Гідрологія, гідрохімія і гідроекологія

Hydrology, hydrochemistry and hydroecology

SARNAVSKYI S.P., GREBIN V.V., YERMAKOV V.V. RIVER NETWORK OF THE MIDDLE DNIPRO SUB-BASIN WITHIN LEFT-BANK UKRAINE: STRUCTURE AND CURRENT STATE

DOI: https://doi.org/10.17721/2306-5680.2026.1.2

Hydrology, Hydrochemistry and Hydroecology. 2026. № 1 (79)
Publication language: Ukrainian
Authors:
Sarnavskyi S.P., Poltava V.G. Korolenko National Pedagogical University
Grebin V.V., Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv
Yermakov V.V., Poltava V.G. Korolenko National Pedagogical University

The article presents a comprehensive scientific analysis of the spatial structure, morphometric characteristics, and current state of the river network of the Middle Dnipro sub-basin within Left-Bank Ukraine. The study focuses on five major basins of the left-bank tributaries of the Dnipro River — the Trubizh, Supii, Sula, Psel, and Vorskla rivers — which determine the hydrological regime of a significant part of the region.
The authors employed an integrated methodology combining historical and cartographic analysis, Earth observation (EO) data, and modern geographic information system (GIS) technologies, particularly QGIS. This approach made it possible to уточнити the quantitative and qualitative parameters of the river systems within the study area.
The study identifies and systematizes the patterns of river network formation resulting from the interaction of natural factors, including tectonic structure and paleogeographic conditions. Particular attention is given to assessing the extent of anthropogenic transformation of river channels and their morphometric parameters caused by human activities, including drainage reclamation and channel straightening.
A detailed morphometric characterization of each river system is provided, including basin area, length of the main rivers, types of river systems, and their configuration features. In addition to the major rivers, the structure of their tributaries — numerous small rivers and streams forming an integrated regional hydrological system — is also analyzed.
The results provide a fundamental basis for further monitoring of the ecological condition of water resources, forecasting their changes under current climate challenges, and developing strategies for sustainable water management within the left-bank part of the Middle Dnipro sub-basin.

Key words: river network, Middle Dnipro basin, left-bank tributaries of the Dnipro River, river basin morphometry, cartographic modeling, Poltava Region, Left-Bank Ukraine.

References:
1.    Arandarenko N. Y. Zapysky o Poltavskoi hubernyy. Chast 1. [Notes on Poltava Governorate. Part 1] Poltava: Typohrafyia Hubernskoho Pravlenyia, 1848. 196 p.
2.    Viiskovo-topohrafichna karta Rosiiskoi Imperii 1846-1863 rr., stvorena pid kerivnytstvom F. F. Shuberta ta P. A. Tuchkova. [The Military Topographic Map of the Russian Empire, 1846-1863, created under the direction of F. F. Schubert and P. A. Tuchkov] URL: http://freemap.com.ua/karty-ukrainy/karty-trexverstovki-novoj-redakczii
3.    Karty Heneralnoho shtabu Chervonoi Armii 1936-1942 rr. (1 sm – 500 m). [Soviet Red Army General Staff Maps, 1936-1942, at a scale of 1:50,000] URL: http://freemap.com.ua/karty-ukrainy/karty-rkka-500metrovki
4.    Karty Heneralnoho shtabu RSChA za 1954-1977 rr., z onovlenniam za 1980-1990 rr. (1 sm – 1000 m). [Maps of the General Staff of the Soviet Army, 1954-1977, updated in 1980-1990, at a scale of 1:100,000] URL: https://freemap.com.ua/karty-ukrainy/karty-genshtaba/
5.    Karty nimetskoi armii 1938-1943 rr. (1 sm – 500 m). [German military topographic maps, 1938-1943, at a scale of 1:50,000] URL: http://freemap.com.ua/karty-ukrainy/karty-nemeczkie-500metrovki-1km
6.    Mashtakov P. L. Spysok rek Dneprovskoho basseina: S kartoi y alf. ukazatelem. [List of Rivers of the Dnipro Basin: With a Map and Alphabetical Index] Sankt-Peterburg: Sostoiashchaia pry Imp. Akad. nauk Komys. po voprosu o heohraf. nomenklature, 1913. 292 p.
7.    Proekt Yevropeiskoho Soiuzu «Vodna initsiatyva + dlia krain Skhidnoho partnerstva» EUWI+ East. Plan upravlinnia richkovym baseinom Dnipra. Holovni vodno-ekolohichni problemy. Skorochena versiia dlia hromadskykh konsultatsii. Serpen 2020. [European Union Project “European Water Initiative Plus for Eastern Partnership Countries” EUWI+ East. Dnipro River Basin Management Plan. Main Water and Environmental Problems. Abridged Version for Public Consultations. August 2020] URL: https://www.euwipluseast.eu/images/2020/09/PDF/Dnipro_total_summary.pdf
8.    Resursy poverkhnostnykh vod SSSR. Hidrolohicheskaia izuchennost. Tom 6. Ukraina i Moldaviia. Vyp. 2. Srednee i Nizhnee Podneprove / pod red. M. M. Aizenberha i M. S. Kahanera. [Surface Water Resources of the USSR. Hydrological Investigation. Volume 6. Ukraine and Moldova. Issue 2. Middle and Lower Dnipro Region] Leningrad: Hidrometeoizdat, 1964. 344 p.
9.    Sarnavskyi S. P. Kharakterystyka fizyko-heohrafichnykh umov formuvannia stoku richok livoberezhzhia Serednoho Dnipra. [Characteristics of the Physical and Geographical Conditions of River Runoff Formation in the Left Bank of the Middle Dnipro] Modern aspects of natural science research in the context of sustainable development of society: scientific monograph. Riga (Latvia): Baltija Publishing, 2023. 377-414. doi:10.30525/978-9934-26-395-8-20.
10.   Sarnavskyi S. P., Grebin, V. V. Retrospektyvnyi analiz doslidzhen richkovoi merezhi livoberezhzhia Serednoho Dnipra (vid pershykh zhadok do detalnykh opysiv – IV st. do n. e. – kinets XVIII st.). [Retrospective Analysis of Studies of the River Network of the Left Bank of the Middle Dnipro (from the First Mentions to Detailed Descriptions – 4th Century BC – Late 18th Century)] Hidrolohiia, hidrokhimiia i hidroekolohiia, 2021. 4(62), 46-66. doi:10.17721/2306-5680.2021.4.4.
11.   Sarnavskyi S. P., Grebin, V. V. Retrospektyvnyi analiz doslidzhen richkovoi merezhi livoberezhzhia Serednoho Dnipra vid periodu systematyzatsii informatsii pro richky do periodu kompleksnykh doslidzhen (XIX st. – poch. XXI st.). [Retrospective Analysis of Studies of the River Network of the Left Bank of the Middle Dnipro from the Period of Systematization of Information about Rivers to the Period of Comprehensive Research (19th – Early 21st Centuries)] Hidrolohiia, hidrokhimiia i hidroekolohiia, 2022. 3(65), 24-56. doi:10.17721/2306-5680.2022.3.3.
12.   Shvets H. I., Drozd N. I., Levchenko S. P. Kataloh richok Ukrainy. [A Catalogue of Ukrainian Rivers] Kyiv: Vydavnytstvo Akademii nauk URSR, 1957. 192 p.
13.   GEBCO 2024 Grid / GEBCO Compilation Group. 2024. URL: https://www.gebco.net/data-products-gridded-bathymetry-data/gebco2024-grid
14.   Google Earth Pro (Version 7.3) [Software]. Google LLC, 2026. URL: https://www.google.com/earth/about/versions/
15.   EOSDA LandViewer: vebplatforma dlia analizu suputnykovykh danykh / EOS Data Analytics. [EOSDA LandViewer: Web Platform for Satellite Data Analysis] URL: https://eos.com/landviewer/
16.   Lehner, B., Verdin, K., & Jarvis, A. HydroSHEDS Technical Documentation. Washington, DC: World Wildlife Fund US, 2006. URL: https://data.hydrosheds.org/file/technical-documentation/HydroSHEDS_TechDoc_v1_4.pdf
17.   Copernicus Browser / European Space Agency (ESA). [Copernicus Browser / European Space Agency (ESA)] URL: https://browser.dataspace.copernicus.eu/

READ THE FULL ARTICLE

HOW TO CITE

Sarnavskyi, S.P., Grebin, V. V., Yermakov, V .V. (2026). River network of the middle Dnipro sub-basin within left-bank Ukraine: structure and current state. Hidrolohiia, hidrokhimiia i hidroekolohiia [Hydrology, Hydrochemistry and Hydroecology], 1(79), 19-31. (in Ukrainian, abstr. in English). https://doi.org/10.17721/2306-5680.2026.1.2