Geomorphological Studies Research Articles

The Influence of Image Properties on High-Detail SfM Photogrammetric Surveys of Complex Geometric Landforms: The Application of a Consumer-Grade UAV Camera in a Rock Glacier Survey

The detailed description of processing workflows in Structure from Motion (SfM) surveys using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) is not common in geomorphological research. One of the aspects frequently overlooked in photogrammetric reconstruction is image characteristics. In this context, the present study aims to determine whether the format or properties (e.g., exposure, sharpening, lens corrections) of the images used in the SfM process can affect high-detail surveys of complex geometric landforms such as rock glaciers. For this purpose, images generated (DNG and JPEG) and derived (TIFF) from low-cost UAV systems widely used by the scientific community are applied. The case study is carried out through a comprehensive flight plan with ground control and differences among surveys are assessed visually and geometrically. Thus, geometric evaluation is based on 2.5D and 3D perspectives and a ground-based LiDAR benchmark. The results show that the lens profiles applied by some low-cost UAV cameras to the images can significantly alter the geometry among photo-reconstructions, to the extent that they can influence monitoring activities with variations of around ±5 cm in areas with close control and over ±20 cm (10 times the ground sample distance) on surfaces outside the ground control surroundings. The terrestrial position of the laser scanner measurements and the scene changing topography results in uneven surface sampling, which makes it challenging to determine which set of images best fit the LiDAR benchmark. Other effects of the image properties are found in minor variations scattered throughout the survey or modifications to the RGB values of the point clouds or orthomosaics, with no critical impact on geomorphological studies.

Rock CT Image Super-Resolution Using Residual Dual-Channel Attention Generative Adversarial Network

Because of its benefits in terms of high speed, non-destructiveness, and three-dimensionality, as well as ease of integration with computer simulation, computed tomography (CT) technology is widely applied in reservoir geology research. However, rock imaging is restricted by the device used as there is not a win–win for both the image receptive field and corresponding resolution. Convolutional neural network-based super-resolution reconstruction has become a hot topic in improving the performance of CT images. With the help of a convolution kernel, it can effectively extract characteristics and ignore disturbance information. The dismal truth is that convolutional neural networks still have numerous issues, particularly unclear texture details. To address these challenges, a generative adversarial network (RDCA-SRGAN) was designed to improve rock CT image resolution using the combination of residual learning and a dual-channel attention mechanism. Specifically, our generator employs residual attention to extract additional features; similarly, the discriminator builds on dual-channel attention and residual learning to distinguish generated contextual information and decrease computational consumption. Quantitative and qualitative analyses demonstrate that the proposed model is superior to earlier advanced frameworks and is capable to constructure visually indistinguishable high-frequency details. The quantitative analysis shows our model contributes the highest value of structural similarity, enriching the more detailed texture information. From the qualitative analysis, in enlarged details of the reconstructed images, the edges of the images generated by the RDCA-SRGAN can be shown to be clearer and sharper. Our model not only performs well in subtle coal cracks but also enriches more dissolved carbonate and carbon minerals. The RDCA-SRGAN has substantially enhanced the reconstructed image resolution and our model has great potential to be used in geomorphological study and exploration.

A study on hydogeomorphological status of kadalundi river basin in kerala using geospatial technology

Detailed hydro geomorphologic study has been carried out for Kadalundi River Basin in Kerala to understand the drainage pattern, spatial and temporal water availability using secondary data collected from different Departments. Geomorphological parameters have been estimated as a part of this study and it is found that Kadalundi river basin is a sixth order stream. The drainage pattern is complex with considerable variation in spatial arrangements, which are controlled by topography, slope, rock type and structural deformations. The basin is characterized by dendritic type of drainage pattern with variable density. The densest dendritic pattern is developed on the hard Charnockite and Gneissic rocks. In some areas, the drainage pattern is sub dendritic reflecting structural control. The existing land use pattern is derived from Indian Remote Sensing Satellite (IRS – LISS II1, P6) using ERDAS software. Using hydrological toolset of Spatial Analyst, an extension of ArcGIS software, slope map, aspect map and Digital Elevation Model (DEM) have been derived. In addition, the basic thematic map on geology and soil also been derived.. For annual period, the rainfall varies from 1800- 4100 mm, 1400- 2600 mm for South –West monsoon period and 600-1100 mm for the North-East monsoon period.

Morphometric characteristics of the Jabal Aqrah basins

The study of river basins is one of the geomorphological studies that have received special attention by geomorphologists and hydrologists, as it represents an integrated geomorphological and hydrological unit in terms of the water network and its ranks, the speed of water flow and other characteristics between the geomorphological and geological characteristics of the water and its geological characteristics. The natural, which represents the natural medium that affects the drawing and defining of its dimensions and the characteristics of the flow in it. Today, morphometric studies take a special place because they combine geomorphological and hydrological studies. They are a link between them. They add accurate facts and information in the hydromorphological studies of water basins. Aqrah Mountain is located in Nineveh Governorate - Aqrah District - Nahla District and has two northern slopes and Jinan. And each of them has a network of water basins. The study targeted this basin area, which has an area of ​​809.4 km2.

Geomorphological classification of the landscape in urban areas: hints from some study cases in Italy

Urban geomorphology is a recent topic and its theory and practice require continuous updates. However, few studies have focused on issues specifically connected with the cartographic representation of geomorphological processes and landforms in urban environments, with the aim of reconstructing and clarifying the original physical landscape. Recent studies conducted in Italian cities have tried to propose new strategies for detecting and mapping human induced modifications to the topography, and anthropogenic landform classification has been recently deepened in the revised Italian national guidelines for geomorphological mapping, proposed by AIGeo and ISPRA. In this work, natural landforms modified by man and new artificial landforms are explored and compared in three Italian cities: Genoa, Rome and Perugia. In these urban areas, human activities have remodeled the topographic surface and become the most important landscape moulder. Many reliefs have been erased, whereas thick layers of anthropogenic deposits covered most of the natural landforms, with the result, for example, of hiding or greatly modifying the natural drainage network. Geomorphological studies in urban environments allow the reconstruction of the physical landscape before human modifications and the implementation of innovative methodological tools, and an effective legend to represent the urban landforms and their evolution over time.

Геолого-геоморфологический анализ оползневых процессов в заповеднике «Гобустан» в целях туристско-рекреационной деятельности

In article analyzes landslide processes, taking into account the intensive expansion of tourist and recreational activities in the Gobustan National Reserve, located in the southeastern part of the Greater Caucasus. The importance of this problem lies in the fact that it is planned to create a National Geopark of international importance on the territory of Gobustan. Based on own field ecological, geological and geomorphological studies, fund and cartographic material, as well as using aerospace images (ASI) from 1996, 2000-2020 and scale 1:60 000, it was found that over the past 50 years, the area of Gobustan, subjected to landslide processes, has increased by 1.5-2 times. The data obtained made it possible to compile a map of zoning of the Greater Caucasus with a scale of 1:1 000 000 according to landslide hazard (in points), which objectively reflects the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of landslide processes. The research results will make it possible to use the obtained data for the development of the Program for the safe and sustainable functioning and development for the recreational and tourist development of Azerbaijan's geosystems.

Geomorphology of the Guacimal River catchment, Costa Rica

The Guacimal River catchment has an area of 181 km2 and is located in the NW of Costa Rica, between the coordinates 84.745° W-10.016° N and 84.909° W-10.325° N. In this territory, as in most of the country, detailed geomorphological studies are scarce; therefore, the objective of this paper is to present the geomorphological mapping at a scale of 1:25,000 of the Guacimal River, which allows us to explain the dynamics of the agents involved in the modeling of the catchment. The work methodology consisted of three stages: pre-mapping, field activity and post-mapping, which resulted in a map in which ten relief forms are represented, ordered according to their morphogenesis in endogenous modeled and exogenous (fluvial, gravitational and littoral). This document will be the base line for land use planning, both continental and coastal, and for local risk management.

Morphometric Analysis of Saz-Çayırova Drainage Basin using Geographic Information Systems and Different Digital Elevation Models

Drainage basin/watershed analysis based on morphometric parameters has an essential role in watershed management and planning. Reliable delineation of watersheds and drainage networks is critical for hydrological and geomorphological studies. Since access to high-resolution digital elevation models (DEMs) and digital surface models (DSMs) is costly, many researchers need to evaluate low-resolution open-source products. Several data sources produced from different surveying techniques are used in the morphometric analysis. In this study, five different datasets such as Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) GDEM, Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) DEM, Advanced Land Observing Satellite (ALOS) DSM, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) DEM, and a DEM from topographic maps (TOPO DEM), were investigated based on morphometric parameters. The tests was carried out in the Saz-Çayırova Basin, which is one of the critical urbanization and industrialization regions of Kocaeli, Turkey. In this study, the TOPO DEM, whose horizontal resolution is 30 m, was produced from 1:25K scaled digitized topographical maps. It was used for comparative analysis, as in all DEMs sources. The morphometric parameters' result of the TOPO DEM was used as the reference data for comparing the results of the other DEMs sources. In addition, the mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) was used to compute the accuracy between the freely available DEMs and the TOPO DEM for each morphometric parameter. The outcomes of this study reveal that the most consistent results with the TOPO DEM are provided by SRTM DEM, following the NASA DEM.

A Script-Driven Approach to Mapping Satellite-Derived Topography and Gravity Data Over the Zagros Fold-and-Thrust Belt, Iran

Abstract Integrated geophysical mapping benefits from visualizing multi-source datasets including gravity and satellite altimetry data using 2D and 3D techniques. Applying scripting cartographic approach by R language and GMT supported by traditional mapping in QGIS is presented in this paper with a case study of Iranian geomorphology and a special focus on Zagros Fold-and-Thrust Belt, a unique landform of the country affected by complex geodynamic structure. Several modules of GMT and ’tmap’ and ’raster’ packages of R language were shown to illustrate the efficiency of the console-based mapping by scripts. Data sources included high-resolution raster grids of GEBCO/SRTM, EGM-2008, SRTM DEM and vector geologic layers of USGS. The cartographic objective was to visualize thematic maps of Iran: topography, geology, satellite-derived gravity anomalies, geoid undulations and geomorphology. Various cartographic techniques were applied to plot the geophysical and topographic field gradients and categorical variations in geological structures and relief along the Zagros Fold-and-Thrust Belt. The structures of Elburz, Zagros, Kopet Dag and Makran slopes, Dasht-e Kavir, Dasht-e Lut and Great Salt Desert were visualized using 3D-and 2D techniques. The geomorphometric properties (slope, aspect, hillshade, elevations) were modelled by R. The study presented a series of 11 new maps made using a combination of scripting techniques and GIS for comparative geological-geophysical analysis. Listings of R and GMT scripting are provided for repeatability.

Assessment of ecological-geomorphological strength and risk of geosystems of the north-eastern slope of the Great Caucasus (within Azerbaijan)

Problem statement. The increased human pressure on natural geo-complexes is causing the revival of undesirable processes that create an extensive risk for the inhabitants of these regions. Alpine-type orogenic zones, which belong to the northeastern slope of the Greater Caucasus, are distinguished from many geomorphological systems by excessive activity of endo- and exogenous processes. Therefore, at this time, the task of diagnosing and assessing the ecological and geomorphological risk that the population faces in the development of new territories of the region seems to be important. Analysis of recent research and publications. After analyzing a number of techniques used to assess the landslide and mudflow hazards, the conclusion was made that most of them had their flaws. Research method. There are a large number of methods for assessing the risk of environmental management and predicting hazardous exodynamic processes. However, in modern conditions, these techniques are not sufficiently reliable. This, in turn, determines the relevance and the need to develop new or modernised methods of strategies for the prevention, protection, and elimination of the consequences of catastrophes and natural disasters. The purpose of this work is to reveal the geomorphological features and dynamics of the development of the most dangerous and often repeating landslide and mudflow processes based on field geomorphological studies, as well as fund literature, indicate the reasons for their formation and propose measures to combat them. Research results. The article discusses the results of ecological and geomorphological surveys on the northeastern slope of the Greater Caucasus, dedicated to the assessment of landslide and mudflow risk for the period from 1990 to 2020. To assess them in order to obtain morphometric characteristics (including the down gradient of slopes, the length and shape of slopes, areas of mudflow centers), large-scale (M 1:100000) topographic maps were used, as well as interpretation materials for different-scale and multi-temporal ASP. Based on the interpretation of the ASP within the studied region, in order to clarify the general picture of the dissection of the modern relief of the studied region, a map of morphometric tension was compiled, which includes the degree of vertical dissection of the territory, the down gradient of slopes, etc., and also maps of the risk of landslides and mudflows were compiled according to the degree of danger of landslide and mudflow processes, and the area of their distribution was calculated. Landslide and mudflow risk analysis mainly used high-resolution aerospace imagery (ASI) from CNES / Airbus, Maxar Technologies (GeoEye-1), and medium resolution Sentinel-2A and 2B. Thus visual and semi-automatic interpretation (classification with training) was performed in the ArcGIS environment. As a result, taking into account the morphometric tension, as well as the mudflow and landslide hazards, a map of the morphodynamic tension of the northeastern slope of the Greater Caucasus was compiled, which makes it possible to reveal the modern nature of the manifestation of exodynamic processes, to predict and assess the risk coming from them. Conclusion. The results of the research will make it possible to use the obtained data for the development of the Program for the safe and sustainable functioning and development for the purpose of recreational and tourist development of the difficult of access mountain geosystems of Azerbaijan.

The paleoenvironment and depositional context of the Sumerian site of Abu Tbeirah (Nasiriyah, southern Mesopotamia, Iraq)

AbstractThe Sumerian culture flourished within the Tigris and Euphrates rivers floodplains and along their deltaic systems, which ca. 6000 yr were located ~250–260 km inland from the present Persian Gulf. Here, large floodplains and marshes were crossed by an intricate network of channels where several human settlements developed. In this paper, we describe in detail the paleoenvironmental context where the site of Abu Tbeirah (third millennium BC) developed, near the Sumerian capital of Ur. Our interdisciplinary approach, based on remote sensing and the geomorphological study of the area, as well as on sedimentological, paleontological, and paleobotanical analyses of trenches and boreholes deposits, reveals that the site developed along a sinuous channel in a floodplain and marshy environment, where several crevasse splays occurred. This channel was cut off following a flood event. The abandoned portion of the channel was exploited by residents and used as a small river harbor. Our research contributes to better define how the landscape of the site changed over the course of its history and how humans exploited water resources of the area during occupation of the site, a process that was pivotal for the development of the Sumerian culture.

Sediment dynamics at different timescales on an embayed coast in southeastern Australia

The concept of coastal sediment compartments has recently been adopted at a national scale in Australia to better understand sediment and shoreline dynamics and to underpin management of future shoreline behaviour in response to impacts of climate change. Geomorphological studies in southern NSW have provided a foundation for development of conceptual models of estuary and sandy barrier evolution. Geochronological reconstructions using radiocarbon, optically-stimulated luminescence, and other dating techniques, reviewed in this paper, demonstrate that adjacent compartments are at successive stages. Three compartments, Illawarra, Shoalhaven and Moruya, are compared, each with different catchment characteristics and different levels of human intervention. Landform change and sediment accumulation at millennial timescales enable estimates of past sediment accretion (vertical accumulation) and horizontal displacement of shorelines (particularly progradation), as a first step towards quantifying volumetric changes of morphology. Lake Illawarra is a barrier estuary at an early stage of infill, but land-use change, urbanisation, and engineering structures at the entrance have accelerated rates of sediment accumulation. The Shoalhaven River has infilled its estuary and delivers sand to the coast. It has been subject to several conspicuous anthropogenic interventions. At Moruya, ongoing supply of sand, primarily from offshore rather than from the catchment, has resulted in beach-ridge plains (strandplains) with changes in their alongshore inter-connectivity driven by differential embayment infilling. Millennial-scale geomorphology indicates landform change providing a means to determine natural trajectories of sediment transfer. However, variability is apparent at century and decadal timescales, compounded by various anthropogenic interventions. Disentangling natural and anthropogenic influences will be necessary to provide greater confidence in estimating past and present sediment budgets. Assessing sand sources and transport rates is important in relation to engineering interventions at entrances, and long-term resilience of coastal habitats. Such issues are the focus of coastal management programs, and this synthesis emphasises the relevance of a sediment budget approach to understand contemporary sediment pathways and provide an indication of future response to engineering interventions and sensitivity to climate change.

The Impact of Digital Elevation Model Preprocessing and Detection Methods on Karst Depression Mapping in Densely Forested Dinaric Mountains

Karst landscapes have an abundance of enclosed depressions. Many studies have detected depressions and have calculated geomorphometric characteristics with computer techniques. These outcomes are somewhat determined by the methods and data used. We aim to highlight the applicability of high-resolution relief laser scanning data in geomorphological studies of karst depressions. We set two goals: geomorphometrically to characterize depressions in different karst plateaus and to examine the influence of data preprocessing and detection methods on the results. The study was performed in three areas of the Slovene Dinaric Karst using the following steps: preprocessing digital elevation models (DEMs), enclosed depression detection, calculating geomorphometric characteristics, and comparing the characteristics of selected areas. We discovered that different combinations of methods influenced the number and geomorphometric characteristics of depressions. The range of detected depressions in the three areas were 442–491, 364–403, and 366–504, and the share of the depressions’ area confirmed with all the approaches was 23%, 29%, and 47%, which resulted in different geomorphometric properties. Comparisons between the study areas were also influenced by the methods, which was confirmed by the Mann–Whitney test. We concluded that preprocessing of high-resolution relief data and the detection methods in karst environments significantly impact analyses and must be taken into account when interpreting geomorphometric results.

Quaternary Evolutionary Stages of Selinitsa Cave (SW Peloponnese, Greece) Reveal Sea-Level Changes Based on 3D Scanning, Geomorphological, Biological, and Sedimentological Indicators

Significant evolutionary stages of Selinitsa Cave (SW Peloponnese, Greece) were revealed by 3D mapping, as well as geomorphological study of the cave and the nearby landscape. Four marine terraces were identified in the area of the coastal cave at 6, 10.7, 16.6, and 30–32 m above sea level (asl), with the terrace at 16.6 m representing Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 5. The widest karstified space of Selinitsa Cave clusters between 15.73 and 18.05 m above sea level (asl), with the peak lying at 16.4 m asl, corresponding to the level where the phreatic/epiphreatic zone was stable for a sufficient period of time. A tidal notch at 16.4 m asl at the cave entrance is correlated to the marine terrace at 16.6 m. Both features correspond to the sea-level stand at which intense karstification occurred. The tidal notch bears a horizontal arrangement of Lithophaga borings at the vertex. Sedimentological investigation of the Selinitsa fine-grained deposit revealed the paleohydrologic regime of the cave. It is characterized by “slack-water” facies, indicating very low water flow speeds, whereas the thickness of the deposit points to stable hydrological conditions for prolonged periods. The cave sediment height of 18.8 m asl indicates a flooding level higher than sea level. The overlying Plattenkalk flysch is most probably the major source of detritus, and the predominance of authigenic dolomite (>98% modal in the carbonate fraction) indicates a hyposaline environment related to mixing of sea water with percolating fresh water. The approach of this study shows the significance of 3D mapping, bio-geo-Relative Sea Level (RSL) indicators, and sedimentology in deciphering the paleogeographic evolution of coastal karstic systems and subsequently defining the paleoclimate regime of coastal areas in Greece and the eastern Mediterranean during the Late Quaternary.

Exploring the predictive power of seismic geomorphology to assess sedimentary characteristics of gravity-flow deposits: examples from offshore East and West Africa reservoirs

Abstract This research seeks to test the hypothesis that the rheology of submarine gravity-flows influences the planform geometry of associated fan lobe deposits. If this control exists, seismic geomorphology has the potential to predict the sedimentary characteristics of these deposits by analysing relatively simple seismic outputs such as time structure maps and amplitude maps. This predictive power could potentially aid the identification of prospective reservoirs through automated processes of seismic interpretation. In this work, Upper Cretaceous and Neogene deep-water reservoirs from East and West Africa with porosity in excess of 20% and multi-Darcy permeability were analysed. The overall external geometry of the reservoirs was described by integrating seismic amplitude extractions, structure and isochron maps derived from high-quality 3D seismic data. The maps were generated from detailed interpretation of the top and base reservoir reflections. Core photos of the reservoirs were integrated into the seismic project and their examination allowed the identification of dominant sedimentary facies, enabling a proposal for the classification of these deposits in terms of flow processes. The research indicates that the confinement of flows exerts an obvious control on the shape of the deposits and results in sedimentary bodies with marked elongation at the seismic scale. However, analysis of the reservoirs at the core scale indicated that they are dominated by massive, poorly sorted, medium- to coarse-grained sandstones, commonly with floating oversize clasts, as well as beds with disrupted laminae and sandy conglomerates. These characteristics may indicate ‘depositional freezing’ from high-density flows with yield strength, which may also have contributed to the limited lateral spread of the deposits analysed. The research also highlights the importance of the non-unique relationship between sedimentary processes and external geometries of the resulting deposits at the seismic scale. This means that deposits with similar geometries may have markedly different sedimentary characteristics. This work highlights the increasing importance of integrating detailed seismic geomorphology studies with an accurate examination of core data to validate models of gravity flow processes and test their predictive value.

Газарзүйн Асуудлууд сэтгүүлийн хөгжлийн тойм шинжилгээ (2001-2021)

For the last 90 years, approximately 100 research magazines have been published in each scientific sector of Mongolia in the Mongolian, Russian and English languages. But there is not any published research which clarifies development trends of each sector involving a review and analysis in the scientific journal of any specific area or sector in Mongolia. I have undertaken a review and analysis of this research using a comparative analysis method. In this article, the research published in the journal of Geographic Issues over the last 20 years was compared. This involved the review of articles, the involvement of authors, the similarities and differences in the field of scientific content, and the development trends of research. This was all clarified. The results showed that except for Mongolian researchers, Russian, German, British, American and Japanese researchers published their articles in this journal. Within the period the research involved 168 researchers who participated as a first author and 400 researchers as other authors in the publication of a total of 359 articles in developing the journal of Geographical Issues. Regarding the scope, more than 10 articles were published in the areas of service geography, meteorology and climate science, land relations, urban geography, environmental science, hydrology, agricultural geography, recreational geography, remote sensing and geomorphological studies. Baseline study materials of physics and social geography, which are the main sectors of geography, have comparatively been published rarely. The main trend of the magazine is inter-sectoral research work based on physical geography and socio-economic geography. It was a key principle of this magazine to publish this research by filtering them in an ethical and fair manner.

The geomorphic origin of large wetlands in Africa’s elevated drylands: a Geographic Information System and Earth Observation approach

ABSTRACT The topographic, climatic and tectonic conditions of the sub-continent present opportunities to better understand the role that geomorphological processes play in determining the origin of large wetlands. Yet, there is limited information on the geomorphic origin of large wetlands in southern and eastern Africa due to wetland inaccessibility and limited wetland geomorphological studies that have been conducted in these regions. The current study aims to provide an understanding of the geomorphic origin of large wetlands in Africa’s elevated drylands. Satellite images were used to identify geomorphic features, while digital elevation models were used for topographic analysis, and geological maps provided tectonic and lithological information. Abductive reasoning was used to infer geomorphic features to processes that could have led to their formation while drawing inference from existing knowledge or relevant literature. The study demonstrated different processes that contribute to wetland formation, structure, and evolution. In some instances, tectonic processes may be primarily responsible for the formation of basins that hosts wetlands such as Wembere and Bahi wetlands in Tanzania. In other cases, wetlands such as the Lufira and Barotse wetlands in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia, respectively, may be structured primarily by fluvial processes.

Patrimoine géologique et géomorphologique : base pour le géotourisme et la création d'un géoparc UNESCO dans le Dahar (Sud-est tunisien)

Abstract. The presence of geoheritage of international value is the basis of any candidature as a UNESCO Global Geopark. Within the framework of the elaboration of a roadmap for the creation of a UNESCO Global Geopark in South-East Tunisia, a geological and geomorphological study was carried out. The selected geoheritage can be divided into two main families : palaeontological and sedimentological sites, which provide complete documentation of the opening of the southern Tethysian margin, from the Triassic to the Cretaceous, and geomorphological and landscape sites (cultural geomorphosites), which offer an exceptional range of adaptations of human societies to the morphoclimatic context. This analysis of the geoheritage is the basis for the implementation of a strategy of geoconservation, geotouristic enhancement and, ultimately, the creation of a geopark in the Djebel Dahar. It demonstrates the importance of the interrelationships between the cultural, tangible and intangible, heritage and the geomorphological context.

Assessment of the influence of neotectonic movements on the relief of the basins of lakes Ladoga and Onega

We obtained new data about the high degree of relationship between the relief and the nature of the latest movements within the depressions of the Ladoga and Onega lakes as a result of geomorphological studies. Computer geodynamic modeling showed that this relationship is explainable by the development of the supposed active faults identified by us on a detailed scale in an environment of northeastern extension, the axis of which is oriented across the strike of the considered lake basins.

Study of Holocene aeolian morpholithogenesis of the Eastern coast of the White Sea using georadiolocation and palaeolimnological methods

Abstract. Holocene aeolian topography and sediments were investigated at two key sites on the Zimny Coast and one key site on the Kaninsky Coast of the White Sea. Field work included ground penetration radar profiling, paleolimnological and geomorphological study, as well as aerial imagery and topography surveys. Analytical studies including grain-size, geochemical and diatom analyses and radiocarbon dating of lake sediment cores were performed. Accumulative aeolian relief was formed in areas with a positive coastal-marine sediment balance. The sands are brought in by a longshore drift or river discharge. The aeolian topography and the number of stages of aeolian activation vary across the key areas. The present-time coastal dunes have been forming since the late or middle Holocene, when relative sea level became close to contemporary levels.