkaz [Interrelation between mountain glacier motionand its mass balance: case study of the Dzhankuat glacier, Central Caucasus]. Avtoreferat diss. kand. geogr. nauk. M.: MGU [Extended Abstract of Cand. Sci. (Geogr.) Dissertation,Moscow: Moscow State Univ]. 24 p. (in Russian)Chizhova, Yu., Budantseva, N., Rets, E., Loshakova, N., Popovnin, V. and Vasil’chuk, Yu. (2014). Variacii izotopno-kislorodnogo sostava talogo stoka lednika Dzhankuat na Central’nom Kavkaze [Isotopic variation of runoff from the Dzhan Kuat glacier (Central Caucasus)]. Vestnik Moskovskogo Unviersiteta, Seriya Geografiya. No. 6. pp. 48–56. (in Russian)Chizhova, Yu., Budantseva, N., Rets, E., Loshakova, N., Popovnin, V. and Vasil’chuk, Yu. (2014). Variacii izotopno-kislorodnogo sostava talogo stoka lednika Dzhankuat na Central’nom Kavkaze [Isotopic variation of runoff from the Dzhan Kuat glacier (Central Caucasus)]. Vestnik Moskovskogo Unviersiteta, Seriya Geografiya. No. 6. pp. 48–56. (in Russian)Chizhova, Ju., Rets, E., Vasil’chuk, Yu., Tokarev, I., Budantseva, N. and Kireeva, M. (2016). Dva podhoda k raschetu raschleneniya gidrografa stoka reki s lednikovym pitaniem s pomoshch’yu izotopnyh metodov [Two approaches to hydrograph separation of the glacial river runoff using isotopic methods]. Led i Sneg. 2016. Vol. 56. N2. pp. 161–168. DOI: 10.15356/2076-6734-2016-2-161-168 (in Russian with English summary)Chizhova, Ju., Rets, E., Vasil’chuk, Yu., Tokarev, I., Budantseva, N. and Kireeva, M. (2016). Dva podhoda k raschetu raschleneniya gidrografa stoka reki s lednikovym pitaniem s pomoshch’yu izotopnyh metodov [Two approaches to hydrograph separation of the glacial river runoff using isotopic methods]. Led i Sneg. 2016. Vol. 56. N2. pp. 161–168. DOI: 10.15356/2076-6734-2016-2-161-168 (in Russian with English summary)Dincer, T., Payne, B., Flowkowski, T., Martinec, J. and Tongiorgi, E., (1970). Snowmelt runofffrom measurements of tritium and oxygen-18. Water Resour. Res., vol. 6, pp. 110–124.Dincer, T., Payne, B., Flowkowski, T., Martinec, J. and Tongiorgi, E., (1970). Snowmelt runofffrom measurements of tritium and oxygen-18. Water Resour. Res., vol. 6, pp. 110–124.Fritz, P., Cherry, J., Weyer, K. and Sklash, M. (1976). Storm runoff analyses using environmental isotopes and major ions, in Interpretation of Environmental Isotope and Hydrochemical Data in Groundwater, Panel Proc. Ser. – Int. Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna: Int. Atomic Energy Agency, pp. 111–130.Fritz, P., Cherry, J., Weyer, K. and Sklash, M. (1976). Storm runoff analyses using environmental isotopes and major ions, in Interpretation of Environmental Isotope and Hydrochemical Data in Groundwater, Panel Proc. Ser. – Int. Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna: Int. Atomic Energy Agency, pp. 111–130.Golubev, G. (1976). Gidrologia lednikov [Hydrology of glaciers]. Leningrad: Gidrometeoizdat, 248 p. (in Russian).Golubev, G. (1976). Gidrologia lednikov [Hydrology of glaciers]. Leningrad: Gidrometeoizdat, 248 p. (in Russian).Hermann, A., Martinec, J. and Stichler, W. (1978). Study of snowmelt-runoff components using isotope measurements in Modeling of Snow Cover Runoff, Colbeck, S.C. and Ray, M., Eds., Hanover, U.S. Army Cold Regions Res. Eng. Lab, pp. 288–296.Hermann, A., Martinec, J. and Stichler, W. (1978). Study of snowmelt-runoff components using isotope measurements in Modeling of Snow Cover Runoff, Colbeck, S.C. and Ray, M., Eds., Hanover, U.S. Army Cold Regions Res. Eng. Lab, pp. 288–296.Herrmann, A. Stichler, W. (1980). Groundwater-runoff relationships. Catena, vol. 7, pp. 251–263.Herrmann, A. Stichler, W. (1980). Groundwater-runoff relationships. Catena, vol. 7, pp. 251–263.Lednik Dzhankuat: Tsentr. Kavkaz [Dzhankuat Glacier: Central Caucasus], Boyarskii, I.Ya, Ed., Leningrad: Gidrometeoizdat, 1978. 184 p. (in Russian).Lednik Dzhankuat: Tsentr. Kavkaz [Dzhankuat Glacier: Central Caucasus], Boyarskii, I.Ya, Ed., Leningrad: Gidrometeoizdat, 1978. 184 p. (in Russian).Martinec, J., Siegenthaler, U., Oeschger, H. and Tongiorgi, E. (1974). New insights into the run-off mechanism by environmental isotopes, Proc. Sympos. Isotope Tech. in Groundwater Hydrol., Vienna: Int. Atomic Energy Agency, pp. 129–143.Martinec, J., Siegenthaler, U., Oeschger, H. and Tongiorgi, E. (1974). New insights into the run-off mechanism by environmental isotopes, Proc. Sympos. Isotope Tech. in Groundwater Hydrol., Vienna: Int. Atomic Energy Agency, pp. 129–143.Meiman, J., Friedman, I. and Hardcastle, K. (1973). Deuterium as a tracer in snow hydrology, The Role of Snow and Ice in Hydrology. Proc. Banff Symp., September, 1972, UNESCOWHO-IASH, Int. Association of Sci. Hydrol. Association, Publ. 107, pp. 39–50.Meiman, J., Friedman, I. and Hardcastle, K. (1973). Deuterium as a tracer in snow hydrology, The Role of Snow and Ice in Hydrology. Proc. Banff Symp., September, 1972, UNESCOWHO-IASH, Int. Association of Sci. Hydrol. Association, Publ. 107, pp. 39–50.Mook, W., Groeneveld, D., Brouwn, A. and Van Ganswijk, A. (1974). Analysis of a runoff hydrograph by means of natural 18O, in Isotope Techniques in Groundwater Hydrology, Proc. I.A.E.A. Symp., Vienna: Int. Atomic Energy Agency, pp. 145–156.Mook, W., Groeneveld, D., Brouwn, A. and Van Ganswijk, A. (1974). Analysis of a runoff hydrograph by means of natural 18O, in Isotope Techniques in Groundwater Hydrology, Proc. I.A.E.A. Symp., Vienna: Int. Atomic Energy Agency, pp. 145–156.Ohlanders, N., Rodriguez, M. and McPhee, J. (2013). Stable water isotope variation in a Central Andean watershed dominated by glacier and snowmelt. Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., N. 17, pp.1035–1050, doi:10.5194/hess-17-1035-2013.Ohlanders, N., Rodriguez, M. and McPhee, J. (2013). Stable water isotope variation in a Central Andean watershed dominated by glacier and snowmelt. Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., N. 17, pp.1035–1050, doi:10.5194/hess-17-1035-2013.Popovnin, V. and Petrakov, D. (2005). Lednik Dzhankuat za minuvshie 34 goda (1967/68–2000/01) [Dzhankuat glacier in the past 34 years (1967/68–2000/01)]. Materialy Glyatsiol. Issled., N. 98, pp. 167–174. (in Russian with English summary).Popovnin, V. and Petrakov, D. (2005). Lednik Dzhankuat za minuvshie 34 goda (1967/68–2000/01) [Dzhankuat glacier in the past 34 years (1967/68–2000/01)]. Materialy Glyatsiol. Issled., N. 98, pp. 167–174. (in Russian with English summary).Rets, E. and Kireeva, M. (2010). Hazardous hydrological processes in mountainous areas under the impact of recent climate change: case study of Terek River basin. Global Change: Facing Risks and Threats to Water Resources: proc. of the Sixth World FRIEND Conference. IAHS Publ. 340. pp. 126−134.Rets, E. and Kireeva, M. (2010). Hazardous hydrological processes in mountainous areas under the impact of recent climate change: case study of Terek River basin. Global Change: Facing Risks and Threats to Water Resources: proc. of the Sixth World FRIEND Conference. IAHS Publ. 340. pp. 126−134.Rets, E., Kireeva, M. and Loshakova, N. (2014). Ispolzovanie teplo-balansovoy modeli dlya issledovaniya osobennostey formirovania stoka lednikovoy reki (na primere basseyna ruch.Djankuat) [Energy balance model application in studies of the glacial river runoff formation (the Djankuat basin case study)]. Eurasian Union of Scientists (ESU) № IV, pp.97–103. (in Russian).Rets, E., Kireeva, M. and Loshakova, N. (2014). Ispolzovanie teplo-balansovoy modeli dlya issledovaniya osobennostey formirovania stoka lednikovoy reki (na primere basseyna ruch.Djankuat) [Energy balance model application in studies of the glacial river runoff formation (the Djankuat basin case study)]. Eurasian Union of Scientists (ESU) № IV, pp.97–103. (in Russian).Semenov, V. and Korshunov, A. (2008). Rajonirovanie territorii Rossii po opasnosti vysokih navodnenij v svyazi s izmeneniyami klimata [Zoning of the territory of Russia in terms of dangerous river floods in the context of recent climate change]. Upravlenie Vodnoresursnymi Sistemami V Ekstremalnykh Usloviiakh: Mezhdunarodnaia Konferentsiia, 4-5 Iiunia 2008 G., Moskva Sbornik Dokladov [Water Resource Systems Management Under Extreme Conditions International Conference, 4-5 June 2008, Moscow Conference Proceedings], pp.142-145. (in Russian).Semenov, V. and Korshunov, A. (2008). Rajonirovanie territorii Rossii po opasnosti vysokih navodnenij v svyazi s izmeneniyami klimata [Zoning of the territory of Russia in terms of dangerous river floods in the context of recent climate change]. Upravlenie Vodnoresursnymi Sistemami V Ekstremalnykh Usloviiakh: Mezhdunarodnaia Konferentsiia, 4-5 Iiunia 2008 G., Moskva Sbornik Dokladov [Water Resource Systems Management Under Extreme Conditions International Conference, 4-5 June 2008, Moscow Conference Proceedings], pp.142-145. (in Russian).Seynova, I. (2008). Climatic and glaciological conditions of debris flow formation in the Central Caucasus at a stage of regress of the little ice age. In: Debris Flows: Disasters, Risk, Forecast, Protection (ed. by S. S. Chernomorets). Pyatigorsk, Russia, pp.121–124.Seynova, I. (2008). Climatic and glaciological conditions of debris flow formation in the Central Caucasus at a stage of regress of the little ice age. In: Debris Flows: Disasters, Risk, Forecast, Protection (ed. by S. S. Chernomorets). Pyatigorsk, Russia, pp.121–124.Sklash, M. and Farvolden, R.N. (1979). The role of groundwater in storm runoff. J. Hydrol., vol. 43, N. 1–4, pp. 45–65.Sklash, M. and Farvolden, R.N. (1979). The role of groundwater in storm runoff. J. Hydrol., vol. 43, N. 1–4, pp. 45–65.Solomina, O., Bushueva, I., Dolgova, E., Jomelli, V., Alexandrin, M., Mikhalenko, V. and Matskovsky V. (2016). Glacier variations and high resolution paleolimatic reconstructions in the Northern Caucasus in the past 500 years. Global and Planetary Change, vol. 140, pp. 28-58. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gloplacha.2016.02.008Solomina, O., Bushueva, I., Dolgova, E., Jomelli, V., Alexandrin, M., Mikhalenko, V. and Matskovsky V. (2016). Glacier variations and high resolution paleolimatic reconstructions in the Northern Caucasus in the past 500 years. Global and Planetary Change, vol. 140, pp. 28-58. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gloplacha.2016.02.008Vasil’chuk, Yu.K., Budantseva, N., Vasil’chuk, A. and Chizhova, Ju. (2013). Isotopnie metody v geografii. Chast’ 3. Geochimiya stabilnih isotopov atmosphery i gidrosphery [Isotope Ratios in the Environment. Part 3: Stable isotope geochemistry of atmosphere and hydrosphere]. M.: Geographicheskiy fakultet MGU. [Moscow, Department of Geography, Lomonosov Moscow State University]. 216 p. (in Russian).Vasil’chuk, Yu.K., Budantseva, N., Vasil’chuk, A. and Chizhova, Ju. (2013). Isotopnie metody v geografii. Chast’ 3. Geochimiya stabilnih isotopov atmosphery i gidrosphery [Isotope Ratios in the Environment. Part 3: Stable isotope geochemistry of atmosphere and hydrosphere]. M.: Geographicheskiy fakultet MGU. [Moscow, Department of Geography, Lomonosov Moscow State University]. 216 p. (in Russian).Vasil’chuk, Yu., Rets, E., Chizhova, Ju., Tokarev, I., Frolova, N., Budantseva, N.A., Kireeva, M.B. and Loshakova, N.A. (2016). Hydrograph Separation of the Dzhankuat River, North Caucasus, with the use of Isotope Methods. Water Resources, Vol. 43, №6, pp. 847–861. doi: 10.1134/S0097807816060087Vasil’chuk, Yu., Rets, E., Chizhova, Ju., Tokarev, I., Frolova, N., Budantseva, N.A., Kireeva, M.B. and Loshakova, N.A. (2016). Hydrograph Separation of the Dzhankuat River, North Caucasus, with the use of Isotope Methods. Water Resources, Vol. 43, №6, pp. 847–861. doi: 10.1134/S0097807816060087Williams, D., Cable, J. and Ogle, K. (2009). Tracing glacial ice and snow meltwater with isotopes. WRP final report, May 1, 2009, 9 p. Source: http://www.uwyo.edu/owp/_files/finalreportp19.pdfWilliams, D., Cable, J. and Ogle, K. (2009). Tracing glacial ice and snow meltwater with isotopes. WRP final report, May 1, 2009, 9 p. Source: http://www.uwyo.edu/owp/_files/finalreportp19.pdfWang, X., Li, Z., Ross, E., Tayier, R. and Zhou, P. (2015). Characteristics of water isotopes and hydrograph separation during the spring flood period in Yushugou River basin, Eastern Tianshans, China. J. Earth System Sci., vol. 124, N. 1, pp. 115–124.Wang, X., Li, Z., Ross, E., Tayier, R. and Zhou, P. (2015). Characteristics of water isotopes and hydrograph separation during the spring flood period in Yushugou River basin, Eastern Tianshans, China. J. Earth System Sci., vol. 124, N. 1, pp. 115–124.Yde, J. and Knudsen, N. (2004).The importance of oxygen isotope provenance in relation to solute content of bulk meltwaters at Imersuaq Glacier, West Greenland. Hydrol. Process., N.18, pp.125–139.Yde, J. and Knudsen, N. (2004).The importance of oxygen isotope provenance in relation to solute content of bulk meltwaters at Imersuaq Glacier, West Greenland. Hydrol. Process., N.18, pp.125–139.Yde J., Knudsen N., Steffensen J., Carrivick J., Hasholt B., Ingeman-Nielsen T., Kronborg C., Larsen N., Mernild S., Oerter H., Roberts D. and Russell A. (2016). Stable oxygen isotope variability in two contrasting glacier river catchments in Greenland. Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 20, pp.1197–1210.Yde J., Knudsen N., Steffensen J., Carrivick J., Hasholt B., Ingeman-Nielsen T., Kronborg C., Larsen N., Mernild S., Oerter H., Roberts D. and Russell A. (2016). Stable oxygen isotope variability in two contrasting glacier river catchments in Greenland. Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 20, pp.1197–1210.

The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest present.