Home – Home – Jornals – Geography and natural resources 2016 number 5S

The methodology of studying the streamflow formation mechanism based on using natural chemical tracers is discussed. Presented are the results from adapting and testing the technique for separation of runoff hydrograph according to genetic components (sources of alimentation) built upon the use of natural chemical tracers in term of the End-Member Mixing Analysis (EMMA) model. By using the procedure of EMMA analysis, we generated two complex model tracers, each of which representing a linear combination of initial chemical tracers. Its core is comprised of the method of Principal Component Analysis. The methodology was used within the program of experimental investigations on a small basin of the Laninskii creek flowing nearby the coast of Lake Baikal. The contributions from the sources of alimentation of the creek’s runoff are estimated. They include the rain waters with an insignificant contribution, the waters of the subsurface soil horizon having a tendency toward a predominance at the low-water period, and so-called aufeis waters making a significant contribution during the flood formation. Prevailing ions of anion and cation composition, the value of electrical conductivity and content of total organic carbon can be used as reliable tracers. The modeling results are in good agreement with the qualitative views concerning the runoff formation on the study territory. A broad range of possibilities and the prospects of the procedural tools of tracer hydrology are demonstrated.