Main research areas of the Laboratory:

• analysis of climate change and river run-off variation;

• investigations of safety and reliability of power plants and transport objects and their impact on water environment;

• collection of data of Lithuanian water bodies (rivers, ponds, the Curonian Lagoon, and the Baltic Sea).

 

State funded project Impact of Climate Change on the Condition of Lithuanian Water Resources and Hydroenergy Sector (2007–2009) has been implemented at the Laboratory of Hydrology. Global climate change will inevitably cause drastic fluctuations of hydrological regime and changes of water resources. According to climate change scenarios, increasing air temperature, changes in precipitation and total evaporation will have an extraordinary effect on the annual distribution of river run-off and will cause changes of extreme run-off elements (floods and droughts). In Lithuania, as well as in other EU countries, it is necessary properly exploit renewable energy resources, as this will allow reducing negative consequences of the climate change (greenhouse effect). Hydroenergetic resources of rivers are one of the most widely used renewable energy sources, directly depending on the parameters of river run-off. Due to climate change processes, river water resources will have a direct impact on hydroenergy production as well as on the safety of embankments during extreme natural phenomena.

 

In the year 2007 researchers of the Laboratory determined trends of meteorological and hydrologic parameters change in Lithuania and compared the results with obtained parameter trends of the Baltic and Nordic countries. In the year 2008 Nemunas run-off formation model was developed using state-of-the-art software HBV, developed by Swedish scientists. Using this model, Nemunas run-off forecast was carried out in accordance with different climate change scenarios, whereas Kaunas hydropower station operation was analysed by estimating Nemunas run-off forecasts.

 

The investigation of Lithuanian water bodies has been performed using numerous hydrographic, hydrologic, morphologic and other data, collected by the Laboratory of Hydrology since 1961. The main task of environmental protection – the assessment of impact of economical activities on the environment and justification of environmental protection measures are solved employing state-of-the-art modules (hydrodynamic, wave, advection-dispersion and sediment transport) of modelling system MIKE 21 of Danish Hydraulic Institute.

 

 

 

Using collected data base the following tasks are solved at the Laboratory:

• environmental impact assessment of anthropogenic activities on water bodies and justification of environmental protection measures;

• climate and run-off variation analysis and its impact on water resources;

• hazard and risk analysis of hydrotechnical constructions;

• investigation of quays interaction with water flow and selection of optimal constructions;

• determination of environmental conditions using water bodies for different objectives;

• modelling of mixing and dispersion of pollution under critical conditions in water bodies;

• sensitivity and uncertainty analysis of two-dimensional hydrodynamic models input parameters.

 

 

The most significant research objects of the Laboratory are as follows: the Baltic Sea, the Kaunas Sea, Drūkšiai Lake, the Curonian Lagoon, the River Nemunas and other Lithuanian rivers. These water bodies are under extreme nature phenomena expressions (storms, excess rainfalls) or are affected by intensive anthropogenic activities.

 

 

Since 2007, together with Nordic countries, a joint project Climate and Energy Systems, funded by the Nordic Energy Research, has been carried. Researchers from Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia participate in the project. The main purpose of this research work is to assess the impact of climate change on energy sector. Scientists of the Laboratory participate in the activities of the research group of the statistical analysis of climate and river run-off.

 

In the year 2008, the following investigations were carried out: annual, seasonal and flood discharge trend analysis of Lithuanian rivers for the periods 1920–2003, 1941–2003 and 1960–2003. Obtained results were compared with the results of analogous research, carried out by Nordic countries. The following common trends were determined: winter river run-off increased, spring floods emerged earlier and maximum flood discharges decreased.

 

 

Good situation of Lithuanian water bodies is closely related to hydrographic, hydrologic, water economy and environmental research. Only after evaluation of characteristics of water bodies in different physical geographical regions, sustainable development of water ecosystems is possible.

 

In accordance with the decision of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania, the Laboratory of Hydrology is confirmed to be the supplier of cadastral data of Lithuanian rivers and lakes, which is responsible for collecting data of river hydrography and hydrotechnical constructions.

 

 

Aiming at more efficient use of water and flowing water energy, embankments are constructed at river valleys. However such appeasement to man’s demands negatively affects the environment. After flooding a river, the most significant abiotic parameters of hydro ecosystems change suddenly: hydrologic and thermal regime, chemical composition of water and the amount of sediment in a flow.

 

Investigations reveal that below the embankment all ecologically important indicators, which influence river flow and water quality, are more or less affected. The impact mainly depends on morphological parameters of embankment, construction and operating regime. Obtained data may be used to assess environmental impact, determine the most favourable installation conditions of designed ponds and the most relevant operation regime so that anthropogenic impact on river would be mitigated as much as possible.

 

 

The Laboratory of Hydrology closely cooperates with the Institute of Environmental Engineering of Kaunas University of Technology, have joint doctoral studies, since 1995 have been publishing scientific journal Environmental Research, Engineering and Management. The Laboratory together with Institute of Geology and Geography, Institute of Botany and Institute of Ecology of Vilnius University, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Klaipėda University and Lithuanian University of Agriculture carry out complex environmental research. In accordance with agreements between the Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Lithuania and Lithuanian Energy Institute, expertises of plans, programmes and projects are prepared by the Laboratory.

 

 

The Laboratory carries out applied research works and prepares hydrotechnical construction projects according to agreements with enterprises and organizations:

 

– in accordance with agreement with SC Rėkyva reasons for lake water level variation and water balance changes were investigated;

– in accordance with agreement with Klaipėda State Seaport Authority, environmental impact assessment reports of Malkų embayment deepening and Klaipėda harbour northern part seaway widening and deepening were prepared;

– in accordance with agreement with the Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Lithuania environmental conditions, the objective of which is to regulate operation of small-scale hydro power plants, were prepared;

– in accordance with agreement with Klaipėda State Seaport Authority, possibilities of constructing Klaipėda deepsea

harbour were analysed;

– studies on potential use of Drūkšiai lake water for the new NPP and boat quay at Smeltė peninsula were prepared.

 

Researchers of the Laboratory participated in 6 international conferences, published 8 scientific articles in Lithuanian and international journals.