Climatic aspects of formation and evolution of stepped structural plains of the Aral-Tobol interfluvial area

Abstract

The climate is considered to be a main factor controlling type of morphogenesis, the latter being characterized by a certain «spectrum» of exogenous processes and resulted landforms. «Stepped» structure of the structural plains was formed during the Quaternary under condition of cyclic changes of climate which resulted in repeated changes of climatic-landscape zones and morphogenesis' types. Stepped structure is associated (in time and space) with semiarid morphogenesis, the main manifestation of the latter being an active planation process of the pediplanation type.