Estimation of the Distribution of Deflation Sites on the Territory of the Nenets Autonomous Okrug by Data of Remote Sensing

Abstract—A geoinformation assessment of deflation processes in Arctic conditions makes it possible to move to a new technological level in planning the forest reclamation of the landscapes of the Arctic zone. The use of forest reclamation and phytomelioration of accumulative forms makes it possible to control desertification processes. To achieve the purpose of the study—assess the spatial distribution of deflated surface areas on the territory of the Nenets Autonomous Okrug—a geoinformation analysis of current space sensing data has been carried out and the degree of degradation (deflation and anthropogenic transformation) of the territory in controlled areas is revealed, on the basis of which the necessary measures are proposed to prevent land deflation, and it is planned to create an information system for monitoring and forecasting the state of soil and vegetation cover. The decoding of satellite images of deflation sites in the research area has made it possible to develop vector cartographic GIS layers, which show selected coastal and continental not grown and overgrown massifs. The geomorphological differentiation of deflation sites makes it possible to effectively use parameters such as tiering, exposure, and meso- and microclimatic differences, as well as plan antideflation measures. Vector cartographic layers of the spatial distribution of sandy accumulative forms have been developed and their morphometric characteristics have been determined, the features of the development of continental and coastal deflation have been established (the areas of which are 31 510 and 20 860 ha, respectively), the total number of sites allocated by vector contours exceeds 166 000, and their sizes vary from 0.001 ha to more than 550 ha. As a result of a spatial assessment of 68 large sandy massifs overgrown with vegetation, their area of 543 850 ha has been established.