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- Gustavsson, Marcus, et al.
(author)
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New geomorphological mapping system used at different scales in a Swedish glaciated area
- 2009
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In: Geomorphology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0169-555X .- 1872-695X. ; 110:1-2, s. 37-44
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- A new, detailed geomorphological mapping system is tested at different scales for presentation of landscape configuration and interpretation of landscape development of a formerly glaciated area near Mora in central Sweden. The geomorphological maps are based on fieldwork supported by aerial photographs. The area contains landforms created by mass movement, glacial, glaciofluvial, fluvial, lacustrine, aeolian and anthropogenic processes. In addition, geomorphological effects of isostatic uplift, which has caused a c. 220 m rise of the former Ancylus lake shoreline in the area since the deglaciation, can be seen. The new system is tested at scales 1:5000, 1:25,000 and 1:50,000 using the same legend. At the largest scale information on morphography/morphometry, lithology, and hydrography are included in the map as are details on polygenetic origins of landforms. With each step from the 1:5000 to the 1:50,000 scale some generalisation is needed at the cost of descriptive detail. In turn, with smaller scale, the general overview of the area increases and the impression from the map gradually becomes more dominated by genesis. The emphasis of the map thus changes from a presentation with a high level of descriptive information at the largest scale to a more interpretative overview at smaller scales. The scale transformation shows that the geomorphological presentation of the landscape is a function of both the landscape hierarchy and the geomorphological context within an area. The use of the new geomorphological mapping system at the three scales shows that the tested mapping legend can be used without modification from one scale to another. This is mainly because the geomorphological information parameters are separated in the legend, and that explanatory information is gained from combinations of them. The possibility to apply the same legend at different scales for an area facilitates the choice of an appropriate mapping scale for specific purposes and applications. The new mapping system also has the advantage that the data can be easily transformed into a GIS ESRI geodatabase containing the same "raw-data" as the original map. The differences of information at the different scales illustrate problems that are also relevant for use and presentation of geomorphological data in a GIS and three examples of scale problems in relation to GIS data handling are outlined.
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