The importance of relief of mountainous landscapes in the process of radionuclide contamination of phytocenosis

Abstract

The increased radiation threats in the world require a more detailed study, taking into account the specificity of the landscapes during the remote migration of radionuclides. From this point of view, two large groups can be distinguished: mountainous and plain landscapes. If the horizontal spread of radionuclide contamination as a result of atmospheric transport and landscape sorption processes are the leading factors in the conditions of plain landscapes, the vertical migration factor is added to these processes for mountainous regions. In addition, the vertical zoning of mountainous regions determines not only landscape features but also temperature regime, precipitation intensity and form, degree of insolation, and stepwise changes in phytocenoses. It is natural that, in the conditions of such a variety of factors, the study of the distribution of radionuclide-contaminated spots requires individual approaches to adequately carry out ecological monitoring of high mountain areas. For this purpose, an analysis was carried out and a list of the factors influencing the migration of radionuclides in the ecosystems of the steep slopes, depending on the landscape features of the mountainous regions, was made.