Geoinformational Analysis of Desertification of the Northwestern Caspian

Analysis of the dynamics of modern desertification of the Northwestern Caspian with the use of geoinformation technologies and aerospace data showed that the area of degraded and desertified lands in the region increases due to an increase in the anthropogenic factor (pasture load). With a relatively stable number of animals, the role of climatic factors increases, which leads to an increase in the speed and amplitude of changes in the area of desertification foci, both in the direction of a decrease with sufficient moisture and an increase in dry years. A significant influence is exerted by fires, which lead not only to a decrease in projective cover but also to a depletion of the species composition of vegetation. The study and mapping of the relief made it possible to establish spatially defined geomorphological features of the territory as a factor affecting local moisture and, accordingly, the stability of ecosystems and the possibility of phytomelioration.