Intensity of relief geodynamic processes in the Coastal Lowland, Lithuania: based on cartographic analysis

Abstract

The article overviews the indirect methods employed in assessing the intensity of geodynamic processes. These methods involve using and analysing various spatial topographic and thematic databases, including the databases of ortho-photo images, bogs and peatlands, CORINE land cover, crop fields, forest cadastre, flood-prone areas, the geomorphologic database, the database of relief cadastre as well as that of reclamation status and wet soils. In this study, the intensity of geodynamic processes was estimated using mathematical models, which include a number of factors behind surface transformation (accumulation/degradation) processes, i.e., the origin of the terrain, its morphographic and morphometric indicators, lithology, soil cover, the degree of sediment and soil wetness, and natural vegetation cover. In addition, the impact of the factors inhibiting surface erosion (ratio of clay and sand particles in the surface layer, slope inclination, humus content in soil, binary nature of soil-forming sediments) was evaluated. The cartographic analysis results were compared with the data obtained from the terrain investigation in key areas. The surface analysis based on the spatial distribution of geomorphological relief types, their roughness, land cover, forest, soil types, reclamation and soaked lands shows that weak deflation (up to 1 mm / year, 1214.8 km²), weak erosion (up to 1 mm / year, 367.1 km²) and medium biogenic accumulation (1–2 mm / year, 223.5 km²) are taking place in the Coastal Lowland.