The Large Rivers of the Past in West Siberia: Unknown Hydrological Regimen

The hydrological regime of large meandering rivers the West Siberian Plain in Late Pleniglacial/Late Glacial was reconstructed from hydraulic geometry palaeochannels. main tools for reconstruction were power law relationship between channel bankfull width and mean maximum discharge, taken downstream direction, relationships peak flood discharge contributing basin area. Reconstructed values daily surface runoff depth during snow thaw period 60–75 mm/day north plain with tundra sparse forest 20–40 south periglacial steppe. entirety Siberia about 46 mm, which is more than five times greater modern value. Annual river calculated ratio annual depths, estimated region’s analogues ancient landscapes climates. Total flow Ob into ocean 1000 km3. This three current same basin, so a significant source fresh water to Arctic Ocean last deglaciation.