Relief morphometry as a factor of formation and spatial differentiation of highland landscapes of the major Caucasus

Abstract

The article analyzed the morphometric indicators of the topography of the highland part of
the Greater Caucasus (hypsometric height, slope and aspect of topography, horizontal and
vertical division). The height amplitude in this zone is high, leading to the mentioned
parameters' diversity. The fact that topography plays a vital role in the formation and
distribution of the landscape makes the analysis of morphometric indicators relevant in the
investigated area. Landscapes spread in the mountainous zone are divided into different facies
and zones depending on the slope and aspect of the topography both horizontally and
vertically. The reason for this is that the topography affects climate change. Modern methods
were used during the research. For this, the Digital Elevation Model of the area was processed.
As a result of processing, height, slope, and aspect maps were compiled. The main goal of the
research is to analyze the factors affecting the formation of the landscape, the morphometric
elements of the topography based on modern methods and analyze the results. As a result of
the study, it was determined that the morphometric indicators of the topography play an
important role in the formation of landscapes. As a result of our analysis, it was determined
that different half-types of nival, subnival, alpine, and subalpine landscape types are
distributed in the research area.