Basin approach

a total complex of methods in geographic and ecological analysis, in a basis of which lays an idea of continuity of a geographic shell, where as the basic integrating factor is the aqueous sink. According to B.a. the dimensional structure of a geographic shell is represented by a system of hierarchies of basins of various ranks. B.a. is convenient for balance accounts, where on an input – precipitations falling out on the floor space of a basin, and on an exit – river sink. At the same time applicability of B.a. is limited in districts with intensive ash and karst phenomena.