Geoinformation analysis of the relief of the Astrakhan Trans-Volga region

The Astrakhan Trans-Volga region belongs to the dry-steppe and semi-desert zones, in connection with which deflation and desertification pose the greatest danger to this territory. For mapping, the Krasnoyarsk and Kharabalinsky municipal districts of the Astrakhan region were selected, which are located on the territory of the Northern Caspian Sea and are most susceptible to intense desertification processes. In addition, the study area is characterized by thin soils, so the development of desertification processes is a rapidly growing and hardly reversible process. The relevance of the analysis of the relief of the territory is due to the influence of geomorphological characteristics on the magnitude and dynamics of erosive land degradation. The research methodology is based on the use of geoinformation systems for the development of analytical maps based on digital elevation models and geostatistical analysis of the spatial distribution of its structure. Geostatistical analysis is a part of the geoinformation analysis of the relief, thanks to which the description of the physical and geographical scheme of the interaction of landscape components is carried out. Geoinformation analysis of the Astrakhan Trans-Volga region revealed that 63% of the territory has an inclination angle from 0 to 1°, and 90% does not exceed 3.0°. The distribution of the territory by orientation relative to the cardinal points is uneven; the main part of the territory (74.38%) has a southern exposure. The territories with the western, eastern and southeastern exposure (1.21%, 0.05%, and 5.19%, respectively) received the least distribution in quantitative terms. The research results are presented with analytical relief maps, elevation ranges in the study area, and slope steepness. These results make it possible to assess the erosion hazard of such areas and develop measures to prevent their degradation in advance.