Usage of GIS technologies for ecosystems monitoring

Abstract

Aiming to obtain an estimate of the changes in the position of the upper boundary of open spruce forests in the Zigal’ga mountain ridge (South Urals), we used a set of methods: a comparison of aerial photographs, satellite images, and repeated landscape photographs made at different times. A qualitative and quantitative assessment of these changes for the period from 1958 to 2012 was made. The results of the study show that tree vegetation has been actively expanding to higher elevations over the past 54 years. Altitudinal shift of upper boundaries of open forests along the median was 0.74 m/year, and horizontal shift was 0.20 m/year. Expanding open forests are explained by climate warming and increasing humidity, especially in the cold period of the year in the South Urals. © 2018 CEUR-WS. All rights reserved.