ANALYSIS OF DISTRIBUTION OF SLOPE TYPES AT THE REGIONAL LEVEL USING METHODS OF TOPOGRAPHICAL MODELING

L.G. Smirnova¹, P.A. Ukrainskii², A.G. Narozhnyaya², A.A. Kozhushkov^2
1Belgorod Federal Agrarian Scientific Center of the RAS, ul. Oktyabr’skaya, 58, Belgorod, 308001, Russian Federation
²Belgorod State National Research University (NRU “BelSU”), ul. Pobedy, 85, korp.14, Belgorod, 308015, Russian Federation

Abstract. The study investigates mesorelief (slopes) in Belgorod region using the methods of geomorphometry and GIS analysis. It is examined the type of slopes in shape and the ratio of the area occupied by them in the context of watersheds. The source data for the analysis is digitized topographic map of scale 1:200000, on the basis of which a hydrologically correct digital elevation model (DEM) was created. From the DEM we created rasters of derived indicators – vertical and horizontal curvature of the terrain. According to these rasters using the “decision tree” classification the boundaries of nine slopes of different types were determined, which correspond to the types of slopes developed in the methodological guide. The values of the curvature of the surface, separating the classes, were chosen empirically, based on the comparison of curvature rasters with the horizontals. Straight cross slopes correspond to values of vertical curvature from -0.002 to 0.002 1/m. Longitudinally straight slopes correspond to the values of the horizontal curvature from -0.1 to 0.1 1/m. The curvature of the convex slopes is greater than the upper limits of these gradations, and the concave ones are less than the lower limits. Within each of 218 watersheds of the IV-VII orders, it was calculated the area occupied by different types of slopes. The transversely convex longitudinal concave slope is the predominant type (24.4%) within Belgorod region. Nine types of slopes correlated with five types of agricultural land, among which the fifth type prevails (40.9% of the area), the slopes of which represented by a set of beam branches, the paired slopes, gullies, hollows, etc. At the organization of such a landscape, it is required a comprehensive approach.

Keywords: vertical curvature; drainage areas; geomorphometry; horizontal curvature; types of slopes; types of agro-landscapes; topographic modeling; slope form; digital relief models.

Author Details: L.G. Smirnova, D. Sc. (Biol.), head of laboratory (e-mail: Этот адрес электронной почты защищён от спам-ботов. У вас должен быть включен JavaScript для просмотра.); P.A. Ukrainskii, Cand. Sc. (Geogr.), research fellow; A.G. Narozhnyaya, Cand. Sc. (Geogr.), assoc. prof.; A.A. Kozhushkov, post graduate student.

For citation: Smirnova L.G., Ukrainskii P.A., Narozhnyaya A.G., Kozhushkov A.A. Analysis of Distribution of Slope Types at the Regional Level Using Methods of Topographical Modeling. Dostizheniya nauki i tekhniki APK. 2017. Vol. 31. No. 11. Pp. 17-21 (in Russ.).