UAV survey of sand knolls in the Tsasucheysky Bor Nature Reserve

Abstract

The paper examines development of sand knolls under the influence of climatic and anthropogenic factors in Southern Zabaykalye within the territory of Tsasucheysky Bor nature reserve. The sand knolls were studied on-site with instruments and aerial surveying. Grain size distribution of the soil cover was studied. The floristic composition of the sand knolls represented by motley grass-grasses and herbs-grasses steppe communities with varying degrees of projective cover was investigated. The analysis of the field survey data from an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) made it possible to obtain the main morphometric parameters of the sand knolls, and overlaying aerial photographs on historic satellite images allowed to trace how they changed in time. The studies showed that the movement of the studied sand knolls with time as Aeolian formations under the influence of wind erosion is unlikely, as the sand knolls are currently mostly covered by steppe vegetation, and only about 20% of the areas are bare. The analysis of satellite images and aerial photographs showed that over the last twenty years the sand knolls had not moved or changed their size.