Morphogenetic model of development of modern relief in the joining area of the Chuya and Kurai intermountain depressions (Mountain Altai)

Author(s):  P.S. Lapin, candidate of Sciences, no, Trofimuk Institute of Petroleum-Gas Geology and Geophysics of the Siberian Branch of the RAS, Novosibirsk, Russia, LapinPS@ipgg.sbras.ru

Issue:  Volume 43, № 4

Rubric:  Earth sciences

Annotation:  The paper presents the results of a study of the morphogenetic features of the development of modern relief in the junction zone of the Chuya and Kurai intramontane depressions (Altai Mountains). The studies were carried out in the framework of the direction developed in geomorphology – genetic morphology and morphometry. Modeling was carried out with the use of system-formation analysis, which allowed us to create a model for the development of the relief of the earth's surface in the junction zone of the Chuy and Kurai intermontane depressions. The developed methodology is based on a joint analysis of the morphological triad (watershed-slope-bottom of the ravine) and the values of the total indicator of erosion-denudation dissection of the relief, which reflects the interaction of endogenous and exogenous processes. Morphogenetic features in the development of the relief of certain regions are identified on the basis of the predominance of two groups of processes: slope or fluvial. This approach made it possible to establish the history of the development of the modern relief of the earth's surface both at the regional and local levels. As a result of regionalization according to the intensity of manifestations of the processes of bottom erosion, noted within the ravines on the watershed of the Chagan-Uzun and Chuya Rivers, three areas were identified. The boundaries of these areas are consistent with the previously identified boundaries that were laid down at an earlier stage in the development of the relief. According to the results of morphogenetic zoning carried out at the local level, morphogenetic features of the development of the modern relief are established for both each separately identified area and between the areas. Based on the synthesis of regions of various genetic orientations, a polygenetic model of ravine development is proposed. The simulation results allowed us to identify the area of intensive development of modern relief-forming processes, which corresponds to the area of geomorphological risk.

Keywords:  Mountain Altai, general indicator of denudation and erosion of the relief, morphotype, morphogenetic series, modern morphogenesis, model

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