Geomorphology of the upper Kalguty Basin, Ukok Plateau, Russian Altai mountains

As part of an archaeological research project, we investigate the geomorphology of the cold and arid study area by combining field mapping with use of orthoimages and DEM. To the north of a broad trunk valley floor, gentle slopes continuously vegetated culminate around 3000 m, while to the south ste...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of Maps
Main Authors: Philip Deline, Ludovic Ravanel, Jean-Jacques Delannoy, Melaine Le Roy, Vyacheslav I. Molodin, Dimitri V. Cheremisim, Lydia V. Zotkina, Catherine Cretin, Jean-Michel Geneste, Hugues Plisson
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2020
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1080/17445647.2020.1800529
https://doaj.org/article/9e290d0b92934a12afd7324cc8bf7fb8
Description
Summary:As part of an archaeological research project, we investigate the geomorphology of the cold and arid study area by combining field mapping with use of orthoimages and DEM. To the north of a broad trunk valley floor, gentle slopes continuously vegetated culminate around 3000 m, while to the south steep slopes reaching to 3500 m are deeply incised and covered mainly by regolith. The basin has been intensively glaciated as evidenced by the till covering the gentler slopes, several morainic complexes, kame terraces and roches moutonnées. The present morphodynamics of this permafrost-affected basin is mainly periglacial, with blockfields, solifluction lobes, patterned ground and rock glaciers on gentle slopes to high-elevated flat terrain, and block slopes and rockfall talus on steeper slopes. Large alluvial fans at the outlet of the steep lateral valleys constrain the anastomosing channel of the Kalguty river. Active braided channels in those valleys evidence seasonal high peak discharge.