Landscape forming factors of the Karkaraly low mountains

Abstract

The territory of geosystems of the Karkaraly low mountains is mainly forest landscapes and dark-chestnut soil cover. The paper reflects the state of the soil and vegetation cover of the forest landscapes of the Karkaraly low mountains in the Karaganda region. The paper provides the results of chemical soil tests, describes the vegetation cover samples using geoinformation technologies based on the standard quantitative index NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index), confirmed in field studies in the summer of 2020. The work performed aims at a comprehensive assessment of the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of the components of geosystems.

In course of the field study, a brief description of phytodiversity was compiled, indicating the geomorphological attributes of key areas. To study the vegetation, sample plots of the underlying soil and vegetation cover were set. Overview and thematic maps of the object under study were created. At the final stage of the study, the interpretation of the results is presented with the identification of cause-and-effect relationships of the state and fluctuations of geoecosystems. Data sources include satellite images of Landsat-8 (US Geological Survey) and field studies along the routes and four key areas. The results of the work allow defining the object under study, determining the distinctive properties in key areas, as well as possible reasons for the difference in the studied territory of geosystems.