The structure of contemporary denudation in the steppes of the Minusinskaya depression

We examine the contemporary denudation cycles in the steppes of Khakassia, including the phase of integration of matter in the system and of the nival-proluvial removal, and the deflation phase of long-range transport of matter from the Minusinskaya depression. The cartographic model for the contemporary functioning of denudation systems is presented.     

The structure of denudation cycles in the forest-steppes of Middle Siberia

A comparison between the evidence from station-based investigations into contemporaneous denudation with the data on the structure of reference sections of the loess formation from the late Pleistocene revealed a hierarchical structure of denudation cycles in the submontane forest-steppes of Middle Siberia. It is established that an elementary 3–5-year cycle exhibits features typical of high-order cycles. Similarity features manifest themselves in the denudation mechanism, and in the sequence of phase change inside the cycles. A denudation cycle of any hierarchical level inheritedly from the late Pleistocene includes accumulation phases of Aeolian material, redistribution of matter by the slope processes, and of fluvial removal of matter from the system.     

The dynamics of mountain geosystems in southern Siberia

Using three key areas as an example we examine the tendencies toward changes of the mountain geosystems in southern Siberia caused by fluctuations of climate. Presented are the quantitative parameters of the dynamics of nival-glacial geosystems (glaciers, perennial snow clusters, icings, and stony glaciers). Portions of large-scale maps for the key areas generated for a subsequent monitoring of the mountain geosystems are presented.     

Natural stability of vegetation in geosystems of southern Middle Siberia

We consider some theoretical and methodological issues relating to stability assessment of natural development of vegetation in geosystems. We have ascertained the evolutionary-genetic essentials of vegetation stability and presented the cartographic states of its assessment. The stability map for plant communities has been developed on a conjugate scale of predictive-cartographic products.     

Quantitative assessment of the atmospheric circulation intensity in southern East Siberia

The monthly mean values of the 500-hPa geopotential height (NCEP/NCAR reanalysis database) have been used to calculate the values of the zonal and meridional circulation indices spanning the time interval 1949–2007 for southern East Siberia. An analysis is made of the variation in atmospheric circulation intensity over the study territory.     

Some aspects of ecological risks of nature management in southern Baikalian Siberia

The diverse environment-protective role of vegetation is highlighted in the context of economic development of southern territories of Baikalian Siberia. Results from geobotanical forecasting for the purpose of minimizing ecological risks of nature management are presented.     

Karst under natural and technogenically modified conditions in southern East Siberia

We outline the karst process with its surface and subterranean forms in natural and natural-technical geosystems in southern East Siberia. The activity of karst and its interrelationship with the other exogenous processes are demonstrated.     

The erosion-accumulative processes within the basins of small rivers of southern East Siberia

The mean values of potential soil loss and of sediments that are removed from the gullies are calculated, and the data on the rates of erosion-accumulative processes on arable lands, in gully-dried-up river-bed systems are provided. For the Yelovka and Kuitunka rivers the basin component of the erosion-accumulative processes has been assessed qualitatively. The sequences of erosion loss to drainage basins of small rivers as well as of scouring and accumulation are determined.     

Using the landscape map to assess the productivity of geosystems in the southern taiga of Western Siberia

The principle of structural-dynamical landscape science was used in mapping the taiga of the Ob’-Irtysh, Lower Irtysh and Tobol regions. The spatiotemporal dynamics of the regions’ geosystems is outlined, and their productivity is assessed from forest inventory data and NDVI indices as calculated on the basis of Landsat-5 TM images.     

中国南方不同土地利用/覆被类型对气温升温的影响

基于我国南方六省国家气象台站历史气象资料、1∶10万土地利用/覆被数据和NCEP再分析气温资料,通过比较气温变化在不同观测环境气象站之间的差异,分析中国南方三种主要土地利用/覆被类型对气温趋势的影响。结果显示：土地利用/覆被类型对气温趋势具有稳定的影响,建设用地的年均温、年均最高和最低气温的升温幅度均最高,耕地次之,林地最小。进一步利用再分析资料剔除区域大尺度气候背景影响后,建设用地的年均温升温趋势仍最大（0.105℃/10a）,其次是耕地（0.056℃/10a）,林地的升温趋势最小（-0.025℃/10a）,且为负。这表明对于研究区气温的升温趋势,林地具有抑制作用,建设用地具有增强作用,且增强作用较耕地强。林地的各季节平均气温的变化幅度同样低于非林地。     

Calibration of regional pollen data to construct maps of former forest types in southern Sweden

A method was developed to construct maps of former forest types based on regional pollen data in southern Sweden. The considered species were Alnus, Betula, Carpinus, Corylus, Fagus, Fraxinus, Juniperus, Picea, Pinus, Populus, Quercus, Salix, Tilia and Ulmus. A network of 37 regional pollen sites with high data quality from lakes and peat deposits were selected from Sweden south of 60 ° N. Pollen percentage values were calculated and converted into estimates of tree composition. For controlling the reliability of the reconstruction, the estimates from the core-tops were compared with present day forest inventory data, and local pollen diagrams were compared with the regional pollen diagrams. An inverse distance weighted interpolation algorithm was used to generate maps for each tree species distribution at 2000 BP, 1500 BP, 1000 BP, 500 BP and 0 BP. A supervised classification routine was implemented to generate nine different forest types common to the five studied time intervals. The maps show that the amounts and patterns of distribution of the species and the forest types have varied in a significant but systematic manner through time. The changes are due to human activities, migrational patterns and changes in climate. These maps will be of value as a basis for future landscape planning, forestry and conservation of biodiversity.This is the 20th in a series of papers published in this special AMQUA issue. These papers were presented at the 1994 meeting of the American Quaternary Association held 19–22 June, 1994, at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. Dr Linda C. K. Shane served as guest editor for these papers.     

Mineral magnetic and physical properties of surficial sediments and onshore samples from the southern basin of Lake Baikal, Siberia

Results of lithostratigraphic and mineral magnetic analysis of two surficial sediment cores (21 cm and 45 cm in length) collected from the Southern basin of Lake Baikal at a water depth of 1390 m, are presented. The sediments have been measured for a wide range of mineral magnetic parameters in order to assess their value in the identification of turbidite layers. Particle size and geochemical data are also presented and these explain some of the down core variations in magnetic mineralogy. It is suggested that changes in the particle size frequency distributions down core may be related to fossil diatom shells. One of the cores has been dated using ²¹⁰Pb. The sediment cores were cross-correlated using low frequency magnetic susceptibility (f) and these cores can also be correlated with a nearby core collected earlier in 1992. Changes in the magnetic parameters of lf, IRMs and HIRM₂₁₀ suggest that there are significant changes in the concentration of ferrimagnetic minerals in the sediment cores, indicating changing sediment sources and/or increasing concentrations of spheroidal carbonaceous particles and the dissolution of minerals through reduction below the oxidised layer within the sediment core.     

Chemical denudation rates in Kärkevagge, Swedish Lapland

This study examines the spatial and temporal variability of chemical denudation rates in Kärkevagge, northern Sweden. The chemical flux rates within the valley are strongly influenced by the local geology. Chemical denudation rates determined for the study period are more than double those previously reported in the literature for this valley. Rates of greater than 46t km⁻² a⁻¹ were measured at the valley mouth over the course of the melt season. This difference is likely due to differences in measurement technique compared to that used by past researchers. This rate is also much higher than for other arctic and alpine watersheds. Chemical denudation in Kärkevagge is comparable to larger temperate rivers. The rapid chemical denudation in Kärkevagge is likely due to sulfide weathering creating acid solutions.     

Ways of improving settlement in West Siberia

"[This] paper devoted to the settlement system and the problem of rural population loss in that portion of West Siberia having a significant agricultural base takes issue with some implicit assumptions incorporated within the General Scheme of Settlement within the USSR. More specifically, policies calling for the deliberate, i.e., forced, resettlement of rural population in selected villages in order to provide economies of scale in rural services provision are criticized on two major counts: (1) that such 'enlarged' settlements will still be too small to be allocated the necessary range of functions according to standard city-planning formulae, and (2) that they accelerate rural depopulation by serving as spring-boards for migration to still larger centers."     

Chemical denudation rates in Kärkevagge, Swedish Lapland

This study examines the spatial and temporal variability of chemical denudation rates in Kärkevagge, northern Sweden. The chemical flux rates within the valley are strongly influenced by the local geology. Chemical denudation rates determined for the study period are more than double those previously reported in the literature for this valley. Rates of greater than 46t km⁻² a⁻¹ were measured at the valley mouth over the course of the melt season. This difference is likely due to differences in measurement technique compared to that used by past researchers. This rate is also much higher than for other arctic and alpine watersheds. Chemical denudation in Kärkevagge is comparable to larger temperate rivers. The rapid chemical denudation in Kärkevagge is likely due to sulfide weathering creating acid solutions.     

Landscapes of Eurasian steppes as the object of historical steppe science

Based on historical-geographical evidence, this paper reports on the influence of the nomadic peoples on the landscapes of the steppe one in Northern Eurasia during the pre-agricultural period, i.e. in the 18th-19th centuries. It is concluded that the landscapes of the steppe one constituted natural-anthropogenic complexes resulting from cultural transformation of space by the nomadic peoples. A rationale is rovided for the problems facing the new branch of knowledge, historical steppe science.     

围栏封育对青海湖地区芨芨草草原生物量的影响

选择青海湖地区的芨芨草草原为研究对象,以围栏内封育和围栏外自由放牧的草地做比较,研究了围栏内外枯枝落叶量、地上生物量的季节动态变化和地下生物量的状况。结果表明:枯落物生物量的季节动态围栏内外均呈现高—低—高的变化趋势,且围栏内枯落物量大于围栏外。群落总地上生物量、禾草类、杂类草和豆类草生物量围栏内外均呈现明显单峰型生长曲线,围栏内地上总生物量和禾草类生物量均大于围栏外,杂类草和豆类草生物量则是围栏外大于围栏内。围栏内外群落的地下生物量垂直分布均呈典型的倒金字塔型,从地表向下地下生物量的空间分布呈递减趋势。地下生物量主要集中分布在0~10 cm,围栏内外分别达1 408.778 g和940.934 g,占总地下生物量比例分别是84.65%和77.12%;而在10~20 cm和20~30 cm两层无论是重量,还是所占的比例,都是围栏外大于围栏内。该地区降雨量和气温呈单峰的增长,且雨热同季,这也和植物的生长规律吻合,土壤含水量达到最高值的时间较降雨量和气温滞后。围栏外地上生物量的季节变化和月均气温、降雨量呈极显著正相关关系,围栏外月均地上生物量的累积量与土壤含水量呈显著负相关关系;地上生物量的月增长率与月均气温和降雨量呈显著正相关关系;围栏内地上生物量的增长率与月均气温呈极显著正相关关系,其他相关关系微弱。     

西伯利亚自然资源及其开发潜力

西伯利亚自然资源极其丰富,开发潜力巨大,在全俄乃至更高层次的区域中具有明显的竞争优势.根据国内外最新资料,对西伯利亚的能源、矿产资源、森林资源、水资源和水能资源的开发现状进行了详尽的分析,从开发面临的优势与劣势、机遇和挑战等方面对西伯利亚的自然资源开发潜力进行了探讨,并根据SWOT分析结果提出了西伯利亚自然资源开发的策略和建议.     

Conflagration fires in taiga landscapes of Central Siberia

We examine the issues relating to the origin of conflagration fires, and the conditions for their emergence and occurrence in taiga landscapes of Central Siberia. We carry out an analysis of the natural-pyrological conditions of landscape where conflagration fires occur.