Exploring the intricate patterns of soil formation and distribution in high-altitude ecosystems
Extreme environments
Multiple factors
Distribution analysis
Environmental sentinels
On the slopes of Southeastern Altai, where the air is thin and the sky seems closer, one of nature's most fascinating dramas unfolds—the process of soil formation. These seemingly inconspicuous soils are true biochemical reactors where rocks transform into the foundation of life. High-mountain soils represent not just a substrate for plants but complex ecological systems preserving the history of climatic changes and geological processes 2 .
Southeastern Altai serves as a unique natural laboratory where the complex interaction between lithosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere can be observed. This territory is characterized by extreme climatic conditions, complex topography, and diverse geological formations creating a mosaic soil cover pattern 3 .
In the context of accelerating climate change, studying these soils becomes particularly relevant—they serve as indicators of the entire mountain ecosystem's health. Understanding the patterns of formation and spatial distribution of soils in this region not only satisfies scientific curiosity but has practical significance for developing strategies to preserve fragile mountain ecosystems and sustainable environmental management.
In the high-mountain conditions of Southeastern Altai, climate acts as the main director of the soil formation process. Extreme temperature fluctuations—from scorching daytime heat to nighttime frost even in summer—create unique conditions for physical weathering of rocks.
A feature of the high-mountain climate is the predictable decrease in temperature with increasing altitude, while precipitation first increases to a certain height then decreases. This creates a complex mosaic of microclimatic conditions that directly affect soil formation processes.
Research shows that in the Altai region, precipitation is one of the key factors influencing soil diversity, especially in high-mountain areas 1 .Soil-forming rocks in Southeastern Altai are characterized by significant diversity, predetermining the variegation of soil cover. The chemical and granulometric composition of rocks directly influences the properties of forming soils.
On steep slopes where erosion processes prevail over accumulation, soils form mainly on thin eluvial deposits enriched with detrital material. Geological studies show that parent rocks are the dominant soil formation factor for many areas of Altai.
Parent material determines up to 45% of soil cover variability in some geomorphological regions 1 .Topography in high-mountain conditions performs the function of a conductor, redistributing thermal energy and moisture, thereby creating a mosaic of ecological conditions. Exposure and slope steepness determine the intensity of insolation and moisture conditions.
The vertical soil spectrum in Southeastern Altai typically includes several altitude levels:
Characterized by fragmented primitive soils on rock outcrops
Represented by thin peat soils with signs of permafrost processes
Features well-developed turf soils with powerful humus horizon
Characterized by mountain-forest brown and gray forest soils 3
Each of these belts is characterized by a specific combination of soil formation processes determining the uniqueness of the forming soils.
The soil cover of Southeastern Altai is distinguished by significant diversity, numbering more than 130 soil types 3 . For high-mountain slopes, thin and gravelly soils are characteristic, forming in conditions of intensive denudation and physical weathering.
In the upper altitude tier, mountain-tundra and mountain-meadow soils are widespread, distinguished by a rocky profile and accumulation of undecomposed organic residues in the upper part of the soil profile 3 . These soils rarely form a continuous cover, often interrupted by outcrops of bedrock.
For mountain-meadow soils, a well-expressed turf horizon is characteristic, beneath which lies a loamy-gravelly layer gradually turning into a gravelly-stony thickness. The thickness of these soils is usually small, which is associated with intensive cryogenic processes limiting the depth of soil formation.
Soil erosion represents one of the most serious problems in the Altai region. More than 50% of lands are to some degree changed by erosion processes, and the number of registered ravines exceeds 3.5 thousand 3 .
In the high-mountain conditions of Southeastern Altai, water erosion predominates, especially intensively proceeding in the foothill strip over an area of more than 1.5 million hectares. Erosion intensity is directly related to slope steepness, storm character of precipitation, and anthropogenic impact.
For erosion control in the region, special measures have been developed, including retention of melt and rain runoff by preserving stubble, slitting and pitting soils, sowing perennial grasses 3 .
Modern studies of the soil cover of Southeastern Altai are based on an integrated approach combining field observations, laboratory analyses, and statistical modeling. In one of the recent studies of soil diversity in Northern Xinjiang, which includes Southeastern Altai, innovative statistical methods were applied to quantitatively assess the patterns of soil distribution 1 .
Based on secondary geomorphological zoning of China
Soil sampling within each identified region
Physicochemical properties of soils
Richness (Pa), diversity (H), and evenness (E) indices
Using geographical detectors and species-area models
Such an integrated approach allowed not only describing the current state of the soil cover but also identifying key factors determining its spatial organization.
Research results revealed clear patterns in the distribution of soil diversity. The soil diversity index predictably decreases from high-mountain areas to foothill plains: the highest values were recorded for the Tien Shan high-mountain basin, followed by the Altai highlands, Dzungarian basin, and Gansu-Mongolia plains 1 . This distribution confirms the influence of vertical zonality on soil diversity.
| Geomorphological Region | Richness Index (Pa) | Diversity Index (H) | Evenness Index (E) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tien Shan High-Mountain Basin | 0.84 | 2.31 | 0.76 |
| Altai Highlands | 0.79 | 2.15 | 0.72 |
| Dzungarian Basin | 0.72 | 1.89 | 0.65 |
| Gansu-Mongolia Plains | 0.61 | 1.42 | 0.51 |
| Geomorphological Region | Parent Material | Precipitation | Vegetation | Temperature | Topography |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Altai Highlands | 6.42 | 8.96 | 5.13 | 4.87 | 3.92 |
| Gansu-Mongolia Plains | 24.04 | 12.35 | 8.76 | 7.89 | 6.45 |
| Tien Shan High-Mountain Basin | 16.93 | 10.21 | 9.34 | 8.76 | 7.12 |
| Dzungarian Basin | 45.15 | 15.67 | 12.43 | 10.34 | 9.87 |
Analysis using geographical detectors allowed quantitative assessment of the influence of various factors on soil diversity. The most significant factors turned out to be precipitation amount and nature of soil-forming rocks. In the Altai highlands, precipitation explained 8.96% of soil diversity variability, exceeding the influence of other factors. In other regions, such as the Gansu-Mongolia plains, Tien Shan high-mountain basin, and Dzungarian basin, soil-forming rocks were the main factor influencing soil diversity, with explanation rates of 24.04%, 16.93%, and 45.15% respectively 1 .
Studying soils of high-mountain slopes requires specialized equipment and methods adapted to complex field conditions. An integrated approach combines traditional soil research and modern geoinformation technologies.
| Tool/Method | Purpose | Application Features in Highlands |
|---|---|---|
| Soil Auger | Sampling at various depths | Allows studying soil profile structure without excavation |
| Ground Penetrating Radar | Research of soil thickness and parent material | Impossible to use on very steep slopes |
| GPS Equipment | Precise georeferencing of sampling points | Requires correction considering complex topography |
| Geographical Detectors | Statistical analysis of spatial patterns | Identification of factors determining soil diversity |
| Moisture and Temperature Sensors | Monitoring soil climate | Accounting for extreme temperature fluctuations |
| Satellite Imagery | Soil cover mapping | Identification of soil distribution patterns |
Particular importance in high-mountain conditions has mobile laboratory equipment, allowing preliminary analysis of samples directly in field conditions. This is especially important when working in remote areas with limited transport accessibility. To integrate diverse data—from soil chemical composition to topographic characteristics—geoinformation modeling is used, allowing creation of digital soil cover maps and predicting its changes in conditions of changing climate 1 .
Soils of high-mountain slopes of Southeastern Altai represent unique natural formations, forming in extreme conditions under the joint influence of climate, topography, soil-forming rocks, and biota. Their spatial distribution is characterized by complex mosaicity, caused by vertical zonality and exposure differentiation of slopes.
Intensive erosion processes and fragility of soil cover make these ecosystems especially vulnerable to anthropogenic impact and climatic changes. Modern research demonstrates that the main factors determining the region's soil diversity are soil-forming rocks and precipitation amount 1 .
Understanding these patterns has fundamental significance for developing strategies to preserve soil resources and sustainable management of mountain territories. Since high-mountain soils serve as indicators of global changes, their monitoring and study acquire special relevance in the context of adaptation to climate change and preservation of biological diversity of the unique ecosystems of Altai.