ESTIMATION OF WATER LOSS FOR TOTAL EVAPORATION FROM THE SURFACE OF PONDS AND RESERVOIRS IN THE INGULETS RIVER BASIN

Keywords: Inhulets river basin, evaporation, climate change, artificial objects, ponds and reservoirs, water balance, water resources management

Abstract

The article considers the problem of water loss due to the evaporation from the surface of ponds and reservoirs under conditions of intense anthropogenic load and climate changes, focusing on the Ingulets river basin as an example of the one of the most regulated river systems in the steppe zone of Ukraine. Taking into account the growing shortage of water resources, especially after the explosion of the Kakhovka HPP, the relevance of studying evaporation from water surfaces of artificial reservoirs in the southern regions is increasing. Estimating water losses due to the evaporation from the surface of ponds and reservoirs in the Ingulets River basin is an important aspect of water resources management in the region. Available data on the areas of artificial water bodies and average evaporation rates were used to calculate total water losses. Based on a spatial analysis of over 1,200 water bodies in the Inhulets river basin, including an assessment of the areas and volumes of reservoirs and ponds, a quantitative assessment of water evaporation from their surface was carried out for 1961-1990 and 1991-2023. The research methodology is based on the processing of long term meteorological data from local weather stations, as well as the use of satellite and archival information from available sites. Climatic conditions in the studied region demonstrate a steady warming trend: over the past 30 years, the average annual temperature in the Ingulets river basin has increased by an average of 1,3°C with slight decreases in precipitation over the studied period. It has been found that under modern conditions, evaporation can exceed the inflow from atmospheric precipitation, which turns artificial reservoirs into active factors in reducing the water balance of the Ingulets river basin. In 1991-2023, evaporation rates from the surface of water bodies increased by 13,7% (107 mm) for the Znamyanka weather station, by 7,6% (68 mm) for the Komisarivka weather station, and by 9,1% (88 mm) for the Kryvyi Rih weather station. Particular attention is paid to assessing the water management efficiency of the functioning of such facilities in the context of environmental safety, hydrological stability, and adaptation to the climate changes. The obtained results are important for the development of regional water resources management strategies, improvement of methods for calculating water losses, and ecological and economic optimization of the water fund structure in small and medium-sized river basins.

Author Biographies

V. P. Kovalchuk, Institute of Water Problems and Land Reclamation of NAAS, Kyiv, 03022, Ukraine

Dr. of Technical Sciences

O. M. Nechai, Institute of Water Problems and Land Reclamation of NAAS, Kyiv, 03022, Ukraine

Ph.D.

H. A. Balykhina, National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine

Ph.D.

О. P. Voitovych, Institute of Water Problems and Land Reclamation of NAAS, Kyiv, 03022, Ukraine

Ph.D.

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Published
2025-07-02
How to Cite
Kovalchuk, V., Nechai, O., Balykhina, H., & VoitovychО. (2025). ESTIMATION OF WATER LOSS FOR TOTAL EVAPORATION FROM THE SURFACE OF PONDS AND RESERVOIRS IN THE INGULETS RIVER BASIN. Land Reclamation and Water Management, (1), 36 - 50. https://doi.org/10.31073/mivg202501-416

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