Ecogeochemical condition of surface waters in Katun River basin (Gorny Altai)

Research of the ecogeochemical condition of surface waters in the Katun River basin is made. The initial information was the data of long-term observation of the Russian Federal Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring Service (posts at the Katun River in Tyungur and Srostki villages) and materials received by authors in 19972012. The objects of research were the Katun River from Small Yaloman village up to Verkhkatunskoye village, the Chuya, the Sema, the Ursul, the Chibit, the Belgumen, the Tyungur, and the Aktru Rivers, the Vodopadny, Left and Small Aktru glaciers and also ground waters of the Quaternary and the Cambrian sediments. The researches included: 1) field works on selection and preservation of samples of river and glacial waters for the further definition of their chemical composition in the accredited hydrogeochemical laboratory of Tomsk Polytechnic University (TPU), organic substances - in the Institute of Petroleum Chemistry SB RAS, definition in field conditions of concentration of quickly changing components; 2) generalization and statistical analysis of the received materials. The analysis of the received information has shown the following. First, the ecogeochemical condition of surface waters in the Katun River basin is characterized as satisfactory and formed mainly under the influence of natural factors. Second, the basic features of the mechanism of formation of the ecogeochemical condition of surface waters consist in the following: 1) in mountain-glacier areas there is a long-term accumulation of atmospheric precipitation such as snow and ice; 2) during the seasonal melting of glaciers and snow the river network receives a lot of fresh and ultrafresh water capable to dissolve a plenty of minerals and organic-mineral substances; thus, in the water environment the content of the biogenic and other substances promoting development of microflora grows, therefore, the concentration of organic substance and products of its transformation increases; 3) with longer time of interaction between the water and the minerals and organic-mineral substances the chemical composition of water is stabilized, poorly soluble substances are separated from the solution and microelements are sorbed on particles of river sediments and underground waters enter the river system; 4) as a result of rainfalls and abnormal snow cover formation there is an incidental additional deviation from hydrochemical composition. The influence of anthropogenic factors on the quality of superficial waters in the Katun River basin and in mountain-glacier areas is connected with the atmospheric transfer of substances of anthropogenic and nature-anthropogenic origin. Besides, local pollution of river and underground waters by organic and biogenic substances in villages is also possible.

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