Geosystem Approach Research Articles

Climate Change, Anthropogenic Pressure, and Sustainable Development of Karst Geosystems (A Case Study of the Brestnitsa Karst Geosystem in Northern Bulgaria)

This study examines climate change, anthropogenic impacts, and their relationship with the sustainable development of the Brestnitsa karst geosystem. It is representative of the karst in Bulgaria, which is developed on a quarter of its territory. The geosystem approach was used to reveal the interrelationships in a typical karst territory. The data were collected from more than 10 years of integrated monitoring of the geosystem, including continuous instrumental monitoring in the show cave Saeva Dupka, which is part of the geosystem. Various data from other sources were also used, such as satellite observations (a digital terrain model, land cover, and satellite images and products), ground data, and climate reanalyses. A spatial analysis of the karst geosystem in the context of climate change and sustainable development was conducted using a complex of remote sensing methods, geographic information systems, and statistical methods. The main results include the state and trends in the climate of the area, changes and trends in the speleoclimate and gas composition of the air in the Saeva Dupka cave, and changes in land use in the territory of the geosystem. Conclusions about the connections between climate change, current karstogenesis, and the carbon cycle in the geosystem, as well as the response of the geosystem to the consequences of the combined impact of climate change and human activities, have been made. All these impacts on the karst geosystem have been assessed in order to make adequate management decisions to guarantee its sustainable development in the future.

Этнокультурный туризм в системе рекреационного природопользования Северо-Восточного Кавказа

The aim of the work is to study the problems and prospects of ethno-cultural tourism development in the North-Eastern Caucasus and to assess its role in recreational nature management. Research methods: geographical, comparative-historical, demographic and ethno-cultural analysis of the territory, method of statistical processing of information and geo-system approach. Research results. The structure of ethno-cultural tourism potential including objects of natural and historical-cultural heritage, pilgrimages and unique intangible cultural heritage (art, culture, traditions and customs) was substantiated. The geographical pattern of distribution of historical and cultural heritage objects has been studied, which consists in the following: in the plain part these objects are represented mainly by houses of famous scientists, architects, artists and poets, obelisks, etc., and in the mountain zone–by tower complexes, above-ground crypts, bas-reliefs and other structures. The main types of traditional folk crafts and handicrafts (carpet weaving, felt making, jewelry, gun smithing, metal carving on wood, etc.) preserved up to nowadays as the most important resource of ethno-cultural tourism are shown. The significant share of creative potential has been identified in the mountainous part of the North-Eastern Caucasus. Conclusion. The results of the study show that the potential of ethno-cultural tourism in the North-Eastern Caucasus is not fully utilized. And this is reflected in its weak role in the system of recreational nature management. It is proved that for more effective utilization of this potential it is necessary to develop science-based approaches. The complex of problems that hinder the development of ethno-cultural tourism in the region of study is identified (shortage of highly qualified personnel, low level of service, poorly developed infrastructure, especially in mountainous areas, weak promotion of tourism products, etc.). It is shown that their decision will allow to bring this type of tourism to a higher level of economic development. It is recommended to emphasize the combination of traditional and innovative approaches in the system of recreational nature management, including ethno-cultural branding of recreation objects. The results of the study can be applied in the development of regional strategies for tourism development in the North-Eastern Caucasus, in the formation of regional and interregional tourism and recreation clusters.

Принципы и методы исследования структуры метагеосистем для проектирования паломническо-туристского кластера

Introduction. The article characterizes the spatio-temporal structure of metageosystems of the pilgrimage-tourist cluster “Sanaksar – Temnikov”, located in the center of the Russian Plain, in the zone of interaction of forest-steppe and forest geosystems. Materials and methods. Thestructuring of information within the framework of thestudy is based on the simultaneous use of a natural sequence of involving interrelated principles: genetic, historical, systemic, territorial-structural. The object of study was investigated from the perspective of a geosystem approach, the structure and components of metageosystems were analyzed as spatial formations of different levels of organization, naturally functioning. Research results and discussion. A detailed description of the geosystem model of the tourist cluster “Sanaksar – Temnikov” is given. It has been proven that the sustainable development of metageosystems should be based on multifactor information support, in which the most important condition for the effective economic development of landscapes is realized through the formation of a regional spatial data infrastructure. Based on the analysis of the archaeological map of the Republic of Mordovia, patterns of development of cultural landscapes are identified. The characteristics of the processes and features of the economic development of geosystems and the formation of cultural heritage have been formed. Conclusion. The organization of a pilgrimage and tourism cluster places high demands on information support. Solving the problem of forecasting and monitoring the development of metageosystems for making management decisions is possible using methods and algorithms for processing and analyzing spatial data, designing and implementing project-oriented geoportal systems for distributing spatial data.

Conflicts of the Land Use and Ecosystem Services in the Riverine Landscape of the Little Danube

Ecosystem benefits, now known as ecosystem services (ESs), confront continuous threats from human activities and lack adequate protection, often suffering degradation and destruction despite their inherent advantages. This paper aims to introduce the geosystem approach as an exact scientific basis for assessing ESs. By emphasizing the interconnectedness of abiotic and biotic components within ecosystems, this method involves in-depth research across landscape dimensions and socioeconomic factors influencing the utilization of ecosystem services (ESs). It highlights a deep understanding of their connections and interactions. The key operational units, termed landscape–ecological complexes or geoecological complexes, result from fundamental research. Their interpretation as potentially useful for the chosen ESs is already an applied procedure. ES assessment employs two approaches: participatory and biophysical assessments. The outcomes contribute to the development of management measures for preserving or enhancing ESs in the broader study area. Methodological procedures were tested in the Little Danube model area, a unique lowland stream in Central Europe’s Rye Island and a significant drinking water reservoir. The assessment results provide a foundation, supporting arguments, and criteria for ecologically appropriate landscape planning, as well as the sustainable management, utilization, and conservation of natural resources.

Картографирование пространственной структуры геосистем центральной части Баргузинского хребта

The article presents the results of the landscape study, with the analysis of landscapes and mapping of the area of the 151 km2 polygon. The polygon is located in theми Eastern Transbaikal, covering the part of the Urbican basin and its mountainous frame. For the analysis of the structure of geosystems and the estimation of disturbance, the basic geosystem approach is applied to modern geoinformation-cartographic and remote methods. Based on of V. B. Sochava’s theory of geosystems it is meant for use in processing and ordering a large body of information. The regional background and the main factors of the landscape differentiation of the study areas were analyzed. It is established that the main factors influencing the landscape diversity are the aspect and steepness of the slopes, the composition and structure of rocks, the absolute height, the amount of atmospheric precipitation, and pyrogenic impacts. The high-altitude, middle and lower parts of the Urbican basin differ from each other in terms of the development of geosystems in different high-altitude tiers, when the influence of the climatic factor and cryolithomorphic with slope-cryogenic processes increases with altitude. Geosystems at the level of homogeneous facies and their groupings are displayed on a large-scale map at a scale of 1:50,000. taking into account natural and pyrogenic characteristics. The assessment of changes in the structure since the work of the Barguzin expedition of 1914–1915 under the influence of fires was carried out, while the emphasis was placed on the change of the dark coniferous component in the vegetation cover.

Intra-landscape differentiation of vegetation cover of the mountain cryolithozone of Northern Transbaikalia

In this paper, the intra-landscape differentiation of vegetation cover within the representative areas of the Verkhnecharsky basin and the Kodar ridge, which are part of the high-altitude cryolithozone of Northern Transbaikalia, is considered. Based on the results of field and remote observations, the main factors affecting the distribution and condition of vegetation cover within heterogeneous landscape tracts have been identified. On the basis of geosystem approach, the regularity of the redistribution of the main types of vegetation depending on the existing permafrost landscape situation in the basin and highland areas is analyzed. The conducted research can serve as an environmental basis for the organization of environmental monitoring and indication of the state of permafrost mountain landscapes in connection with the current climate change and active economic development of the region.

Development of a neural network model for spatial data analysis

Objectives. The paper aimed to develop and validate a neural network model for spatial data analysis. The advantage of the proposed model is the presence of a large number of degrees of freedom allowing its flexible configuration depending on the specific problem. This development is part of the knowledge base of a deep machine learning model repository including a dynamic visualization subsystem based on adaptive web interfaces allowing interactive direct editing of the architecture and topology of neural network models.Methods. The presented solution to the problem of improving the accuracy of spatial data analysis and classification is based on a geosystem approach for analyzing the genetic homogeneity of territorial-adjacent entities of different scales and hierarchies. The publicly available EuroSAT dataset used for initial validation of the proposed methodology is based on Sentinel-2 satellite imagery for training and testing machine learning models aimed at classifying land use/land cover systems. The ontological model of the repository including the developed model is decomposed into domains of deep machine learning models, project tasks and data, thus providing a comprehensive definition of the formalizing area of knowledge. Each stored neural network model is mapped to a set of specific tasks and datasets. Results. Model validation for the EuroSAT dataset algorithmically extended in terms of the geosystem approach allows classification accuracy to be improved under training data shortage within 9% while maintaining the accuracy of ResNet50 and GoogleNet deep learning models.Conclusions. The implemention of the developed model into the repository enhances the knowledge base of models for spatial data analysis as well as allowing the selection of efficient models for solving problems in the digital economy.

Geosystem Approach to Landscape Pattern and Process Studies in Russia

Geosystem Approach to Landscape Pattern and Process Studies in Russia

Development of the regional water balance regulation concept based on the geosystem approach

The article is devoted to solving the scientific problem of the regional water balance regulation concept development. The authors have proposed a methodology for solving the problem of the scarcity of labeled spatial data, based on the geosystem approach. A deep neural network model for the analysis of the geosystem model of the territory is proposed. An approach to the formation of ensembles of classifiers to improve the accuracy of the classification of spatial data is described. It is proved that the hierarchical structuring of geosystems optimizes diagnostics of the leading agents of physical and geographical factors interaction, patterns of spatio-temporal changes in their states, direction of metabolic processes and transformation of matter and energy development. Studies have shown that the combination of factors variety in the water balance formation forms many types of water resources conditions formation.

Approaches to the study of deformations in permafrost soils

The object of the study is the processes of metamorphism of frozen rocks, including structural restructuring, as well as plastic and brittle deformations of underground ice. In geocryology, many experts note the importance of considering the processes of deformation of frozen rocks. At the same time, the deformed rocks themselves do not stand out in a separate category, which makes it difficult to study the development of cryogenic geosystems after their formation. The main method used in this article is the analysis of the results of previous studies by various authors on the topic under consideration. The theoretical basis of the proposed approach is the provisions developed within the framework of the mechanics of frozen soils and structural ice science. The synthesis of the analyzed materials was carried out on the basis of a geosystem approach. In the proposed work, for the first time, a comparative analysis of structural deformations of various kinds of cryogenic formations was carried out. The relevance of the topic under consideration is due to the need to study the patterns of deformation of frozen rocks in natural conditions. Theoretically, this is important for a deeper understanding of the processes occurring in the cryolithozone. For practical purposes, work in this direction will allow us to more accurately assess the possibility of the development of dangerous engineering-geological processes with man-made impacts on frozen rocks. Changes in the structure of frozen rocks continue after the formation of the primary structure. Deformations, that is, violations of the primary addition, are an integral part of the structure of frozen rocks. Data on deformations of the primary cryogenic structure provide information about the history of the development of cryogenic geosystems that have already been formed. It is necessary to develop a classification of textural and structural deformations of the cryogenic structure of frozen rocks, in which a special type should be distinguished - metamorphosed ice formations. It is necessary to develop methods of structural and deformation analysis that allow establishing links between the observed deformations of the cryogenic structure and the processes occurring in frozen rocks.

Deep and surface factors of local gas-saturated zones formation with anomalously high gas pressure and gas emission craters in frozen soils

The article is devoted to the consideration of surface and deep factors that trigger the mechanisms for the preparation of explosive processes that form gas emission craters. The study object is local zones of gas-saturated soils with abnormally high gas pressure and gas craters. The main method used in this article is the bibliography review. The synthesis of the analyzed materials was carried out based on the geosystem approach. In the proposed work, an analysis was made of the main hypotheses of the formation of gas-saturated zones with increased gas pressure in frozen soils: 1) due to the comprehensive freezing of taliks (completely dependent on surface conditions; 2) due to the inflow of warm gas from underlying rocks into the surface layers (depending on deep sources); 3) due to the decomposition of gas hydrates contained in the permafrost (the reasons can be both surface and deep); 4) due to the joint interaction of the freezing talik and the associated deep gas inflow channel. Possibilities of realization of these or those hypotheses in real conditions are revealed. The relevance of the topic is due to the reassessment of the role of frozen soils as a screen that protects the atmosphere from the emission of greenhouse gases from the lithosphere. Evidence has appeared that this role of the cryolithozone is significantly weakened with an increase in temperature, while the frozen soils themselves can be a source of gas release.

Flow Modeling Test and Flood Risks in the North-East Piedmont of Aureas: A Geosystem Approach

Flow Modeling Test and Flood Risks in the North-East Piedmont of Aureas: A Geosystem Approach

Анализ метагеосистем полигона «Инерка» посредством ансамблей моделей машинного обучения

The article describes a geoinformation algorithm for interpreting Earth remote sensing data based on the Ensemble Learning methodology. The proposed solution can be used to assess the stability of geosystems and predict natural (including exogeodynamic) processes. The difference of the created approach is determined by a fundamentally new organization scheme of the metaclassifier as a decision-making unit, as well as the use of a geosystem approach to preparing data for automated analysis using deep neural network models. The article shows that the use of ensembles, built according to the proposed method, makes it possible to carry out an operational automated analysis of spatial data for solving the problem of thematic mapping of metageosystems and natural processes. At the same time, combining models into an ensemble based on the proposed architecture of the metaclassifier makes it possible to increase the stability of the analyzing system: the accuracy of decisions made by the ensemble tends to tend to the accuracy of the most efficient monoclassifier of the system. The integration of individual classifiers into ensembles makes it possible to approach the solution of the scientific problem of finding classifier hyperparameters through the combined use of models of the same type with different configurations. The formation of a metaclassifier according to the proposed algorithm is an opportunity to add an element of predictability and control to the use of neural network models, which are traditionally a “black box”. Mapping of the geosystems of the Inerka test site shows their weak resistance to recreational development. The main limiting factors are the composition of Quaternary deposits, the nature of the relief, the mechanical composition of soils, soil moisture, the thickness of the humus horizon of the soil, the genesis and composition of vegetation.

Geosystem approach assisting water resources management in Brazil

Geosystem approach assisting water resources management in Brazil

THE TYPIZATION OF THE SOIL COVER STRUCTURE BY GIS MEANS FOR EVALUATING THE PRODUCTIVE POTENTIAL OF AGRICULTURAL LANDSCAPES ON THE EXAMPLE OF THE REPUBLIC OF BELARUS

A geosystem approach to the analysis of the structure of the soil cover by soil combinations with the use of geoinformation technologies is considered. Within the boundaries of the soil-ecological zoning of Belarus, the identified types of land are considered as units of territorial planning in the areas of nature management. An agroecological assessment of the productive potential of soil and land resources of agricultural landscapes was carried out on the basis of the nomenclature of land types and the formula of soil combination. In the basic agricultural landscapes, on a typical spatial basis, the factors of differentiation of the structure of the soil cover and the conditions of land use are taken into account. Regularities of changes in the cost of production of the main types of agricultural products, depending on the territorial affiliation to one of the limited set of identified types of land, have been revealed. The prospects for the use of typified soil cover structures in land management and the practice of territorial planning of agricultural landscapes are described.

Geosystem approach to using surface and groundwater in agricultural water supply

The water resources required for agricultural water supply in the zone of insufficient moisture in the south of the European part of Russia have been assessed based on the geosystem approach. Global warming has changed the conditions for the surface and ground waters formation, which leads to water resources shortage. To ensure irrigation and agricultural water supply, it is necessary to analyze the geosystem conditions of water exchange basins, assess the need for water and justify additional sources of water resources to overcome the shortage. To substantiate the use of water resources, the south of the European part of the Russian Federation was zoned in terms of water availability regarding the agroclimatic features, hydrogeological conditions, the river runoff regularity, the climatic changes influence. The analysis of the agricultural production characteristics, the assessment of the current volumes and the need for water resources for irrigation and agricultural water supply until 2035 with regards to agricultural production development, the population size and the dynamics of climate change are presented. For the conditions of the Republic of Kalmykia, the data of forecast calculations of the needs of agricultural water supply for multipurpose use have been presented. The possibility of complex use of surface and ground waters for irrigation has been determined. The volumes of groundwater potentially available for use in acute arid periods for 1-2 years have been assessed. For the Republic of Kalmykia, the short-term groundwater reserve is 70.1 thousand m3 per day, for the Krasnodar Territory – 3135.1 thousand m3 per day, for the Astrakhan region – 19.9 thousand m3 per day, for the Volgograd region – 519.1 thousand m3 per day The results of studies carried out using the geosystem approach can provide the basis for developing long-term plans for water use and a detailed study of issues on increasing the water supply in the south of the European part of the Russian Federation with water resources.

Разработка алгоритма классификации данных дистанционного зондирования Земли с применением методов глубокого машинного обучения для анализа геосистемной модели территории

The authors propose their solving the task of improving the accuracy of remote sensing data classification under conditions of labeled data scarcity through using a geosystem approach that involves analyzing the genetic uniformity of various-scale territorially adjacent formations and hierarchical levels. The advantage of the proposed GeoSystemNet model is a great number of freedom degrees, which enables flexible configuration of the model based on the task being solved. Testing the GeoSystemNet model for classifying the EuroSAT set, algorithmically expanded from the perspective of the geosystem approach, showed the possibility of increasing the classification accuracy under the conditions of training data scarcity within 9 %, as well as approaching the accuracy of the deep ResNet50 and GoogleNet models. The authors note that the use of the geosystem approach according to the methodology proposed in the article for solving the above-mentioned problem requires an individual project approach to the formation of the data for analysis.

ЭКОЛОГИЧЕСКИЙ ПРОФИЛЬ ВОДОСБОРА БАССЕЙНА РЕКИ ШУ В УСЛОВИЯХ АНТРОПОГЕННОЙ ДЕЯТЕЛЬНОСТИ

Based on the study, many years of information and analytical materials «Kyrgyzhydromet» and «Kazhydromet», as well as the Department of State Statistics of the Kyrgyz Republic and the Republic of Kazakhstan, characterizing the formation of water resources and their use in the economic sectors of the catchment area of the Shu River basin, were considered as a model of the "activity-natural system", which performs runoff, environment-forming, ecological and social functions and is the spatial basis of nature management for a comprehensive assessment of the state of the territory and water bodies. As a basis for assessing the main functions of the catchment area of the Shu River basin, a geosystem approach was used, which determines the scientific and practical feasibility of geomorphological schematization, within the framework of which it becomes possible to construct their ecological profile on a spatio-temporal scale, which makes it possible to establish trends in the development of cognitive and transformative activities that determine the direction and intensity of anthropogenic activity. in the region. The main natural function of the river basin of the formation of a hydrogeochemical flow, which has one object for its discharge, determines the qualitative state of the ecological profile of the catchment area of the Shu River basin, that is, depending on the zonation from the mountainous class of landscapes to the lowland class of landscapes (superaquial and subaquial facies), natural hydrological facies are gradually disrupted. rhythms, affects the hydrogeological and soil-reclamation processes and environmental conditions, especially in the lower reaches of river basins, which are zones of storage of return (collector-drainage and waste) waters of industrial and agricultural facilities.

Methods for mapping information on the structure and dynamics of geosystems of mountains of the Baikal region

The paper presents the results of the ecological study, with the analysis of landscapes and mapping of the area of the testing ground. The testing ground is located in the Eastern Transbaikalia, covering the part of the central part of Primorskii Range and sourth-eastern macroslope of this mountain range (having an easterly aspect for the Primorskii Range). For the analysis of the structure of geosystems and the estimation of disturbance, the basic geosystem approach is applied to modern geoinformation-cartographic and remote methods. Based on V.B. Sochava’s theory of geosystems it is assumed for use in processing and ordering a large volume of information. In the paper we analyzed the regional background and main factors of the landscape differentiation of the study areas. The pyrogenic impact, which increased by the 21st century and caused the transformation of the natural structure of the Baikal mountains, caused the need to improve the methods of mapping the geosystems of topological level, their dynamics, landscape-forming processes and individual local phenomena. We identified negative digressions of geosystems for the period 1989-2019 at the experimental site, when 42% of 100 km2 of natural systems of highlands, mountain-taiga middle mountains and lowmountain-slope forests were lost.

ГЕОМОРФОЛОГИЧЕСКАЯ СХЕМАТИЗАЦИЯ ВОДОСБОРА БАССЕЙНА Р. ШАРЫН

On the basis of the geosystem approach, using the laws of geographic vertical zoning, the energy resources of river basins and groundwaters, the natural and climatic potential of natural systems that characterize the heat and moisture supply of natural landscapes were determined, which made it possible to carry out a geomorphological schematization of the catchment area of the class of landscapes (eluvial facies), foothill subclass of landscapes (transeluvial facies), foothill lowland subclass of landscapes (transaccumulative facies) and plain class of landscapes (superaquial and subaquial facies) and the natural function of the river basin, that is, nature improvement.