Modern exogenous processes in the mountains of Cisbaikalia

Abstract

Lake Baikal and its shores become attractive for tourists. The growth of tourist flow forces the stakeholders to develop new territories and water areas, create a tourist infrastructure, involve more natural resources, but also concern about safety of tourists. In the ridges of the Baikal region as in most mountainous countries hazardous exogenous processes present a danger to tourists. We studied modern processes and prepared to their mapping in order to identify areas which are subject to one or another exogenous process and intensity of their occurrence at two key areas in the Baikal and Barguzin Ranges. We arranged field expeditions, analyzed remote sensing data of the Earth, used meteorological data, studied geological structures, made morphometric mapping, and took samples for chemical analysis of sediments, mapped plant groups, measured areas, lengths, and depths of relief forms created by exogenous processes. The results obtained led to the creation of large-scale maps of main exogenous processes of relief formation, intensity of their course, length and action mode and to the adjustment of meteorological parameters, absolute heights and slopes, tectonics and ancient glaciation. Our study determined the patterns of exogenous processes, areal, linear, fan-shaped, pointed and diffused. Development of certain types of exogenous processes in the mountains of Cisbaikalia is due to seismic activity, high vertical and horizontal dissection of the relief, and the peculiarities of climatic conditions. Paying attention to them will ensure avoiding catastrophic impact on the recreational development of the mountainous territories of Cisbaikalia.