Isotopic Parameters of the Mizhirgi River (Caucasus): Four-Component Hydrograph Separation

Yu. N. Chizhova; A. D. Krekova; S. S. Kutuzov; V. N. Mikhalenko; I. I. Lavrentiev; M. A. Vorobiev; M. V. Vinogradova

doi:10.31857/S2076673425020037

Isotopic Parameters of the Mizhirgi River (Caucasus): Four-Component Hydrograph Separation

Yu. N. Chizhova, A. D. Krekova, S. S. Kutuzov, V. N. Mikhalenko, I. I. Lavrentiev, M. A. Vorobiev, M. V. Vinogradova

https://doi.org/10.31857/S2076673425020037

Full Text:

Abstract

The processes of river flow formation in the glacier basin were studied using stable isotope geochemistry methods. During the ablation period, isotopic and hydrochemical characteristics of the components involved in the formation of river runoff were determined for the Mizhirgi River within the glacial basin, and isotopic dissection of the hydrograph was performed. The study was performed for a short observation period at a hydrological post in the middle of the ablation season from July 6th to July 16th of 2021. Samples of Mizhirgi River water at gouge in 750 m from the glacier tongue were collected as well as precipitation and glacial ice samples on the tongue. Samples of glacial ice were also collected near the Katyn-Tau summit at an altitude of 4750 m in the upper part of the Bezengi Wall, obtained by ice core drilling. The use of two isotopic and one hydrochemical tracer showed the promise of using these methods to study glacier melt patterns. The share of glacial ice melt ranged from 39 to 59%, the share of snow melt water near the feeding boundary varied from 8 to 27%, and an insignificant contribution was made by direct precipitation, which entered the river flow mainly by infiltration through the ground.

Keywords

oxygen isotopic composition, deuterium excess, river runoff, glaciers, Caucasus,

About the Authors

Yu. N. Chizhova

Institute of Geography Geology of Ore Deposits, Petrography, Mineralogy and Geochemistry, Russian Academy of Science ; Institute of Geography, Russian Academy of Science
Russian Federation
Moscow

A. D. Krekova

Higher School of Economics
Russian Federation
Moscow

S. S. Kutuzov

School of Earth Sciences, The Ohio State University
United States
Columbus

V. N. Mikhalenko

Institute of Geography, Russian Academy of Science
Russian Federation
Moscow

I. I. Lavrentiev

Institute of Geography, Russian Academy of Science
Russian Federation
Moscow

M. A. Vorobiev

Institute of Geography, Russian Academy of Science
Russian Federation
Moscow

M. V. Vinogradova

Institute of Geography, Russian Academy of Science
Russian Federation
Moscow

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Supplementary files

For citation: Chizhova Y.N., Krekova A.D., Kutuzov S.S., Mikhalenko V.N., Lavrentiev I.I., Vorobiev M.A., Vinogradova M.V. Isotopic Parameters of the Mizhirgi River (Caucasus): Four-Component Hydrograph Separation. Ice and Snow. 2025;65(2):218-233. https://doi.org/10.31857/S2076673425020037

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ISSN 2076-6734 (Print)
ISSN 2412-3765 (Online)

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