Structure of the River Delta and Salinity of the Closing Reservoir.

On the basis of theoretic-probability analogies, a quantitative characteristic of diversity of the river delta, the variance, is proposed. The series of computer experiments with a hydrological model demonstrate that an increase in the variance of the delta structure reduces the intraannual amplitude of fluctuations in salinity of the closing reservoir. The simulations for the Don River and Taganrog Bay (the Sea of Azov) used as the closing reservoir show that modern climatic change and anthropogenic factors reduce the proper functioning of the River Don arms. Therefore, there is a prospect of decrease in the variance of river runoff and, hence, destabilization and increase in the variability of salinity in the closing reservoir. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]