SUSPENDED AND DISSOLVED MATTER FLUXES IN THE UPPER SELENGA RIVER BASIN
Abstract
We synthesized recent field-based estimates of the dissolved ions (K+ Na+ Ca2+ Mg2+ Cl- SO42- HCO3-), biogens (NO3-, NO2-, PO43-)(C, mg/l), heavy metal (Fesum, Mn, Pb) and dissolved load (DL, kg/day), as far as suspended sediment concentration (SSC, mg/l) and suspended load (SL, kg/day) along upper Selenga river and its tributaries based on literature review and preliminary results of our 2011 field campaign. The crucial task of this paper is to provide full review of Russian, Mongolian and English-language literature which concern the matter fluxes in the upper part of Selenga river (within Mongolia). The exist estimates are compared with locations of 3 main matter sources within basin: mining and industry, river-bank erosion and slope wash. The heaviest increase of suspended and dissolved matter transport is indicated along Tuul-Orkhon river system (right tributary of the Selenga River where Mongolia capital Ulanbaatar, gold mine Zaamar and few other mines are located). In measurement campaigns conducted in 2005, 2006 and 2008 the increase directly after the Zaamar mining site was between 167 to 383 kg/day for Fe, between 15 and 5260 kg/day for Mn. Our field campaign indicated increase of suspended load along Tuul river from 4280 kg/day at the upstream point to 712000 kg/day below Ulaanbaatar and Zaamar. The results provide evidence on a potential connection between increased dissolved and suspended matter fluxes in transboundary rivers and zones of matter supply at industrial and mining centers, along eroded river banks and pastured lands. The gaps in the understanding of matter load fluxes within this basin are discussed with regards to determining further goals of hydrological and geochemical surveys.
About the Authors
Sergey ChalovRussian Federation
Research associate, Faculty of Geography, M.V.Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia; Leninskie gory, 1, 1199911
Aleksandr Zavadsky
Russian Federation
Senior scientist, Faculty of Geography, M.V.Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia; Leninskie gory, 1, 1199911
Ekaterina Belozerova
Russian Federation
Postgraduate student, Faculty of Geography, M.V.Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia; Leninskie gory, 1, 1199911
Mariya Bulacheva
Russian Federation
Postgraduate student, Faculty of Geography, M.V.Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia; Leninskie gory, 1, 1199911
Jerker Jarsjö
Sweden
Associate professor, Department of Physical Geography and Quaternary Geology, Stockholm University, SE-106 91, Stockholm, Sweden
Josefin Thorslund
Sweden
M.Sc. student, Department of Physical Geography and Quaternary Geology, Stockholm University, SE-106 91, Stockholm, Sweden
Jambaljav Yamkhin
Mongolia
Senior scientist, Institute of Geography, Mongolian Academy of Sciences; Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, Amariin gudamj 1
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Review
For citations:
Chalov S., Zavadsky A., Belozerova E., Bulacheva M., Jarsjö J., Thorslund J., Yamkhin J. SUSPENDED AND DISSOLVED MATTER FLUXES IN THE UPPER SELENGA RIVER BASIN. GEOGRAPHY, ENVIRONMENT, SUSTAINABILITY. 2012;5(2):78-94. https://doi.org/10.24057/2071-9388-2012-5-2-78-94
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