Landscape and geomorphological analysis of mesoecotone "Small Sirt - Caspian lowland" using GIS technologies

Landscape-geomorphological conception of studying the transition zones at the various spatial levels determines the use of computer simulation of both the condition of the landscape objects and the processes occurring in such zones. The geoinformation technologies in conjunction with the tools of geostatistics provide the study of the dynamics of geosystems in the changing conditions of various kinds. The importance of defining the landscape boundaries in the transition areas is stipulated by the peculiarities of the landscape functioning that is necessary to establish measures for ensuring their sustainability. Landscape borders are directly associated with the topographic features. Therefore, the geomorphological studies of the landscape ecotones provide an opportunity to identify their properties and characteristics and to develop effective plans for the prevention of degradation processes in them. In the area of the ecotone of the Common Syrt, and the Caspian lowland accumulative-erosion plain, terraces, scarp and slopes, and flat lake areas are allocated. A combination of very different conditions for the formation of the territory has stipulated the multiplicity of its geological-geomorphological structure and complexity of soil cover. The allocation of the southern part of the Common Syrt in a separate geomorphological area is associated with the transition of the syrt relief in the surface of the Caspian lowland. The relief, as an important component of the landscape, defines its sustainability as a whole, and productivity. Under the influence of exogenous factors the conditions of functioning of the landscapes change abruptly. The morphodynamic study of the terrain conducted with the help of computer digital simulation allowed to reveal its morphosculpture, to detach spatial, linear and point landscape elements, to identify the characteristics, specifying the geographic coordinates of the studied objects. The designed vector soil cartographic layers have allowed to refine the spatial differentiation of the soils in the Small Syrt catena.