Using Earth Remote Sensing to Study the Parameters of the Morphological Structure of the Ridge Landscape in the North Caspian Region

Abstract

This paper reports investigation data on ridge landscape patterns (formed by Baer knolls) in the North Caspian region obtained by mathematical approaches to landscape morphology. The investigation procedure involves remote sensing data and mathematical methods. A mathematical analysis of six sample areas has revealed that perimeters and diameters of the ridges fit the lognormal distribution. Discrete indicators that characterize the ridge location are compliant with the Poisson’s distribution in most cases. Due to river erosion activity, which destroys the knolls, their diameters do not fit the lognormal distribution anymore. The arguments have been considered in favor of various theories of the Baer knolls origin from the standpoint of quantitative features of the morphological structure.