Unity and Diversity of the Сomposition and Properties of Water in the Amur, Angara and Ussuri Rivers

Abstract The composition of natural waters was studied, demonstrating that, despite its spatial diversity, common patterns in the variability of monitored parameters can be identified, clearly evident at relatively high monitoring frequencies. It was found that series of parameters, such as turbidity and hydrogen ion concentration, exhibit subhourly fluctuations with an amplitude of ~0.1 and daily fluctuations with an amplitude of 0.2–0.5 times the mean value in the waters of geographically distant rivers with different regimes. Since known hydrological factors cannot be the source of such fluctuations, it was hypothesized that hydration processes, deformation of the hydrogen bridge network in water, and ion-molecular rearrangement under the influence of microturbulent pulsations may be the cause. Expert statistical (exploratory) analysis of the data established the non-random nature of the experimental time series, which at first glance appear chaotic. The existence of a certain internal structure and repeating patterns within them was confirmed. The fact that the data are not random, combined with the discovered unity of “high-frequency” oscillatory processes in different regions, is of theoretical and practical interest, contributing to the solution of the problem of sustainable water use.