INRTU and Nanjing University Intend to Develop Hydrological Projects

A delegation from the Faculty of Geography of Nanjing University, China, paid a working visit to INRTU. The parties discussed perspectives for cooperation in hydrology.

The guests were welcomed by Alexander Kononov, Vice-Rector for Research of INRTU, and Anna Melenteva, Head of the International Affairs Department. Hydrogeology laboratory was presented by Larisa Auzina, head of laboratory, and Maria Danilova, senior researcher.

Associate Professor Qian Wang made a presentation on hydrological changes depending on the characteristics of relief and climate. He stressed that intensive land use and heavy rains accelerated the movement of atmospheric rivers. In an ever-changing environment there is a need to monitor the underground and surface hydrospheres. Qian Wang and his colleagues are exploring the Yangtze River. The research is based on long-term regime observations, current statistics and hydrological models. The results of scientific projects are regularly published by scientists of Nanjing University in industry journals.

Qian Wang, addressing the INRTU staff, emphasized that the issue of river flow change in the Pan-Arctic region is relevant for the two universities.

Larisa Auzina, Head of the Hydrogeology Laboratory, presented the projects run by INRTU. She told about the rise of subterranean waters in the Irkutsk Region and the Republic of Buryatia. According to the associate professor, the flooding in Eastern Siberia is caused by atmospheric precipitation, the dynamics of which are associated with seasonal variations and global climate change, as well as by anthropogenic impact. All this leads to the emergence of heavy floods, local increase in seismicity, contamination of groundwater, soil and ground, instability of structures located at depth. The ongoing processes are well illustrated by flooding in the valley of the Selenga River and in cities. A significant indicator of climate change is the permafrost degradation in the cavities of the Pre-Olkhon Region, which is also monitored at the students’ Chernorud field station.

The delegation of Nanjing University handed over the logo of their university depicted on silk to our colleagues. As a gift to the guests of honor, Larisa Auzina gave the two publications compiled on the basis of the results of the joint expeditionary research within the 'Baikal is the Pearl of the World' Project – ‘International Field Practice on Baikal’ and ‘Expeditionary Research on Baikal. Scientific Terminology. English-Chinese-Russian Dictionary’.

Photos by Arseny Chelmariov