Classification and Mapping of Topogeosystems by the Method of Factorial-Dynamical Series of Facies

Abstract

In studying the structure of geosystems within the key area (125.3 km²) on the northern slope of Khamar-Daban Range, we used the method of factorial-dynamical series of facies as developed by A. A. Krauklis. Because of the composite and mosaic pattern of the study area, the typization was carried out according to the commonalty of the functional attributes. Results of 83 comprehensive physical-geographical descriptions of test sites were used in compiling the hierarchical classification of geosystems and the map of the key site at the level of groups of facies at a scale of 1:50 000. Results of an automatic pixel-based classification of Landsat-8 and Aster images and a processing of the SRTM digital elevation model were used in delineating the boundaries of the landscape units. On the territory of the key area we identified 46 types of facies which were grouped together into the following hierarchical levels: groups of facies–classes of facies–geoms. The types of facies are represented on the territory by climax states as well as by succession stages. The entire diversity of the geosystems is represented by five geoms: the subgoletz shrub geom on rocky ground and corroms which includes one class of facies with one group of facies; the subalpinotype high-mountain-meadow geom (one class and three groups); the mountain-taiga dark-coniferous/open woodland geom (two classes and two groups); the mountain-taiga dark-coniferous geom (two classes and four groups), and the piedmont plain dark-coniferous geom (two classes and four groups). The territory is dominated by the following groups of facies: spruce-fir and fir-spruce forb and forb-fern forests with bilberries on steep slopes on combinations of Entic Podzols and Regosols; Siberian stone pine-spruce (with fir krummholz) subshrub small grass-sedge sphagnum forests on combinations of Folic Entic Podzols, Histic Cryosols and Fibric Histisols, and fir (with spruce and Siberian stone pine) forests with forbs and bergenia in the herbaceous layer on combinations of Humic Leptosols and Dystric Cambisols with rock outcrops on steep slopes. The resulting map of the geosystems makes it possible to take into account the characteristic properties of the mountainous territory in the process of planning and projecting the recreational activity emerging in this area.