LANDSCAPE
MAPPING OF KURIL ISLANDS
K.S.Ganzej
Pacific
Institute of Geography of the IED of the Russian Academy of Science
geo2005.84@mail.ru
Kuriles are in a working area of
awake development of disastrous physical processes, including eruptions of volcanoes,
earthquakes. The last significant earthquake on Average Kuriles was noted on
November, 15th, 2006. Force of shocks has compounded 8 points under the Richter
scale. In this connection average Kuriles represent large interest for analysis
of a natural habitat and character of volcanic and tectonic activity. Landscape
research of given locale islands have the special value as analysis of
landscape frame will allow to estimate influence of aboriginal awake
geodynamical processes on various ingredients of visual environments. Their
research is impossible without realization of cartographical operations.
Since 2003 complex operations
on compilation of Kuriles landscape maps and schemes Kuriles in scales of
1:25000 up to 1:200000 are conducted in Information Cartographical Centre,
Pacific Institute of Geography, IED of the Russian Academy of Science.
Landscape mapping for Kuriles is executed for the first time.
Landscape mapping is conducted with
the purpose of special structure detection, analysis of visual environments
quantitative parameters, definitions of major factors forming the visual
environment and character of their development.
Operations on visual environments mapping
included a complex of operations:
1. The assembly and processing of archive and
literature materials of the Russian Academy of Science IED, archive materials
of South-Kuril timber enterprise forest regulation actions, the nature records
of the State Natural Reservation "Kurilsky" and Gosprirodnadzor settlement Juzhno-Kurilsk are fulfilled.
2. From 2002 to 2006 the field research of visual
environments in structure of complex expeditions of the Russian Academy of
Science IED is carried out.
3. Analysis and selection of visual environments grading
procedure are effected. Methodical approaches developed by A.G.Isachenko were
taken as the basis.
4. Processing the received information,
realization of decoding and mapping of the visual environments are realized on
the basis of GIS-technology: ArñView and ArcInfo platforms. The decoding is conducted with usage of remote sensing
data LandSat 7 ETM + for 2001.
5. The
description of space frame is executed and features of visual environments
development are revealed, influence of the visual environment various factors
on landscape components is characterized.
Landscape maps of Kunashir, Keta and Rashua islands are compiled. It has been
allocated 51 type of visual environments on Kunashir island, 21 on island Keta,
15 on island Rashua.
Key feature of islands landscape structure
is asymmetry of high-altitude landscape belts formation which has different
genesis and character of development on South and Average Kuriles. A major
factor of vegetative belts asymmetry creation on Average Kuriles is
predominating of northern and northwest direction wind which brings cold air
masses from sea of Okhotsk. The distribution sector of pyroclastic material renders
additional influence on South Kuriles asymmetry creation which, in turn, is in
straight relation to seasonal predominance of northwest winds.
Construction of landscape maps
represents the special interest in connection with acceptance of the Social and
Economic Development of Curies program in 2007, as on their basis work on
advanced spatial planning of islands terrain with the purpose of harmonious
exploitation and stable development principles intrusion is possible.