Soil Cover Patterns in Anthropogenically Transformed Landscapes of Leningrad Oblast

Abstract

This study is devoted to the determination of the main types of soil cover patterns (SCPs) in anthropogenically transformed landscapes of Leningrad oblast for the purpose of medium-scale soil cover mapping. Sixteen different groups of anthropogenically transformed and anthropogenic SCPs are identified, and their characteristics are given. They are related to tree logging, forest reclamation, forest fire control, forest recreation, postwar effects, agroforest measures, forest nurseries, agrogenic impact, recreation loads in parks, agroreclamation, postagrogenic development, pipeline and power line construction, agrourban, highway and railroad, and mining quarry areas. A typology of SCPs of anthropogenically transformed landscapes in Leningrad oblast has been developed. It takes into account regularities of changes in the soil cover under the influence of the anthropogenic factor. The type and degree of transformation of the soil cover components, the degree of their contrast and heterogeneity, intercomponent links, and the geometric shape of SCPs are analyzed. The developed typology has a universal character for landscapes of the forest zone and can be used for medium-scale soil mapping in other regions of this zone.