Geoinformation medium-scale landscape mapping of transboundary mountain-river basins in the Caspian region of the Caucasus

Abstract

Relevance. Transboundary mountain-river basins require a unified spatial framework because runoff formation, material transport, hazardous processes and human impacts do not coincide with administrative boundaries. In the Caspian region of the Caucasus and the adjacent Northern Iranian sector, this task is complicated by large altitudinal gradients, strong landscape contrasts and heterogeneous source maps. Aim. To develop develops a geoinformation framework for medium-scale landscape mapping of transboundary mountain-river basins in the North-Eastern Caucasus, Azerbaijan and Northern Iran for inter-basin comparison and geoecological monitoring. Methods. The Sunzha, Sulak, Shura-Ozen, Ulluchay, Samur, Garachay, Atachay, Haraz and Gorgan basins were analysed using basin, landscape, comparative-geographical and geoinformation approaches. The source data included SRTM, Copernicus, ALOS and ASTER digital elevation models; Sentinel-2 and Landsat-8/9 imagery; MODIS products; thematic maps; and field materials collected in 2024-2025. Mapping was conducted at a working scale of 1:500,000 followed by cartographic generalization. Results. A harmonized multilayer GIS was created for the Russian, Azerbaijani and Iranian sectors using a common typological legend. Two landscape classes, six generalized groups and about 28 landscape genera were identified, and their altitudinal and basin organization was characterized. The main areas of geoecological sensitivity are steep slopes, foothill nodes of geosystem stress, valley-floodplain and deltaic complexes, and territories undergoing intensive anthropogenic transformation. Inter-basin comparison showed the fullest vertical structure in the Sulak and Samur basins, whereas smaller basins display sharper mountain-to-arid-plain transitions. Practical significance. The resulting framework can be used for basin comparison, refinement of field routes, natural-risk assessment and regular monitoring of land-cover and catchment-geosystem changes.