Geoinformation Mapping Through the Types of Geological and Geomorphological Structure of the Katun Valley (Altay Mountains) Based on Morphometric Indicators

Abstract

The types of geological and geomorphological structure of the Katun valley are distinguished in the work. For this, a method of geoinformation mapping using morphometric indicators of the valley’s width and meandering of the channel was developed. The morphometric parameter of the valley’s width was calculated as the total area of terraces. As the morphometric parameters of the channel’s meandering, the angles of the river segments’ deviation relative to each other were calculated. Conjugated analysis of these morphometric indicators enabled identifying 18 morphotypes. These morphotypes according to the geological and geomorphological structure of the valley were combined into 4 classes. Separation of the Katun valley in certain classes and morphotypes is due to the different geological history of these sites during the Quaternary period. The most important reasons predetermining the modern variety of geological and geomorphological types of the valley are neotectonic movements and exogenous phenomena (glaciers, dam lakes, landslides, etc.) naturally localized in the space from the upstream of the river to its exit into the foothills. The developed method can be applied for quantitative morphometric classification of the mountain rivers’ valleys in other regions.