DEM-based depth in sink as an environmental estimator

The sink as a geomorphological feature can modify a spatial distribution of soil moisture due to the water stagnation in the flood-plain region or spatial distribution of air temperature and humidity (air confluence effect) as well as soil depth in the karstic region. A new variable based on digital terrain model, depth in sink, is introduced as an environmental estimator. The ability of the new variable to explain spatial distributions of the relative presence of dominant tree species is tested in the case study for a karstic region (Europaean Silver Fir, Common Beech, Norway Spruce and Mountain Pine) and for a flood-plain region (Pedunculate Oak and Narrow-leaved Ash), both in Croatia. The general linear modelling method was used. Depth in sink was the significant estimator of the spatial distribution for all tested tree species.