The phytoindication method for mapping peatlands in the taiga zone of the West‐Siberian Plain

Abstract

Studying mires in the taiga zone of West Siberia is complicated because they are large and difficult to access. We have used a method of mapping mires using satellite images and indication characteristics of the vegetation. To map the mires the classification of plant communities has been worked out. This classification takes into account the life‐forms and growth forms of the plant communities. To map the mires of the territory we used the data of polyzonal space survey by the artificial Earth satellite Landsat 7. The ENVI system decoded the satellite images. Mapping was done with the Geographical Informational System (GIS) ArcView. The method of phytoindication can be used to map mires covering large territories. Now we are designing the map of the Great Vasyugan bog (scale 1:200,000). From this perspective it is possible to map the bog cover of the whole territory of Western Siberia.

Keywords:

• Peat land
• Phytoindication
• Remote sensing
• Landscape mapping
• Life‐forms of plants

Acknowledgements

This work was financially supported by RFBR project 08‐04‐92497‐CNRS_a.