What lies at the basis of physical and geographical zoning. Physical-geographical zoning: purpose, methods and principles

The surface of our planet is very heterogeneous. Territories differ from each other in the relief, geological structure, nature of vegetation and the state of the soil cover. To somehow order this natural "chaos," scientists came up with a zoning. Geographers began to conditionally divide the Earth's surface into belts, zones, countries and regions.

What is the basis of physical-geographical zoning? What are its main objectives? Based on which principles and by what methods is it implemented? The answers to all these questions you will find in our article.

Physio -geographical zoning : definition and essence

Physico-geographical zoning (abbreviated - FGR) is a certain system of division of the earth's surface. It makes it possible to identify those parts of the geographical envelope that are distinguished by a certain homogeneity. This homogeneity, above all, implies the common geological structure of the territory, relief, climate, soil cover, flora and fauna.

In addition, this regionalization makes it possible to draw clear boundaries between these parts of the geographical envelope.

A lot of scientists-geographers and researchers were engaged in physical-geographical zoning. Among them: A.N. Radishchev, H.A. Chebotarev, A.I. Voeikov, L.S. Berg, V.P. Semenov-Tien-Shansky, F.N. Milkov, N.A. Solntsev and others. At the present stage, specialists in the Moscow State University are working on the development of various zoning schemes. Lomonosov Moscow State University.

A Brief History of the Development of Physico-geographical Zoning

The first attempts of regionalization of territories were made in the XVIII century. However, they passed without a scientific foundation and were conducted on a single trait. Such signs were most often the most obvious things: political boundaries or forms of relief.

In the second half of the XIX century, private geographical sciences began to develop rapidly (climatology, soil science, etc.). In connection with this, the development of appropriate branch schemes for natural zoning was intensified. A little later in the autonomous area was allocated and economic zoning.

It is believed that the theoretical foundations of physical-geographical zoning are laid in the works of the great Russian scientist Vasily Dokuchaev at the end of the XIX century. Later, the idea of its development was picked up by L.S. Berg and GI. Tanfiliev. At the beginning of the last century, foreign geographers (in particular, American, English and German scientists) started talking seriously about physical-geographical zoning.

In Soviet science, this problem began to be seriously paid attention in the 1920s. And already in the 1940s the first variants of the physico-geographical zoning of the territory of the USSR were created.

As we see, many minds of Russia and other countries have worked on this problem. What is the basis of physical-geographical zoning? Let's try to answer this question.

What is the basis of physical-geographical zoning?

FGR is not only the process of dividing a territory (or water area) into districts, but also a detailed study of them, which includes the compilation of detailed component and complex characteristics. But what is the basis of physical and geographical zoning? The answer to this question is very obvious and simple.

At the heart of physical-geographical zoning is the heterogeneity of individual components of the geographical envelope. These components should include:

• Geological structure;
• relief;
• Climatic features;
• Soil cover;
• vegetation;
• And the animal world.

It should be noted that most modern geographers recognize the real existence of separate natural areas. True, the boundaries between them are far from always clear and unambiguous. Between neighboring physical and geographical areas, as a rule, there are certain transitional zones within which the features of both adjacent regions are observed (for example, the forest-steppe is a kind of transition zone between the forest and the classical steppe).

Main objectives and principles of the GFR

This type of zoning has a variety of objectives, both purely scientific and applied nature. But the main purpose of physico-geographical zoning consists in the competent and scientifically substantiated spatial differentiation of the geographic envelope of the Earth.

FGR benefits are actively used by many branches and spheres of human activity: agriculture and forestry, town planning, medical geography, nature protection and others.

The process of identifying geographical areas in a particular territory occurs on the basis of specific principles and on the basis of certain regularities. It is possible to single out the following (basic) principles of physical-geographical zoning:

• objectivity;
• territorial integrity;
• Zoning and azonality;
• Homogeneity of the complex of components;
• Comparability of zoning results.

Perhaps the most important of these is the principle of objectivity. It is about the objectivity of the existence of natural complexes as such. Almost all geographers and landscape experts agreed with it and agree (with the exception of DL Armand). Equally important is the regionalization of the principle of territorial integrity. It consists in the fact that the units of this regionalization can not include separate and territorially disconnected sections of the terrain.

Types of FGR

Physical and geographical zoning can be different. If it sets a goal to allocate areas for only one of the attributes (landscape components), then it will be considered private (or sectoral). For example, it may be soil or climatic zoning of a territory.

If the goal is to analyze all the components of the landscape (climate, terrain, soils, etc.) before the FGR, then it will be called integrated (or landscape).

In addition, the natural zoning of the territory can be:

• Zone;
• Azonal.

Based on this classification, different taxonomic units of FGR are distinguished.

Methods of physical-geographical zoning

By and large, there are two main ways of FGR: this is zoning "from above" and zoning "from below." Both of these methods are widely used in landscape science and perfectly complement each other.

Natural zoning "from below" occurs as follows. With the integration of small natural complexes , larger and more complex territorial complexes are allocated. Large-scale landscape maps are used. When zoning "from above" everything happens the other way around. In the beginning, larger natural regions are allocated, and then, by analyzing a multitude of thematic maps, they "split up" into smaller natural complexes.

A number of more classical scientific methods and techniques are used in physico-geographical zoning. Among them:

• Cartographic;
• Aerospace;
• Geochemical;
• Paleogeographic;
• Mathematical;
• Methods of computer modeling.

Taxonomic units of GHF

Zonal natural zoning identifies the following taxonomic units:

• Geographical belts;
• Zones;
• Subzones.

In azonal zoning it is customary to allocate:

• Physico-geographical countries;
• Region;
• Province;
• Areas;
• Natural boundary;
• Gills;
• Facies.

The units of the highest level of territorial differentiation are: the geographical envelope and continents. But the most elementary units of the FGR are facies and tracts.

Facies as a marginal unit of FGR

The limiting (that is, elementary and indivisible) unit in the hierarchy of geographic systems is the facies. What is it?

Each of you probably saw in his life plowed field, or a birch grove in the middle of a juicy green meadow. These objects are just examples of facies.

The term "facies" has Latin roots and comes from the word facies - "face", "face", "face". It is used by botanists, geologists and biogeographers. The most successful definition for this term was given by the Soviet scientist DV Nalivkin. According to him, the facies is a fragment of the earth's surface, which is distinguished by the same natural conditions, flora and fauna. In other words, it is an elementary and homogeneous natural-territorial complex.

The facies are always located within the same biocenosis and are characterized by a single parent rock, the same microclimate, water regime and soil cover. From the point of view of the geosystemic hierarchy, it is the main structural part of tracts and sub-tracts.

There are three main types of facies:

1. Continental.
2. Marine.
3. Transitional (coastal, lagoon, delta and others).

Conclusion

Now you know that at the heart of physical-geographical zoning lies the heterogeneity of individual components of the geographical envelope: climate, relief, flora, fauna and soil cover. This process is based on five basic principles: objectivity, homogeneity, territorial integrity, zonality (and azonality), and also the comparability of the results of regionalization.

FGR can be different: zonal and azonal, complex and sectoral. Physiographic division divides the earth's surface into belts, zones and subzones, natural countries, regions, provinces, facies and tracts.