Changes of Small Rivers Channels in the Kudma Basin and Their Relationship With Factors of Channel Processes (based on stationary observations from 2010 to 2023)

Abstract

Changes of small rivers channels occur in conditions of low water runoff, significant dependence of morphology and morphometry on local factors, sensitivity to anthropogenic impacts. This causes low intensity of bank erosion and the emergence of diversity of its relationships with factors of channel processes, which complicates the analysis of channel deformations. Field monitoring helps to solve this problem. The article examines the methods, analysis techniques and some results of monitoring of bank erosion at 15 sites of small rivers channels in the Kudma basin for the period from 2010 to 2023. The measurement data show a significant spread in the values of indicators of erosion rates: length of eroded bank varies from 10 to 80 m/year, eroded area – from 2 to 15 m2/year, average rate of bank retreat is from 0.1 to 0.3 m/year, maximum – 0.4 to 1.0 m/year. Identification of relationships with factors of channel processes (water runoff, geological and geomorphological conditions, morphodynamic type of channel, local conditions) made it possible to divide the studied channels into groups with qualitative differences in the manifestation of morphodynamics. On straight channel the development of bank erosion is largely determined by local conditions. The dependencies of erosion indicators are most clearly manifested on wide-floodplain meanders. The area of erosion has the closest relationship with the forming conditions.