LOW-WATER SITUATIONS ON THE MOUNTAIN RIVERS IN THE UZBEKISTAN REPUBLIC: CAUSES AND SPECIFIC FEATURES
River flow fluctuations are often cyclic, like many other natural processes. The pattern of the high-water and low-water years grouping is a characteristic feature of river runoff, especially in low-water period or lowflow periods. By processing multi-year time series of average monthly and average annual water consumption data for 38 mountain rivers of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the parameters of extreme hydrological events during the period of low runoff were calculated. These events were identified by the characteristics of runoff hydrograph sections beyond the specified threshold values of water consumption (90% probability). Parameters of low-water periods are related to various hydrological characteristics, first of all, specific features of river feeding. It was demonstrated that the amount of water reserves in snow cover at the end of February and March or the total amount of precipitation during the cold period could be indicators of hydrological drought for mountain rivers of Uzbekistan. Possible trends of changes of these parameters are considered.