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THE CHANGES OF LAKE HYDROLOGICAL CYCLE: A CASE STUDY OF LAKE USMA IN LATVIA
Abstract
Lake Usma is unique with hundred years' old nature reserve and Natura 2000 territories in one part of the lake and developing the tourism industry in other part of the lake. During last ninety years, the water level of Lake Usma increased for approximately one meter, which caused coast erosion, changed soil ground water level in large territories around it and it is regarded to be a major factor for lake ecosystem functioning. To find sustainable management solution of Lake Usma, there is a necessity to understand causes of hydrological cycle changes. The aim of this study is to evaluate an anthropogenic impact of Lake Usma hydrological regime. In this research work to test the impact of anthropogenic factors, the lake water level data are divided into three separated periods: the first time period (1927 пїЅ 1960) before a significant anthropogenic impact, the second period (1961 пїЅ 1990) after amelioration and while constructed eel weir (1966) and the third period (2002 пїЅ 2003, 2011 пїЅ 2014) after hydroelectric station started its work. The first-period of monthly lake level data shows typical North Europe lake hydrological cycle, with the highest level at the end of April or at the beginning of May. Mean water level reaches about 20.70 m B.S. and minimum monthly water level пїЅ 20.20 m B.S. The second period shows the rise of water level. The highest water level observed at the beginning and the end of the year, because of high precipitation in this time. Mean monthly water level reaches about 21.10 m B.S. and minimum water level about 20.60 m B.S. In the third period there is observed the highest water level on March and in the summer the gap between maximum, mean, minimum and quartiles is limited, which shows very slight level amplitude. It indicates that hydrological cycle is changed. Mean water level is still about 21.10 m B.S., but minimum monthly water level reaches 20.80 m B.S. The result shows a significant impact of anthropogenic and natural factors.
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