Analysis of the dynamics of abrasion shores at the Tsimlyansk reservoir with the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV)

The paper shows the prospects of using the unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for the monitoring of reservoir shores particularly in the absence of observation points of the state monitoring network of water bodies. The abrasion activity consequences, such as the retreat of cliff edge and the reduction of land area, were assessed for several sections of the Tsimlyansk reserve shores, applying the mutual linkage of aerial photos by reference points and successive interval parallel consideration of heterochronous orthophotomaps.

The first method, providing observation accuracy within 10 cm, made it possible to identify periods of cliff edge retreat by 5-30 cm resulting in land loss of 2.8 to 22 thou. m² and stabilization periods when the position of the cliff edge changed little if at all.

The second method allowed the reliable identification of time intervals with active exogenous geological processes resulting in the cliff edge retreat by a meter or more.

It is shown that the most considerable changes in the shore slope configuration took place in the region of Ovchinnikov and Vesyoly farmsteads and Nagavskaya stanitsa as the result of the storm in May 2018 under N.W.L. (Normal Water Level). At the same period, the retreat of shores by 5-10 m probably occurred at some locations in the region of "Vinzavod” Garden Partnership and at the shore section from the eastern cape of Zhukovsky Bay to the Baklanovskaya village.

It is found that the coastline stabilization coincides with the periods of the reservoir water level at 1-2 m below N.W.L. and the absence of heavy precipitation. During these periods, the intensity of exogenous geological processes decreases noticeably. The main forms of their manifestation are the ruptures at the distance up to first meters from the cliff edge; failures of small blocks of rocks; forming of small swellings.

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