Changes in River Solid Discharge in the Context of Climate Change: The Case of Georgia

The mountainous relief of Georgia, along with the complex geological and geomorphological conditions within river basins – especially in their upper reaches – promotes the development of erosion processes. Depending on their form of manifestation, erosion processes may in some cases be visually imperceptible. This is particularly true with surface, or sheet, erosion, which is often less noticeable.
Studies confirm that the climate change in the alpine part of the mountainous regions of Georgia is characterized by warming, leading to intensified weathering, intensive glacier melting, increased rainfall intensity, and enhanced snowmelt, which in turn increases the amount of solid material. This is further compounded by intensified soil erosion and the intense development of agriculture in the middle and lower reaches of the river valleys. It is evident that glacier retreat and the melting of permanent ice cover will increase the transportation of solid sediment material from slopes into river valleys.
At the same time, it is possible that the increased amount of solid sediment, due to river regulation, may not be transported downstream, and a significant portion may be temporarily deposited within the river system, in alluvial valleys and floodplains, also partially altering the longitudinal profiles of rivers.
The amount of solid sediment material in Georgia's rivers shows an increasing trend. Reliable assessment and forecasting of these processes in the future represent one of the most important tasks.