Morphological characteristics of the small urban water bodies of Kaliningrad on the example of the Letniy and Zimniy ponds system
- DOI
- 10.5922/vestniknat-2025-2-7
- Pages
- 117-129
Abstract
This study examines the morphometric characteristics of the Letny — Zimny pond system in Kaliningrad as factors potentially influencing the ecological condition of small artificial water bodies. Based on hydroacoustic surveying conducted with the "AsCor" software-hardware complex, which simultaneously recorded current depth and geographic coordinates of the surveyed bottom areas in real time, bottom relief maps of the ponds were created for the first time. Key morphometric parameters were determined, including the surface area, basin shape, enclosed water volume, shoreline length and shoreline development index, width, depths (average and maximum), catchment area, specific runoff index, among others. The investigated water bodies are classified as excavation ponds, characterized by small size, shallow depth, and limited catchment areas. It was noted that such ecosystems may experience short-term fluctuations in water levels and hydrochemical characteristics, driven by both natural factors (precipitation, groundwater) and anthropogenic influences (flow regulation). The study emphasizes that maintaining favorable ecological conditions in these ponds is possible through proper management and development, taking into account the basin morphology and the biogenic load originating from the catchment area.