Change in the River Water Regime of the Ural River Basin

Abstract

Based on analysis of the annual and seasonal variability of river runoff, the specificity of the water regime of the Ural River basin is determined. It is established that in recent decades there has been a trend to the redistribution of seasonal runoff expressed in an increase in the share of winter low-water runoff. Based on analysis of the difference integral curves, phases of different water content are revealed; the prevalence of common-mode runoff fluctuations indicates the leading role of climatic factors of runoff formation. An important feature of the regime of the rivers in the steppe regions is the intra-annual variability of runoff, which forms extreme hydrological situations (low water or high water). The results obtained should be considered in organizing cost-effective and environmentally safe water use in the Ural River basin.