ROZTOCHIA LANDFORM MORPHOTYPES

Abstract

The issues of relief morphotype classification have not been solved yet, as there are no clear criteria for their selection. The article proposes to use semantic-oriented morphometric relief analysis for relief classifying. The algorithm of its implementation is as follows: 1) reasonable classificating taxonomic relief units; 2) defining their semantic names; 3) evaluating and selecting the morphometric descriptors of identified morphotypes. The study is based on the results of field landscape observations in the Ukrainian part of The Roztochia, which were accompanied by instrumental morphometric measurements and landscapes panoramic photographing. For morphometric analysis of The Roztochia, the digital relief model (DEM) of SRTM 30 version 2.1 with pixel size (60x60 m) has been used, for its Ukrainian part the authors have built DEM on the basis of synthesized horizontals of topographic maps of scale 1:10000 and 1: 25000, laying of horizontals 1 m and 5 m, pixel size (15x15 m). By means of ArcGis 10.0 software package, the following models have been created: slope gradient, horizontal dismemberment, vertical dismemberment (relative elevation), aspect, elevation levels, thalwegs, watersheds, Landform Classificaton, Slope Position Classificaton, Topographic Position Index. The analysis of these models made it possible to select identification descriptors for selecting meso-relief units, i.e. area (according to R. Dikau (1990)), relative elevation, mean slope, compactness. It has been established that the meso-relief gradation of subcategory “B” in The Roztochia differs slightly in area from the “standard” one after R. Dicau and is in range of 105–108 m2. This proves that the morphometric descriptors of the morphological classification of the relief units need to be determined according to the features of the region separately for plains, heighlands and mountains. The semantic analysis made it possible to give names to the selected units of meso-relief. The main names of relief units, used in Polish and Ukrainian literature have been analyzed, and their English-speaking counterparts have been found. The map of The Ukrainian Roztochia meso-relief has been created. The following meso-relief units are distinguished: high-gradient hill, medium-gradient hill, lawe gradient hill, knoll, ridge, escarpment, longitudinal depression, upper plain, lower plain, basin, valley. Nearly 70% of the region is occupied with hill. Keywords: landform morphotype; mesorelief; Roztochia; semantics.