Genetic Hydrology: Runoff Formation Mechanisms in New Conditions

The essence of genetic hydrology is considered. Some examples of inaccurate hydrological decisions that incorrectly take into account the genesis of hydrological events and processes are given. An attention is paid to insufficiently studied and debatable issues of the genesis of some hydrological changes in Russia and the East European Plain and the hydrological role of some factors that influenced these changes. These issues are assessment of runoff changes for the large rivers and regions of the Russian Federation in the 21st century as compared to the runoff normals for 1895–1960 and 1930–1980; modern features of the slope and river runoff formation in the forest-steppe and steppe zones of the East European Plain under changing landscape structure and climate conditions; the impact of the transformation of the area covered by forest and its age on the territory of the East European Plain; the dynamics of water withdrawal and consumptive water use in Russia (its European and Asian parts). In addition, the sensitivity of river runoff to the changes in precipitation and air temperature in permafrost conditions is analyzed by the example of the Vilyui River basin.