RELIEF - Database

Source
Landforms, Elevation and Slopes
Adapted from: Stolbovoi, V., G. Fischer, B. Sheremet, V. Sizov, S. Rozhkova (Kravetz), 1997. The IIASA-LUC Project Georeferenced Database of Russia, Vol.1-2: Soil and Terrain digital database (SOTER). Interim report, IR-98-0113, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, Laxenburg, Austria, 43.

Digital Elevation Model
Adapted from: Global Digital Elevation Model (DEM), GTOPO30

Technical Description
The base map, published in 1976 has been used for the physiography polygons drawing in this project.The base map for Russia at scale 1:2.5M in GUGK projection consists of 16 sheets. The height intervals shown on the map are irregular. Contour intervals increase with altitude from 50m below 300 m above sea level (a.s.l.), to 100m between 300 and 1000 m, and to 250 m at altitudes over 1000 m. Thus, this map does not completely fit landform analysis for extensive high-altitude areas.

Boundaries of physiographic units are drawn in ink pen directly on the basic topographic map and after that were transported on stable plastics. Then scanning enters them, where further processing, such as changes of projection and scale, is done. The digitised polygons were fit with the coastlines, inland water bodies, river net, which have been compiled as separate layers and digitized in a similar way. The additional spatial correction of the polygons is done according to information on coastal lines, water bodies and rivers taken from Digital Chart of the World at scale 1:1M (ESRI, 1993). Mapping unit codes are entered in a database and linked to their corresponding polygon labels in the GIS.

Landform classification in SOTER is based on morphometric criteria. At the first hierarchic tier, three major landforms level land, sloping land and steep land are distinguished on the basis of the "characteristic slope". This is dominant slope gradient within a terrain unit. A further breakdown of these three main classes is achieved through classes of relief intensity, position of the unit in relation to surrounding land and hypsometry. The criteria are changing within each major landform class:

for level lands (slopes <8%) the relief intensity is always less than 100m/km while the absolute height above sea level is taken as hypsometric criterion;

for steep land (slopes >8%) relief intensity is more than 600m/2km and the relative height above the local base level defines the hypsometric class;

for sloping lands (slopes 8-30%) the same hypsometric criteria are valid as for steep land, but relief intensity may be less than 600m/2km while always more than 50m/slope unit.

A further delineation is achieved according to the relative position of a terrain unit vis-a-vis the surrounding terrain, e.g. distinguishes plain from plateau.

Detailed information on the SOTER methodology with special emphasis on small scale physiographic mapping is given by Wen's (1993) report and in the SOTER Manual (van Engelen, 1993; 1995).

The DEM for Russia was extracted from the GTOPO30, a global digital elevation model (DEM) with a horizontal grid spacing of 30 arc seconds (approximately 1 kilometer). GTOPO30 was derived from several raster and vector sources of topographic information and was completed in late 1996. Detailed information on the characteristics of GTOPO30, including the data distribution format, the data sources, production methods, accuracy, and hints for users, is found in the link above.

Coverage Definition

Attribute Description
Landform
P plain
H hills
M mountains
T plateau
R ridge(s)
S escarpment zone
A valley floor
I isolated mountain
D depression
L mountainous highland
C composite landform
G uniform mountain slope

Elevation
for P,T,A,D,C    : for H,R,I,L,G      : for M,S :
1 <300m            6 <200m            9 600-1500m
2 300-600m       7 200-400m     10 1500-3000m
3 600-1500m     8 >400m          11 3000-5000m
4 1500-3000m                           12 >5000m
5 >3000m

Slope classes for simple landforms:
w 0-2% flat, wetland cu cuestashaped
f 0-2% flat do dome-shaped
g 2-5% gently undulating ri ridged
u 5-8% undulating te terraced
r 8-15% rolling in inselberg covered
s 15-30% moderately steep du dune-shaped
t 30-60% steep im with intermountain plains
v >=60% very steep we with wetlands
ka strong karst

complex landforms:
cu cuestashaped
do dome-shaped
ri ridged
te terraced
in inselberg covered
du dune-shaped
im with intermountain plains
we with wetlands
ka strong karst

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