Mathematics – Logic
Scientific paper
Jul 1994
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1994metic..29r.452b&link_type=abstract
Meteoritics (ISSN 0026-1114), vol. 29, no. 4, p. 452-453
Mathematics
Logic
Ecosystems, Geomorphology, Meteorite Craters, Soils, Vegetation, Ecology, Hydrology, Satellite Imagery, Thematic Mapping
Scientific paper
We have attempted to study terrestrial impact structure with the physical geographic methods of an ecosystem survey. On the basis of satellite images we conducted the ecosystem mapping of Popigay astrobleme, Araguinha astrobleme, astrobleme Gasses-Bluff, and Zhamanshin astrobleme. The high degree of knowledge and prominence in modern topography defines the Zhamanshin crater as a suitable example for the field investigations. It is situated to the north of the Aral Sea. In 1992 the author undertook field investigations of the Zhamanshin area with the following objectives: (1) to define natural complexes of the Zhamanshin area through the differences in geologic-geomorphic, soil-vegetation structures and in eolian, insolation, and hydrological conditions; (2) to find if there are correlations between the ecosystem patterns and the original geologic structure of the crater; and (3) to estimate the role of catastrophic impact origin for further evolution of the crater's natural complexes. During the field trip observations were made at 42 points in different parts of the astrobleme. Each point was described with geologic/geomorphic data, soil profile, hydrologic patterns, and botanic square. An area of about 300 sq km was surveyed. Six maps of a 30 x 30-km area were created at 1:170,000 scale (geology, surface deposits types, geomorphicology, soil, vegetation, and drainage net), which were used together with a prefield map to produce a final ecosystem map. The ecosystem map shows two principal landscape regions: (1) connected with the impact crater and (2) unconnected with impact crater. The structure of crater-connected ecosystems did not follow the general regional patterns of the area. Geomorphic processes changes the original relief of the crater considerably. However, the morphological parts of original crater relief in Zhamanshin are clearly recognizable in the ecosystem structure. On the basis of ecosystem and drainage net maps a comparative analysis of Zhamanshin and three other craters was conducted. The ecosystem structures of Popigay, Gasses Bluff, and Araguinha display very similar features to Zhamanshin. The features of given astroblemes allow us to consider the astroblemes as specific cosmogenic catastrophic intrasonal ecosystems. Also we could conclude that it is, in principle, possible to indicate meteorite craters via ecosystem examination because traces of ancient meteorite impact survive in the landscape (geographical complex most sensitive to changes of environment) and the unique polistructure of astrobleme can exist much longer than a crater's relief or any particular natural component.
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