selenga river delta
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Abstract The materials of complex interdisciplinary studies of the relief forming in different periods of water availability in the Selenga River delta are presented since the technogenic level rise of Lake Baikal. Four water and sediment runoff anomalies, synchronous with water level fluctuations in the Lake are identified. The current boundaries of the Selenga River mouth area (RMA), floodplain complex, flooding territories in the maximum water ability conditions are identified. The RMA covers the territory from the main channel bifurcation nod to Lake Baikal, includes subaerial and subaqueous parts of the protruding delta, the interaction zone fluvial processes and different-aged terraces deposits and adjacent lagoons Proval and Cherkalov Sor. Semi-empirical models and data on the water runoff and sediment yield are presented.

<p>Lake Baikal, located in eastern Russia, is the oldest (25 million years) and the deepest (~1800 meters) lake in the world. There are many rivers flowing into the Lake Baikal (~ 365 rivers), of which the Selenga River is the most important one being responsible for almost 55% of the runoff water into the system and also 60% of the transported sediments. As the hydrological changes of the river and its delta enormously alter the neighbouring area, it is of utmost importance to explore the dynamics of change in terms of flow magnitude, paths and fluvial geomorphology, and the related tipping points defining different states. The questions this study aims to answer are: What are the fluvial geomorphological and hydrological changes? What fluvial geomorphological tipping points can be identified during the last 34 years and what are the discharge and climatic conditions that induce them? In this study, we use the Global Surface Water Dataset (GSWD) to analyze the changes in the river’s stream network. With these products, we assess changes in several fluvial geomorphological proxies (e.g., sinuosity, fractal dimension, meandering characteristics, planform information) and identify possible tipping points. We relate these changes to different hydrological and climatic conditions such as precipitation, river discharge and Lake Baikal water level. We find evident changes in the meandering behaviour and flow path of the Selenga River tributaries in the Delta. The number of oxbow lakes based and corresponding size distribution has varied in time, and evident flow path changes occur that seem to be related to flooding periods, and there appears to be a consistent relationship between meandering and the river discharge variability. These results enable policymakers to understand different contributing factors altering the Selenga River Delta and ultimately leading to better decisions to manage the effects of these changes in the area.</p>