Forest harvesting influence on river runoff in the Lower Angara region

摘要

Siberian Rivers account for a great part of water discharge into the Arctic Ocean. Along with the regional climate and the presence permafrost, hydrological processes occurring in catchments of the boreal taiga rivers are controlled by forest harvesting levels. Forests of the Lower Angara region have been harvested extensively over the past fifty years. As a result, forest area has been reduced and forest age structure and composition have changed. These changes are reflected in the natural water budget structure and hydrological regimes of areas. The study revealed that hydrological effects of forest logging conducted in Siberia characterized by a highly continental climate and, hence, severe forest growing conditions differ from those observed for the European Russia.