Effect of Forest Fires on the State of Rivers in Zaigraevskii Raion, the Republic of Buryatia

Abstract

Forest fires are a significant factor of the hydrological and hydrochemical regime of rivers. Forest-fire statistics and the characteristics of river network were used to choose observation sites of the state of rivers in Zaigraevskii raion, the Republic of Buryatia. Inverse correlation was found to exist between the amount of precipitation and the number of forest fires. A relationship was established between the anomalous characteristics of water level and discharge in the Bryanka R. in 2012 and the stress forest-fire situation in the previous year. The results of macro- and microcomponent analyses of water are given, demonstrating an increase in river chemical runoff with an increase in the pyrogenic damage to drainage basins.