Landscape Studies of Goletzes in Cisbaikalia

The results of terrestrial landscape studies obtained in the goletzes of the Barguzin Range and Baikal Range are presented. Modern exogenous processes of relief formation, which change the structure of glacial geosystems, are considered. Profiles for further large-scale research into geosystems have been laid in the key areas. It has been revealed that, on the Barguzin Range, rocky watershed and corrie complexes and steep-slope rocky–coarse-clastic, slope–shrubby dwarf mountain pine–steppe complexes predominate. On the Baikal Ridge, the landscape structure of the key area consists of rocky, steep-slope rocky–coarse-clastic, and slope dark coniferous complexes of reduced and limited development. Using satellite images, topographic maps, and the results of ground route surveys, landscape maps of key areas were created. The basic unit of mapping at a scale of 1 : 50 000 is represented by a group of facies which is characterized by the similarity of locations and by the belonging of plant associations to one group and soil phases to one genus, which represent homogeneous natural and natural–anthropogenic geosystems of topological level. Groups of facies are differentiated with respect to the regime of moistening in different areas, the geological and structural features of rocks, the position in the relief (the relation to the altitudinal belts, steepness of slopes and exposure, and the effects of barrier shade and insolation), and the altitudinal-belt differentiation of soil and vegetation cover. It is concluded that the modern structure of goletz geosystems of Cisbaikalia is experiencing changes associated mainly with climate warming. Conditions are being created for soil formation; the overgrowth of rubbly areas with pioneer vegetation; and the expansion of dwarf mountain pine–clastic, yernik, and alder shrub habitats.