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CLIMATE CHANGE TRENDS IN LANDSCAPES OF SAMTSKHE-JAVAKHETI
Abstract
Climate change is reflected in the horizontal and vertical structure of vegetation cover, species composition, and bio-productivity changes as well as on the changes of carbon cycles. Landscape studies and revealing of climate changes in different landscapes are especially relevant for the countries/regions that on the one hand stand forward with high natural potential, on the other hand keen ecological problems distinguishes them. Among them is Samtkhe-Javakheti ? one of the region of Georgia. The research is based on the Concept of Space-temporary analysis and synthesis of landscapes developed by Prof. N. Beruchashvili in 1980s. The research was carried out in several stages: Correlating the data amassed in different sources with the purpose of creating a landscape database of the research area, which describes 5 types, 12 subtypes and 12 genera of landscapes with more than 50 attributes; Defining annual dynamics and trends of landscape conditions; Determining the present condition of landscapes and parameters of changes (forest and agricultural land areas, fragmentation of landscapes, demographic influence, number of industrial enterprises, density of transport network, etc.). Formation of daily conditions of landscapes (duration, recurrence, annual cycle etc.), also other parameters connected with that (phytomass and productivity, amounts of dead plants/fauna, humus) and inclusion of results in landscape planning will allow determining the duration of humid, semihumid, semiarid, arid conditions of landscapes according to the years, trends of humidization/aridization and other tendencies during long-term observation. This gives chance to realize the mosaic character of landscapes toward climate change. Finally, research results give possibility to develop system of recommendations for the purpose of territorial planning and management.
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References11
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