COMPLEX GEOGRAPHY AS A DIRECTION OF THEORETICAL RESEARCH AND MODELING

Abstract

The paper formulates basic terms and axioms of the concept of complex geography, defines its subject, methods and models, traces the differences between this approach and other directions in the development of the theory of geographical science, presents quantitative models of geocomplexes constructed based on remote sensing data. By complexes we mean metrized, inductive, commutative, transitive, linearly ordered, discrete-continuous, limited, and changing homotopy systems of information exchange that consist of functionally related heterogeneous elements. This distinguishes the complex approach from the geosystem-dynamic one and from other models of reality. The paper considers the terms of the theory of complex systems: bundle, compositions, combinations, configurations, congruences, tangent transformations, analogy, homology and homotopy, categories and toposes. In modeling, we use the Jacobi determinant as a measure of connectivity and rank distributions for ordinalistic evaluation. The models are illustrated by examples from traditional geographical science (the comparative-geographical method, factor-dynamic series, the law of geographical zoning, etc.). Based on the developed models, we carried out a comparative analysis of the landscapes of the Baikal region using remote sensing data. The elevation and the potential insolation according to the digital elevation model were considered as independent variables (influencing factors). As the dependent variables, the average duration of occurrence of stable snow cover and the earth's surface temperature according to MODIS data were used. The research revealed a congruence of different parts of the territory, which justifies the complexity of the climatic characteristics of the Baikal region according to the selected indicators.