Environmental Conditions Of Zakamensk Town (Dzhida River Basin Hotspot)

• Main Authors: Endon Zh. Garmaev, Anatoly I. Kulikov, Bair Z. Tsydypov, Bator V. Sodnomov, Alexander A. Ayurzhanaev
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Lomonosov Moscow State University 2019-10-01
• Series: Geography, Environment, Sustainability
• Subjects: erosion; deflation; residual soils; water streams; erosion rainfall potential; relief erosion index
• Online Access: https://ges.rgo.ru/jour/article/view/839
• ISSN: 2071-9388; 2542-1565

Ecological problems of Zakamensk town are associated with sand deposits that were formed as a result of mining activities of former Dzhidinsky tungstenmolybdenum plant. Sands are accumulated in large quantities and they contain dangerous concentrations of heavy metals. Desertification in an urbanized area is manifested locally, but it differs from agricultural desertification by a profound and comprehensive destructive change in the components of the environment. Maps of soils, vegetation, types of lands, as well as ecological zoning maps of Zakamensk were created. The basis for the creation of electronic maps using GIS were stock, archive and own materials, topographic maps and remote sensing data. Urbanized desertification in Zakamensk is caused by chemical contamination of sandy eluvium, the spreading of pollutants by water flows and wind currents. Erosion occurs both in the form of flat flushing and linear erosion. The most intensive is gully erosion. Quantitative parameters of temporal variability of the erosive rainfall potential for the Zakamensk town are received. The quantitative characteristics of loads of pollutants on the territory of the town are determined on the basis of the erosion-deflation models. The calculations showed that 204 tons/ha of contaminated sand annually falls into the settlement area with water-erosion flows (Pb – 3.7 tons, W – 4.3 tons). Moreover, active wind activity led to the deposition of more metals (Pb – 5.6 tons, W – 6.5 tons) in the town.