Geomorphological Zones Research Articles

Nonlinear trends of vegetation changes in different geomorphologic zones and land use types of the Yangtze River basin, China

AbstractHow land use changes and geomorphologic zones impact on vegetation nonlinear trends remains unclear in economically developed areas with complicated terrain. This paper explores the nonlinear trends of vegetation changes with normalized vegetation index (NDVI) in the Yangtze River basin, China, and further analyzes the effect of geomorphologic zones and land use changes on the nonlinear trend. The results show that: (1) Although monotonic increasing is the main trend type of vegetation NDVI (32.46%), reversal trends from decreasing to increasing and from increasing to decreasing account for 11.87% and 24.95%, respectively. (2) The vegetation change is mainly monotonically increasing in low altitude and relief zones, while that is mainly a reversal trend in high altitude and relief zones, indicating an increased risk of vegetation degradation with altitude and relief increasing. (3) The trends in most land use types are mainly monotonically increasing, but those in urban, forest, and grassland are mainly from increasing to decreasing, with area percentages as high as 32.29%, 27.25%, and 35.97%, indicating degradation risk. (4) The conversion of cropland and wetland to forestland has greatly promoted the vegetation restoration. However, a risk of vegetation degradation exists in land conversions between grassland and other land use types, especially the afforestation of grassland. Over all, considering the effects of both geomorphic zones and land use changes can help us better explore the driving of the nonlinear trends of vegetation changes and understand the process of vegetation dynamics.

ГЕОМОРФОЛОГИЧЕСКОЕ РАЙОНИРОВАНИЕ ВОСТОЧНОЙ ЧАСТИ ДЕЛЬТЫ Р. ЛЕНА С ПОМОЩЬЮ ГИС-АНАЛИЗА

We have carried out geomorphological zoning of the Lena Delta eastern part based on morphometric analysis. First, we have mapped lineaments which are expressed in river network. The analysis of their spatial orientation made it possible to zoning study area. Further morphometric analysis of all revealed areas has allowed to geomorphological characterize they, illustrate their differences, identify a number of patterns, and finally classify them. Morphometric analysis’ results confirm the validity of manual mapping. In addition, our results have confirmed the correspondence of the mapped areas to neotectonic blocks, which have individual features.

Geological setting, petrography and mineralogy of laterites from Swarnagadde plateau of Western Ghats, Karnataka

The word “laterite” has been applied to such a diverse range of geomorphic features that it no longer has value as a precise descriptive term (Paton and Williams, 1972) [19]. The present paper gives an account of Geological Setting, Petrography and Mineralogy of Laterites from Swarnagadde Plateau of Western Ghats, Karnataka. The most widespread occurrences of laterites within the Western India have been recognized in a series of different geological-geomorphological settings, and are found in two distinct geomorphological zones. Mineralogical characterization of laterite and parent rocks could help in understanding the process of Lateritisation and bauxitization. While genesis of laterite is subjected to the process of alteration and it mainly decipher by the composition of preexisting rocks and also processes involved in lateralization/bauxitization. Mineralogy of lithomarge zone is predominated by kaolinite that of aluminous laterite zone by gibbsite. But, laterite and ferruginous laterite zones are predominated by both gibbsite and goethite with good amount of heamatite. In the entire lateritic weathering profile quartz occurs ubiquitously as the main resistant relic mineral. The occurrence of anatase and ilmenite is restricted to aluminous laterite zone.

“THE RELIEF OF EUROPE” AND THE PARADIGM OF GEOMORPHOLOGY OF THE FUTURE (CONCLUSIONS TO THE FIRST TRAINING MANUAL ON THE RELIEF OF CONTINENTS WRITTEN IN THE UKRAINIAN LANGUAGE)

The article emphasizes the need to prepare training manuals on the geomorphology of large land areas. The relief of continents (their parts) and parts of the world is an object of regional geomorphology. The author substantiates the structure and content of the textbook "The relief of Europe", the first written in Ukrainian on the geomorphology of the continents. The manual consists of an introduction, 2 chapters, conclusions and a list of references. The manual uses 6 schematic maps, 9 digital maps, 2 tables, and 28 color photos. The first section of the manual is devoted to issues of planetary geomorphology – the main regularities of Earth's relief forms. Geotexture, morphostructure and morphosculpture are the categories of their are considered as parts of their size-genetic classification and its critical assessment is given (1.1). In 1.2 the planetary features of the Earth's relief at the level of the largest geotextures – continental ridges and ocean depressions are considered (the time of formation and the main trends in the process of the Earth's evolution - the increase in the area of the oceans at the expense of the continents; the sequence of the appearance of the main types of the Earth's crust in the process of the geological evolution of the Earth; the scheme of the geological evolution of the Earth's lithosphere: oceanic-type crust > transition-type crust > continental crust). In 1.3 the considered geomorphological stage of the Earth's development (the beginning of the end of the Paleozoic – the beginning of the Mesozoic – the breakup of Pangea), during which the main features of the modern relief were formed. It is characterized by the following trends: oceanization (expansion and deepening of ocean depressions through the destruction of ancient platforms; increasing the area of continents due to the joining of young platforms (plates); tectonic activation of continents (epiplatform orogeny and the formation of reborn mountains). In 1.4 general regularities of the Earth's morphostructure are considered – 14 types of main morphostructures of plain-platform areas, mountain (orogenic) areas, high platforms and revived mountains, the age and history of the development of land morphostructures, the role of the neotectonic stage, the importance of studying alignment surfaces and hydrographic basins in the study of morphostructure. General regularities of the morphosculpture of the Earth – modern zonal and ancient and the influence of the latter on the development of modern, azonal types of morphosculpture are considered (1.5). The second section consists of general and regional parts. The main regularities of geotexture, morphostructure and morphosculpture of Europe are considered in the general part. In the regional part, modern and ancient geomorphological formations of the author's accepted taxonomic units of geomorphological zoning of Europe (4 zones and 13 countries) are considered. In the conclusions, the author, using data from geology, geomorphology, planetology, substantiates, in his opinion, the content of the future paradigm of geomorphology. Key words: relief of Europe, geotecture; morphostructure; morphosculpture; morphochronodynamic concept; thermodynamic evolution of the Earth.

Applications of GIS software for research of chanel process (on example of the r. Richka basin)

This article is devoted to the complex issue of the application of various types of geographic information systems (GIS) software for the study of channel processes on small mountain rivers. The creation of appropriate models of basin systems based on cartographic data is currently a very relevant and at the same time complex issue in terms of programming, which should be given more attention in modern scientific research. The use of modern software tools gives us the opportunity to supplement the existing data of hydrological information, through the application of the principle of the close relationship between the underlying surface and the active hydrological component (water flow), which is reflected in the functioning system of the river basin. The use of geo-information technologies in hydrological studies allows both to detail individual sections of riverbeds for their further study and to deepen the analysis of channel processes, and vice versa to generalize information based on the data of individual points or sections of riverbeds into a complete basin system. This publication presents an attempt to combine, supplement and generalize with the help of QGIS software, scientific studies of channel processes on the Richka River, to the detailed study of which the author has already devoted a number of her works. The creation of a digital model of the basin and a GIS map will allow to confirm and deepen the previous scientific developments on this water object. The analysis of the 3D model can bring us closer to revealing paleogeographical conditions and reflecting their features on channel processes of the rivers of this basin within three geomorphological zones. And it is also better to investigate, and perhaps refute, some common theories about the origin and formation of the network of rivers in this Carpathian region. Application of software of geographic information systems will allow to more deeply and comprehensively investigate this insufficiently covered issue. After all, as noted at the beginning of the publication: river flow is a product of the climate, and the shape of the riverbeds is a reflection of this interaction with the underlying surface. And therefore, a more detailed study of paleogeographical features through the clear vision of digital models will allow us to determine the changes in channel formation conditions on the rivers of the studied territory that occurred in the past.

Lake Changes during the Past Five Decades in Central East Asia: Links with Climate Change and Climate Future Forecasting

As one of the most important reservoirs of water in arid regions, lakes experience a series of complicated changes. However, the natural driving mechanisms behind such changes remain unclear. In this study, we collected data from 1333 lakes in the arid region of Central East Asia (CEA) to investigate the underlying natural causes of lake changes over the past five decades. The lakes were located within three different geomorphological zones: (I) Tibetan Plateau zone; (II) high mountain—basin zone; and (III) low mountain zone. Our results show that lakes as a whole in CEA exhibit a unique change trend, with an overall lake area increase of 7099 km2 (41%) and with heterogeneous spatial variations over the past five decades. The lake area increase was 6236 km2 (47%), 935 km2 (31%) and decrease was 72 km2 (~1%) in zones I, II, and III, respectively. The different geomorphological zones have influencing factors. In zones I and II, increased precipitation (including cloud water) and temperature rise (causing glacier, frozen soil, and snow melt) contributed to approximately 66% of the change in lake area; in zone III, changes in precipitation contributed to approximately 87% of the lake changes. Increased atmospheric circulation of water vapor caused by warming of the ocean surface appears to be the main driving factor of these changes; this is supported by future projection scenarios. From 2006 to 2098, temperature and precipitation will increase by 4.0–7.8 °C and 1.07 to 1.29 mm per day, respectively, under both the RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 scenarios. Notably, although the climate appears to have become more optimum for lakes in CEA at the interdecadal timescale, short timescale climatic events such as lake expansion will bring more extreme climate events, such as extreme high-temperature heat waves, which should be considered as a potential threat to lake ecology in the future.

Three-dimensional b-value and Fractal Dimension Mapping of the Uttarakhand Himalayan Region

Abstract The 3-D distributions of b-value of the frequency-magnitude distribution and fractal correlation dimension (D2) of seismically active Uttarakhand Himalayan seismic zone is presented. For this study, a catalogue of 525 local earthquakes was used (ML1.0-5.5) during 2017-2020. The de-clustered catalog is found to be complete above ML=2.6. The b-value is estimated to be 0.82±0.06 by maximum likelihood method. The modelled b- and D2 estimates in the study area range from 0.35 to 1.524 and 0.29 to 1.71, respectively. The present study reveals a negative b-D2 relationship (i.e. D2=-0.008b + 1.536, with a correlation coefficient of 0.9892) with week clustering. The modeling detects two zones (viz., A, and B) of high D2 and low b-values within the MCT zone, which are defined as high hazard zones (HHZ) while zone C (in the SE part of the MCT zone) with high D2 and high b-values is detected as an intermediate hazard zone. Also, three zones (D, E and F) with low D2 and low b-values are identified as low hazard zones (LHZ), which are located away from the MCT zone. The A and B high hazard zones can accumulate high levels of tectonic stress and pose risks for generating large earthquakes in the future. But, IHZ-C represents intermediate hazard level that can generate M≥5 events in future. The mapped A and B zones are inferred to be most hazardous in the region, which correlate well with recognized seismogeneic nodes capable of M6.5+ earthquakes in the region as suggested by the geomorphological zoning using pattern recognition.

Delineating surface sediments physical properties in Ghudai Area, Kuwait

There are three main challenges to establishing human settlements in Ghudai area at northern Kuwait Bay, namely; sand encroachment, water floods, and coastal erosion. Therefore, the particle size distribution percentage and statistical parameters in Ghudai surface sediments at the Kuwait Bay coast were determined and delineated in an attempt to display the depositional environment and its impact on the seedling growth of native plants. Particle sizes were assessed using a centrifugal particle analyzer and 373 samples representing the top 20 cm of surficial sediments were taken from the main geomorphological zones around Nitraria retusa and Lycium shawii nabkhas as dominant species in the study area, particle size percentages, and statistical size parameters were determined and delineated. The structural parameter distribution showed the dominance of medium sand sediments, as well as their environmental consequences revealing the unidirectional signature of fluvial flow from the Jal Al-Zur escarpment and wind transportation toward Kuwait Bay. Different discrimination maps of particle size parameters and other factors were plotted. The research shows that particle size parameters are highly vulnerable to slight changes in the pattern of sediment composition where sediments are deposited and reformed in disturbed environments.

Spatial-Temporal Evolution and Driving Forces of NDVI in China's Giant Panda National Park.

Identifying the ecological evolution trends and vegetation driving mechanisms of giant panda national parks can help to improve the protection of giant panda habitats. Based on the research background of different geomorphological zoning, we selected the MODIS NDVI data from 2000 to 2020 to analyze the NDVI trends using a univariate linear model. A partial correlation analysis and multiple correlation analysis were used to reveal the influence of temperature and precipitation on NDVI trends. Fourteen factors related to meteorological factors, topographic factors, geological activities, and human activities were selected, and the Geographically Weighted Regression model was used to study the mechanisms driving NDVI change. The results were as follows: (1) The NDVI value of Giant Panda National Park has fluctuated and increased in the past 21 years, with an annual growth rate of 4.7%/yr. Affected by the Wenchuan earthquake in 2008, the NDVI value fluctuated greatly from 2008 to 2012, and reached its peak in 2018. (2) The NDVI in 94% of the study area improved, and the most significant improvement areas were mainly distributed in the northern and southern regions of Southwest Subalpine and Middle Mountain and the Xiaoxiangling area. Affected by the distribution of fault zones and their local activities, vegetation degradation was concentrated in the Dujiangyan–Anzhou area of Hengduan Mountain Alpine Canyon. (3) The Geographically Weighted Regression analysis showed that natural factors were dominant, with climate and elevation having a double-factor enhancement effect, the peak acceleration of ground motion and fault zone having a superimposed effect, and river density and slope having a double effect, all of which had a significant impact on the NDVI value of the surrounding area. To optimize the ecological security pattern of the Giant Panda National Park, we recommended strengthening the construction of ecological security projects through monitoring meteorological changes, preventing, and controlling geo-hazards, and optimizing the layout and intensity of human activities.

FEATURES OF LEVEL PROCESSES ON MOUNTAIN RIVERS WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF THE VORKHTO-PUTYL LOW MOUNTAINS (CHEREMOSH BASIN)

This publication is devoted to the study of the features of channel processes on mountain rivers that cross the Central synclinorium of the Ukrainian Carpathians, namely the region of the Vorokhto-Putilsky low mountains. These are mainly the rivers of the Cheremosh river basin, the hydrographic sources of the Black and White Cheremosh, as well as their small tributaries Iltsa and Richka.
 It is within the boundaries of this geological and geomorphological region that atypical hollow expansions of the bottoms of river valleys are observed (Zhabeevskaya, Krivopilskaya, Iltsevskaya, Krivorivnesvkaya and Yablunetskaya).
 According to the data of some researchers, the zone of the Vorokhto-Putyl low mountains is part of an older river runoff, the so-called Yasynya-Cheremoshskaya River, which is fragmentarily represented in the modern orography of the Ukrainian Carpathians and is currently not a homogeneous morphological structure. This old river, during the Pliocene period, had an internal flow into the basin of the Siret River, in the direction of its tributary, the Moldova River. It is in this zone that high terrace levels (VIII, IX) are well preserved, the direction of which does not correspond to modern river valleys.
 The main feature of the channel processes of the rivers in this particular region is the disproportionate size of the bottoms of their valleys in accordance with the modern dimensions of the channels.
 The second feature is the predominantly alluvial type of channels with a clearly expressed thick bottom pavement, as well as alluvial forms with well-rounded sediments.
 An important modern element of modern scientific studies of channel processes is the measurement work in the channel to measure the depths of the river channel and the subsequent construction of the transverse profile of the river in certain key areas.
 The results of these measurements, as well as the graphs of the transverse profiles themselves, are presented in this paper for the Iltsa, Chorny, and Bely Cheremosh rivers. A brief description of the features of the channel processes in the leveling areas is also given.
 The obtained results make it possible to more reasonably and accurately analyze the flood zones of these rivers during the passage of floods and spring floods. And also, based on a comparison of the graphs of transverse profiles for different periods, it will be possible to more accurately assess the vertical deformations in different parts of the channels of the studied rivers.
 Thus, for most riverbeds crossing the Vorokhta-Putilsky terraced lowlands, we see atypical hollow expansions of valley bottoms, which indicate local changes in geological and homorphological conditions in these areas, which in turn affects the formation of alluvial type of channels, with quite a large number of deposits of good run-in. This type of channel is more typical of rivers flowing within the foothills and more reminiscent of the free conditions of channel formation. At the same time, when moving to the area of the Skibov Carpathians, the incised type of channel becomes predominant again.
 It should also be noted that the development of channel macroforms (incised macro-meanders on the rivers Iltsa, Chorny Cheremosh, Rivers) is observed within this lowland, which indicates a complex hierarchy of channel processes in this geomorphological zone.
 Prospects for the use of results. The obtained results give the starting material for further, deeper, study and determination of the peculiarities of channel processes on the studied mountain rivers: due to the cross-sections it is possible to calculate the channel-forming water flow at given speeds and water levels; repeated leveling, after a certain period of time, will allow to estimate the intensity of vertical and planned deformations in the surveyed areas; it became possible to determine the zones of flooding during high floods by mathematical (calculation) methods, even in the absence of regular observations at the object of research and to estimate the coefficient of stability of the riverbed.
 Key words: channel processes, mountain rivers, transverse profile, incised channel, vertical deformations

State and prospects of relief protection in nature reserves and national nature parks of the Ukrainian Carpathians


 
 
 
 The aim of the research is to analyze the current state of the protection of relief types within nature reserves and national nature parks of the Ukrainian Carpathians. The study analyzes coverage of usual and unique types of mountain and premountain relief of the Ukrainian Carpathians within nature protection institutions. The method contains a general geomorphological analysis of the relief of nature conservation institutions of the Ukrainian Carpathians. geomorphological structure and zoning of the research region based on the systematization and comparison of the up to date cartographic and descriptive materials. Comparing the map Geomorphological structure (morphostructure and morphosculpture) of the Ukrainian Carpathians (Hnatiuk et al., 2007) and borrowed cartographic materials from the Projects of organization of nature reserves and national nature parks within the region, special representativeness of relief types in the QGIS software is obtained. Authors set a degree of representativeness of relief types within the territories of nature conservation institutions as well as present it in special tables and maps. Additionally, the map ofthe location of nature reserves and national nature parks within the geomorphological zoning of the Ukrainian Carpathians (Rudko & Kravchuk, 2002) is made as well as the character of protection of various geomorphological areas of mountain and premountain parts of the region is clarified. For the first time, authors establish the degree of regional and typological geomorphological representativeness of natural reserves and national nature parks as well as clarify the current state of protection of relief types of the Ukrainian Carpathians in general. Based on the results of the analysis, authors develop proposals for the creation of new nature conservation institutions in the Ukrainian Carpathians for optimization of the relief as well as proposals for the protection of the region and its use in nature conservation, scientific, natural-cognitive, and recreational purposes.
 
 
 

Geomorphology of the Beqaa Valley, Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon Mountains

Abstract Geomorphology of Lebanon presents a unique pattern of contrasting landforms. These include two notable mountain ranges, the Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon Mountains, the Beqaa Valley, the elongated coastal area and a significant amount of karst relief forms. This study focuses on the investigation of the topographic and geologic setting of Lebanon by visualizing datasets covering Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon mountains and the Beqaa Valley. Data were collected using the open source repositories of the high-resolution data (GEBCO, ETOPO1, DEM embedded in R). Three 3D models of the relief of the country are presented based on the ‘grdview’ package of GMT with azimuth rotations of the view point at 205°/30° and 165°/30°. The geologic map is based on the compiled datasets of the USGS. The R based modelling allowed division of the raster grid into several geomorphological zones according to the slope steepness and aspect orientation. The extreme elevations of the study area range from -2007 m and 2973 m. The key contribution of this work is the topographic and geologic data synthesis for 2D and 3D modelling of Lebanon. Another aspect concerns technical integration of GMT and R scripting approaches with QGIS mapping into the cartographic framework for visualizing of the Lebanese topography as a multi-tool approach. For the future similar studies on Lebanon this paper can serve as a guide for completing a project on the multi-source 2D and 3D data mapping as a conceptual foundation for research on Lebanese environment.

Geomorphological Zoning of Racha Region for Geopark Planning

Geomorphological zoning and complex relief research were conducted in the Racha region, which is located In the Caucasus, in the northwestern part of Georgia, south of the Greater Caucasus, in the central part of which there are Precambrian and Paleozoic crystalline substrates (gneisses, migmatites, crystalline shales) and granitoid intrusions of different ages. The Caucasus axis and higher massifs are built of granitoid, gneiss, and metamorphic shales. The oldest rocks (600 million years old) are found at the highest points and the age of the rocks decreases in the vicinity of the hypsometry steps (70 - 30 million rocks). The geological structure of the region has made a significant contribution to the formation of relief landscapes. Karst, erosion-denudation, volcanic, periglacial relief, and various interesting forms are formed here: caves, valleys, canyons, glacial and rocky lakes, waterfalls, deep valleys, mineral waters, and more. The peculiarity of the relief also influenced the mining geological history (5000 AD) and the creation of ancient settlements. Here, still in ancient Racha, at the head of the main river, Rioni, ancient settlements were formed due to iron, gold, and copper metal, which is confirmed by archeological monuments.

Применение беспилотных летательных аппаратов для геоморфологического картографирования оползневых склонов хребта Аибга (Западный Кавказ)

Aerial sounding of the study area of the northern slope of the Aibga Ridge was carried out using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for geomorphological large-scale geoinformation mapping of landslide slopes. The site of work was chosen on the basis of the previously carried out ecological and geomorphological zoning of the slopes of the Aibga Ridge (Sochi National Park) and represents the slopes of the Chernaya Piramida mountain covered with forest and alpine meadows. A fragment of the ridge slope in the area of an ancient stabilized seismogenic gravitational landslide was studied. The morphology of the relief was partially changed during the construction of sports facilities—ski slopes and cable cars. The creation of clearings in forests, a partial change in the morphology of the natural relief and surface runoff conditions led to local activation of landslide processes, including on ski slopes and other infrastructure facilities. The newly formed landslide slopes are confined to the junction of natural and man-made relief forms: the ski slopes and the slopes of the hollows of temporary watercourses. As a result of field work using the global navigation satellite system (GNSS), a local reference geodetic network of centimeter accuracy was formed—a planned-altitude substantiation (PVO), which served as a geodetic basis for processing sounding materials and subsequent geoinformation mapping. Aerial sounding was carried out using the DJI Mavic 2 Pro and DJI Mini UAVs, more than 1,000 digital images of the study area in nadir and prospective have been accumulated. In addition, in order to identify the relief forms of the underlying surface on separate fragments of the study area, covered with dense broad-leaved forest (beech, hornbeam), a tacheometric survey was carried out. Field research materials served as the basis for geomorphological mapping of the landslide slopes of the Aibga Ridge and the creation of the corresponding thematic layers in the GIS software environment.

Integral assessment of the geodynamic conditions for the formation of the Black Sea basin and connection with the current regime of groundwater in its northwestern shelf

The paper has a multidisciplinary character connecting bathymetric, geophysical and geological information to innovatively reconstruct the geodynamic conditions of the Black Sea basin formation, their influence on the modern relief and groundwater regime within its northwestern shelf as a reference region. The major goal is the rationale of modern geodynamic settings for the Black Sea Basin against the back- ground of the processes of its closure under tangential compression conditions, as well as their relation- ship with the hydrogeological conditions of the shelf zone. As primary evidence, the author determined the spatial positions of the Constanta-Sinop and SubPontian Suture Zones, pinpointing absorption locations of the Earth's crust at subduction zones. The facts and arguments presented in this paper are well integrated into the scheme of the oncoming of the Pontides island arc to the Eurasian Plate and the gradual closure of the back-arc marginal Black Sea Basin with a crust of transitional-type crust. The specific feature of the study is an innovative approach to comprehensive analysis of data that are a result of geological and geophysical works within the Black Sea water area. In doing so, major attention is paid to the spatial morphostructural analysis and interpretation of newly integrated digital data array, as a result of bathymetric surveys, namely the EMODnet 2019—2022. The subject of analysis is the basic structural surfaces, including the Modern and on its margin consolidated basement. New justification is formulated on the confinement of gas seeps and mud volcanoes, within the Black Sea Basin, to the deep earth`s crust structures. The graphical correlation of the mentioned ones is performed as well as their spatial position in the structural-geodynamic model of the region is theoretically substantiated. A generalized geomorphological zoning of the northwestern shelf of the Black Sea with the identification of the Dobrogea, Odesa and Kalamit zone is proposed. Within the Odesa geomorphological region, an integrated geological and geomorphological analysis was carried out and, as a result, dividing the shelf into submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) zone of aquifer was substantiated. The study, carried out by the author is of crucial importance to understanding the tectonic and geo- dynamic characteristics of the Black Sea Basin as well as for forecasting SGD zones and fresh groundwater resources. It is recommended to set targeted prospecting works to assess fresh groundwater resources in order to meet the water needs of coastal communities.

SOME ASPECTS OF POLISH-UKRAINIAN GEOLOGICAL AND GEOMORPHOLOGICAL RESEARCHES OF WESTERN VOLYN-PODILLIA DURING THE POLISH INVASION

The proposed article is based on an analysis of publications on field observations published in the then Polish and Ukrainian periodicals, collections of materials from scientific forums at various levels, works collections of individual Polish and foreign scientific institutes, etc. The purpose of the article was an attempt to analyze and generalize the research results of the study area in the field of Quaternary geology and geomorphology. It should also be noted that publications from the listed sections of physical geography are encountered quite sporadically and in significantly smaller numbers than articles on purely geological disciplines such as mineralogy, petrography, lithology, tectonics, etc. The study of geological and geomorphological objects and processes was carried out on the territory of Western Volyn-Podillia, which at that time was a part of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. The works mainly concerned the study of the stratigraphy of anthropogenic sediments distributed in the Podillia loess and loess soils, continental glaciations and related glacial and fluvial-glacial deposits, surface and underground karst, etc. It was established that significant in volume and depth of generalization of works on the geological and geomorphological structure the region features at that time was not. The studies that were carried out were not systematic, they were often carried out on the researchers initiative and without adequate funding, with localization mainly in the territory with open at that time deposits of certain minerals types. Analysis of publications can be stated as follows: the study of Quaternary deposits of the region and loess in particular was carried out with extensive use of laboratory studies, paleontological method, chemical, particle size distribution mineralogical and petrographic analyzes, the method of separation of loess minerals in heavy liquids, paleontological and archaeological observations, etc., were progressive at that time. It should be noted that individual reports on the determination of the age of the Quaternary strata were poorly synchronized with each other and a reliable generally accepted scale for the division of these deposits in this period was not agreed. During this period, factually substantiated schemes of geomorphological zoning of both the Podillia region as a whole and its individual components were proposed. Regular relationships of the relief features of the region with the lithogenic base, neotectonic movements, glacial and fluvial-glacial processes are traced. Significant progress is noted in the study of stratigraphy, lithology of local loess strata, problematic issues of their genesis are discussed. Among the few works on the study of the loess cover of Volyn-Podillia, the work of Yu. Polianskyi and Yu. Tokarskyi attracts attention first of all. The works on the study of loess are important due to: a) their almost ubiquitous distribution in the described territories; b) value for stratigraphic subdivision of the Pleistocene; c) controversial genesis; d) widespread use for the production of bricks and tiles. Work on the study of surface and underground forms of the Podillia karst has spread. Systematic mapping of individual underground cavities begins which gave impetus to their use in the future as objects of tourism. The largest number of works is devoted to the problems of studying the relief and modern physical and geographical processes in the interwar period. At the same time, along with purely descriptive publications, works appear where conclusions are based on the use of cartographic materials, which allowed researchers to identify significant patterns in the morphological features of the region. In the period under study, numerous publications by soil scientists also appeared, in which Quaternary sediments are considered as parent rocks on which soils were formed, the dependence of the type of soil on the lithology of the underlying rocks is established.
 In general, the works of Polish and Ukrainian researchers in the characterized period laid a reliable foundation for modern ideas about the geological and geomorphological features of the region.
 Keywords: geomorphological studies, Quaternary deposits, glacial deposits, stratigraphy, morphology, loess deposits.

Detection of coastal dynamics depending on the Caspian Sea level change using remote sensing data: A case study in the Kura geomorphological sub-region (Azerbaijan)

Based on the analysis performed in the Kura geomorphological sub-region of the Caspian coastal zone, it was determined that the sea level rise of 2.43 m in 1976–1996 caused an average annual rate of erosion processes about 75 times higher than accumulation processes. In 1996–2019, the stabilization and the following drop of the sea level of 1.39 m led to an average annual rate of accumulation processes up to 14 times higher than the average annual rate of erosion processes. This pattern is observed along the entire coastline of those periods. Erosion processes in the initial stage (1976–1996) increased the indentation and length of the coastline by almost 2 times, and in the next stage (1996–2019) the intensification of accumulation processes resulted in the smoothing and reduction of the coastline by 35 %. Statistical analysis of coastlines was carried out by processing Landsat satellite images for 1976–2019; each coastline was divided into 14 segments according to geomorphological zones and their morphostructures in the study area. The development forecast for the next 10 and 20 years is provided.

Spatial distribution of soil morphology and physicochemical properties to assess land degradation under different NDVI and TRI in North Halmahera, Indonesia

Land degradation is currently a major environmental problem that can lead to decreasing biomass productivity. The causes of land degradation have been widely reported. However, the soil morphological characteristics and its detailed properties related to land degradation need to be investigated further. The research was conducted in North Halmahera Regency in March-April 2020. The study started with an overlay of basic maps such as rainfall, land use, topography, and soil types to map the degraded land units. Several land units classified from slightly damaged to severely damaged will be validated based on field observations and supported by laboratory measurements. Characterization of soil morphology and soil sampling was carried out according to USDA international standards. Sentinel 2A image and SRTM image from March to April 2020 were used to determine NDVI and TRI. The characteristics of the soils that have not been degraded tend to be found in volcanic landscapes, while those of the degraded soils tend to be found in structural and karst hills. The thickness of the degraded soil horizons tends to be shallower with an incomplete horizon arrangement, and many rock fragments are found in the soil surface layer. SOC gradually decreases in degraded soils, while the essential nutrients (N, P, and K) are relatively more varied across soil types. The improper land use without conservation on steep slopes causes the soils to be easily degraded. The soil degradation index has a linear relationship with NDVI and TRI. Thus, the revitalization of degraded lands needs to pay attention to the layout and types of vegetation with different slope levels according to the geomorphological zone.

Vegetation structure, aboveground biomass, and carbon storage of wono¸ a local forest management in Gunungkidul, Yogyakarta, Indonesia, across three geomorphological zones

Abstract. Tohirin, Suryanto P, Sadono R. 2021. Vegetation structure, aboveground biomass, and carbon storage of wono¸ local forest management in Gunungkidul, Yogyakarta, Indonesia, across three geomorphological zones. Biodiversitas 22: 3207-3218. Wono is local community-based forest management in Gunungkidul District, Yogyakarta. This land use has the potential to reduce carbon dioxide emissions through their carbon sequestration capacity as well as to produce renewable energy sources through wood biomass for charcoal and wood pellet. Since Gunungkidul is unique in terms of geomorphological characteristics, study on the vegetation structure, biomass estimation, and carbon storage of wono across geomorphological zones are important. Therefore, this study describes the vegetation structure of wono in three geomorphological zones of Gunungkidul District, as well as estimates the aboveground living biomass (AGB) and aboveground living carbon storage (AGC). The quadratic sampling technique was used to collect data for vegetation analysis with the size of the plots were 20 m x 20 m, 10 m x 10 m, 5 m x 5 m, and 2 m x 2 m for trees, poles, saplings, and seedlings, respectively. A total of 32 plots were established, consisting of 18 plots in Nglanggeran Village, 12 plots in Dengok Village, and six plots in Girisekar Village, each village representing geomorphological zones of Batur Agung, Ledok Wonosari, and Pegunungan Seribu, respectively. The AGB was performed non-destructively and estimated using referenced allometric equations. Furthermore, the AGC was calculated using a conversion factor of 0.47 from the obtained AGB. The results showed that the identified species at wono in Batur Agung, Ledok Wonosari, and Pegunungan Seribu zones were 13, 7, and 8, respectively. Swietenia macrophylla had the highest important value index (IVI) of 185.22% in the Batur Agung zone, while Tectona grandis was the most important species in both the Ledok Wonosari and Pegunungan Seribu zones with IVI= 238.27% and 178.60%, respectively. The biodiversity in these three zones was very low in terms of species diversity (H' < 2) and species richness (R1 < 3.4). The estimated AGB and calculated AGC in the Batur Agung, Ledok Wonosari, and Pegunungan Seribu zones were 210.96 ton ha-1 and 99.15 ton C ha-1, 73.58 ton ha-1 and 34.58 ton C ha-1, and 57.92 ton ha-1 and 27.22 ton C ha-1, respectively.

The history of the forming and the features of the soil, lithological and geomorphological structure of the Jizzakh steppe as the basais for its natural zoning

The paper provides initial materials characterizing the complicated history of formation, natural soils and lithological-geomorphological conditions of the Jizzakh steppe before the beginning of reclamation development. It is shown that on the basis of soil-lithological and geomorphological zoning, the Jizzakh steppe is divided into a number of natural regions belonging to different levels (altitude levels) of the piedmont plain. In total, 22 districts have been identified within the Jizzakh steppe, including the foothill margins. On the piedmont plain itself, the regions are combined into two high-altitude levels: the upper step and the lower step or blanket zone. These two levels differ sharply in terms of drainage conditions and soil salinity. The upper level, covering the upper and middle parts of the alluvial fan, the high interconal Zaamin-Sanzar plain and the Lomakino plateau, is characterized by a weak manifestation of salinity due to relatively good drainage, except for the sloping depressions of the Lomakino plateau. In contrast to the upper level, the lower level, located in the blanket zone of the piedmont plain, is characterized by active natural salinization because of the poor drainage. The saline sediments of the Zaamin cone delta are characterized by the greatest thickness. To a lesser extent, the rocks of the Sanzar cone delta, which are drained by deep gullies, are salinized. The Khavast sloping plain is characterized by a strongly saline upper two-meter layer, with salt and gypsum content decreasing with depth. Thus, it is shown that high salinity and gypsum bearing rocks, as well as high groundwater salinity of the cone delta zone are the source of modern salt accumulation in soils of foothill Golodnostepskaya plain, as well as in soils of the cone delta zone of Djizak steppe.