Phys. Geog. Geom. 2025, 48(1): 18–25

https://doi.org/10.17721/phgg.2025.48.1/129.02

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Research of the differentiation characteristics of seliteb complexes and their impact on the transformation of natural landscapes of the northeastern slope of the Greater Caucasus based on GIS

Rashad Rahib Sadullayev
Baku State University, 33, Akademik Zahid Khalilov St., Baku, AZ1148, Azerbaijan

Abstract
The article investigates the seliteb landscape complexes of the northeastern slope of the Greater Caucasus and their differentiation regularities. The seliteb complexes of the northeastern slope of the Greater Caucasus have formed as a result of long-term natural-historical processes and exhibit a unique development dynamic compared to other regions, which is of significant scientific and practical importance.
Based on the analysis of Landsat 7 satellite images using GIS, it has been determined that the total area of seliteb complexes in the northeastern slope of the Greater Caucasus is 47,229 ha (6.7% of the region). The differentiation characteristics of the seliteb complexes were studied using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and satellite images, and the research area was divided into five hypsometric levels (up to 500 m; 500‒1000 m; 1000‒2000 m; 2000‒2500 m; 2500‒4466 m) using the DEM → Analyst Tools → Raster Reclass → Slice → Natural Breaks algorithm. To determine the density (share) of seliteb complexes within each hypsometric (elevation) zone, the formula Kseliteb=(ΣSc )/(ΣHz ) was applied.
It has been determined based on GIS that the most densely populated zone in the northeastern slope of the Greater Caucasus is the flat, foothill, and low mountain areas located at an elevation of 28–1000 m. The main network of settling complexes is concentrated in the plain-valley, sloping plain, and foothill zones. In higher hypsometric zones, settlement is mainly seasonal and temporary. Therefore, the anthropogenic transformation of natural landscapes is much lower compared to the plains and foothill zones. As the elevation increases, the number and area of settling complexes decrease, which is accompanied by a weakening of the impact on natural landscapes.
The change characteristics of urban-settling landscapes in the region over the years 1989, 2010, and 2024 were studied based on Landsat remote sensing images.
The differentiation of seliteb complexes within natural landscape types was analyzed using GIS, and a landscape-ecological buffer map was created.

The settling landscapes of the northeastern slope of the Greater Caucasus have been sharply transformed and belong to regularly and intensively used complexes. These complexes are classified into three categories based on their transformation characteristics.

Keywords

seliteb complexes, GIS, population settlement, hypsometric zones, landscape transformation

Received: 8 April 2025 / Accepted: 16 May April 2025 / Published online: 30 May 2025