Optical Spectral Tools for Diagnosing Water Media Quality: A Case Study on the Angara/Yenisey River System in the Siberian Region

Abstract

This paper presents the results of spectral optical measurements of hydrochemical characteristics in the Angara/Yenisei river system (AYRS) extending from Lake Baikal to the estuary of the Yenisei River. For the first time, such large-scale observations were made as part of a joint American-Russian expedition in July and August of 1995, when concentrations of radionuclides, heavy metals, and oil hydrocarbons were assessed. The results of this study were obtained as part of the Russian hydrochemical expedition in July and August, 2019. For in situ measurements and sampling at 14 sampling sites, three optical spectral instruments and appropriate software were used, including big data processing algorithms and an AYRS simulation model. The results show that the water quality in AYRS has improved slightly due to the reasonably reduced anthropogenic industrial impact. Chemical concentrations in water have been found to vary along the Angara River depending on the location of the dams. The results of in situ measurements and modeling evaluations are given. To overcome the uncertainties in the data caused by the large monitoring area, it is recommended to use the combined AYRS simulation model and the universal 8-channel spectrophotometer installed on a fixed platform for continuous monitoring.