DISTRIBUTION AND MIGRATION OF CHEMICAL ELEMENTS IN THE MINOR RIVER BASINS IN THE WEST OF THE SMOLENSK-MOSCOW UPLAND AS AN INDICATOR FOR ASSESSING LANDSCAPE STABILITY

Abstract

Hydrological objects link the landscape into connected basins of the paragenetic system through energy and matter migration. It determines the relevance of geochemical monitoring of minor river basins as a condition for designing an effective ecological framework for the territory. We tried to identify regularities of the spatial distribution and migration of chemical elements in the basins of minor rivers in the west of the Smolensk-Moscow Upland. The method of cross-spectrum geochemical analysis helped us to study the river basins of the Vop-Dnieper hydrological region. We compiled 47 complex landscape descriptions. Thus, the maximum calcium and movable magnesium cations values are determined in the super-aqual landscapes of the river basins under study. In the minor river valleys, we find outwash of organic compounds from the outer layers of the geochemical landscape. The research determines the maximum values of the studied elements in the soils of super-aqual landscapes through migration with subsurface and surface run-off. The minimum values are in the eluvial landscape, where there is a partial loss of geochemically movable forms of metals, which increases due to acid and weak-acid reactions of the environment. Partial outwash of metals, in particular copper and zinc, happens to organic compounds of soils. Trans-eluvial landscape loses trace elements. However, some of them are retained due to falling out of solutions and suspensions. Calculations have shown that copper (conjugation coefficient is 2–3) and zinc (conjugation coefficient is approximately 2) are most actively involved in the migration. In contrast, manganese is less active. The research results present an assessment of the features related to the landscape-geochemical differentiation of the territory of the west of the Smolensk-Moscow Upland from the upper areas of watersheds to the lower elements of landscape-geochemical catenae, including simple drainage basins of minor rivers. The research shows that the active migration of chemical elements characterizes the minor river basins. They are indicators of the geochemical state of the landscape. One can use the research results to assess a landscape-ecological condition, improve an environmental management system, and optimize the natural environment.

Keywords

• minor rivers
• ecological framework
• geochemical conjugation
• migration of elements
• elementary landscape