Relief formation in the littoral zone of the lake-like part of the Sayano-Shushenskoye reservoir

We examine the exogenous geological processes of a technogenic nature that were taking place in the littoral zone of the lake-like part of the Sayano-Shushenskoye reservoir after its impounding (1979-1980), and at the period of operation. We analyze the factors promoting the development of technogenic processes and the creation of an unfavorable ecological situation.     

新疆地质遗迹的分布特征与保护开发

国际、国内地质遗迹保护的发展反映出地质遗迹保护理念从单一保护到保护与开发相协调的演进,联合国教科文组织建立的地质公园将地质遗迹保护与促进地方经济可持续发展紧密结合起来,成为地质遗迹保护的最佳途径。新疆地质遗迹数量大、类型齐、等级优,复杂的地质地貌环境,造就和控制了新疆地质遗迹的类型和空间分布,主要类型为地质地貌景观和水体景观,空间分布可划分为阿尔泰、准噶尔、天山、塔里木、昆仑－阿尔金5个区,其中天山区和昆仑－阿尔金区是新疆最重要的地质遗迹区。基于首次全疆地质遗迹系统调研,指出新疆滞后的地质遗迹保护现状的根本致因是保护与开发协调性差,确定保护类型－形式－模式－级别－时序－分区六大保护步骤,提出地质公园和地质遗迹保护区及其他保护地相结合的复合型保护模式优选思路和5个优选模式,并据此建立针对新疆209个重要地质遗迹的保护开发备选名录。     

Exogenous processes and soil formation within a small river basin of Western Transbaikalia in the second half of the Holocene

We determined the sequence of formation of deposits on the first terrace above the Tarbagataika river floodplain, and a change of the sedimentation and soil-formation stages for the last 7 kyr. We reconstructed the accumulation dynamics of the sediment layer and calculated the mean sediment accumulation rates for different time intervals. The phases of intensification of erosion-accumulation and aeolian processes were recorded. The study revealed the main stratigraphic boundaries reflecting the fundamental changes of the settings of sedimentation: 7 cal. kyr BP, a change of riverbed sedimentation for floodplain sedimentation; 5.4 cal. kyr BP, intensification of erosion-accumulation processes due to climate aridization on the Atlantic-Subboreal boundary, and active input of erosion products to the floodplain; 4 cal. kyr BP, active filling of the river valley with horizontally layered polygenetic fine-grained sands and sandy loams containing intercalations of humic warps in conditions of the overlapped (built-up) floodplain with an increase in humidification in the middle of the Subboreal period and, as a consequence, an increase in the height of floods; 3.4 cal. kyr, the layer under investigation leaves the floodplain regime of sedimentation and accumulation of aeolian-deluvial deposits, and 1 cal. kyr, intensification of erosion-accumulation processes due to climatic and anthropogenic changes. We reconstructed the chronology and specific features of the pedogenesis stages which record the phases of temporal cessation of floodplain and slope sedimentation on the study territory. The results obtained are in good agreement with data on the hydraulicity of rivers, the stages of soil formation and on the manifestation of exogenous processes on the territories of Russia and Mongolia.     

The natural-technogenic relief-forming processes on the territory of the city of Bratsk

In the context of the problem reflecting the geoecological assessment of the territory of Bratsk, we examine the geodynamical block relating to the study of natural-technogenic geological processes. Fields observations (from the summer of 2003–2004) are invoked to describe the forms of manifestation of erosion, suffusion, gravitational, Aeolian and abrasion processes, the natural and technogenic factors that are responsible for their occurrence, and the type and regime of development. An analysis is made of their interrelationship, and of the influence of the geological environment on the character of their distribution.     

Modern exogenous relief-formation processes: mapping,analysis of structures,regionalization

The scheme is suggested for studying the modern exogenous relief formation on the basis of the concept of leading processes, and of developing interconnected and mutually complimentary procedures of mapping, analysis of structures and regionalization. The principles and methods of mapping and regionalization of the processes are considered, the basic notions of the structures of modern exogenous relief formation are defined, and the main factors of their formation are shown.     

Landscape diversity of specially protected natural territories of Nenets Autonomous Okrug

A landscape diversity representativeness assessment is made of the system of specially protected territories in Nenets Autonomous Okrug having regard to natural regionalization and zonal division. It is shown that the existing specially protected natural territories are representative for a small number of landscapes. Maps have been generated, which display the distribution of rare and threatened groups of landscapes, and territories have been identified, which are high priority for the establishment of specially protected natural territories.     

The Spaces of Conservation and Development around Lake Nakuru National Park,Kenya

Geographically or sociologically defined resource management units, such as buffer zones or community resource management territories, seek to harmonize local land–use practices with protected–area management objectives. The geographically restricted nature of these models often results in simplistic representations of society–nature relations over time and space. Conservation areas are misrepresented as ecologically and socially homogeneous, as well as politically neutral. This study examines the limits of a spatially defined conservation and development project designed around the physical geographical unit of the watershed at Lake Nakuru National Park, Kenya. It argues that politically motivated violence that has plagued the area since the early 1990s has severely undermined the suitability of such narrowly defined conservation territories. Specifically, the case study points to the permeability of the Lake Nakuru watershed to national and regional political forces that ultimately constrain participation in conservation activities. The spaces of conservation and development must be enlarged to include these extralocal arenas and processes if environmental problems are to be effectively addressed.     

西伯利亚板块旋转漂移运动刍议

西伯利亚板块是世界上古老的地质构造单元之一。根据板块构造理论，该板块当今的地表形态和地理位置，是其经过不断迁移，与其它板块不断发生碰撞的结果。本文试从展现板块的水平运动特点出发，着重揭示西伯利亚板块在各地质时期的运动状态，从而阐述该板块自寒武纪以来的旋转漂移的全过程。     

Hydrologo-morphological approach to regionalization of the Selenga river basin

We examine the evolutionary stages of scientific views on the formation history of the delta plain of the Selenga river and adjacent territories, based on cartographic material and national investigations spanning the period 1701?C2009. We suggest the regionalization of the Selenga river from hydromorphometric attributes of erosion-accumulation, abrasion-accumulation and neotectonic processes. The study is based on comparing topographic maps, guides for navigation and space images (1898?C2009) as well as on experimental data obtained by the authors.     

湖南境内沅水流域地质灾害形成因素分析

沅水流域流经湖南省的西部地区，由于地质环境和社会经济背景的特殊性，已成为湖南省地质灾害的主要分布区。通过对流域内地质灾害发育特征的归纳，着重从自然影响因素和人类活动两个方面来分析流域内地质灾害的形成。主要采用灰色关联理论来分析流域内大气降水、地形条件和人类活动等3个主要致灾因子的关联度，其结果分别为0．8332、0．6589和0．5654，从而来探求流域内地质灾害灾变机理的规律性，为流域内各个地区的防灾减灾提供依据，最大限度减少地质灾害所造成的经济损失，促进流域内社会、经济、生态环境的可持续发展。     

The place of individuals in the politics of scale

Conceptualizations and re-conceptualizations of scale have been powerful tools for explaining spatial processes that transcend traditionally-bounded territories. Examining the role of individuals within a politics of scale can do even more to explain multi-scalar conflicts. This paper does so by examining struggles over airport expansion in the US, showing how an understanding of the various roles of individuals in the politics of scale – as sites of multiple scales, as actors constituting other scales, and as scales in and of themselves – better explains multi-scalar conflicts and offers more opportunities for resolving them.     

Evolution of Anisotropic Coal Permeability Under the Effect of Heterogeneous Deformation of Fractures

Natural Resources Research - Permeability is one of the key parameters to better understand the processes of coalbed methane mining and carbon dioxide geological storage. As a unique porous medium,...     

Geotopes of mountain territories: Definitions, approaches to the study, protection

Geographical places of interest of mountain territories are discussed. A comprehensive definition of the notion of “geotope” is provided, which takes into consideration its uniqueness, individuality and accessibility for study and popularization. A relevant classification of geotopes and approaches in studying them have been developed. Attention is drawn to the possibilities of protecting mountain geotopes, and to the need fro a popularization of geotopes in the geographical knowledge system. A case in point is provided by the record cards and the catalogue of geotopes as well as by websites with information bases of data on geographical attractions of mountain territories.     

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.     

Contribution of a three-dimensional regional scale basin model to the study of the past fluid flow evolution and the present hydrology of the Paris basin, France

A basin model was built to simulate in three dimensions the 248 Myr geological history of the Paris basin, France, i.e. sedimentation, erosion, compaction heat and fluid flow. This multidisciplinary study was based on a detailed stratigraphic database of more than 1100 well logs together with a hydrodynamic database of 1000 data (heads and permeabilities). The region covers a maximum surface area of 700 000 km². The NEWBAS code of the Ecole des Mines de Paris was used in order to simulate compaction and heat and fluid flow. Three examples of the use of this model are given to illustrate different features of the geological functioning of the basin. (i) By modelling processes such as sedimentation, compaction, fluid and heat flow, the model provides estimates of the hydraulic conductivity fields within one order of magnitude from observations at the regional scale. This permeability field can reproduce the present‐day observed pressures and fluxes in the basin. (ii) Observed excess pressures in the main aquitards are considered as possible consequences of the geological history of the basin. The calculated excess pressures are small and stay within the range of the measured values, between 0 and 2.75 MPa, close to the pressures in the aquifers. However, the weak excess pressures measured in the Callovo–Oxfordian sequence in the eastern part of the basin are not reproduced by the model. Mechanisms other than compaction disequilibrium must be invoked. (iii) This model also calculates regional‐scale palaeofluid flow whose value is currently arbitrarily assumed by geochemists when studying diagenetic processes. Hence, it provides a hydrologic background for diagenetic models. The cementation in the western Keuper reservoirs was investigated. Topographically driven flow during tectonic inversion periods, e.g. the Lower Cretaceous and Early Tertiary, is shown to be a plausible cause of brine migrations. This brine displacement would then explain the high salinities recorded in the fluid inclusions trapped in the Keuper cements. The conditions for the migration would have been most favourable at the time of the maximum burial, i.e. the Early Tertiary and not the Early Cretaceous as previously suggested.     

Experience of geographical typology of secularization processes in the modern world

In the modern world, seven geographical types of development of secularization processes have been identified; the level of secularization is determined not only by the maturity of social space but also by the structure of geospace. The Latin type includes some countries of Southern and Western Europe, most of the population of which confess Catholicism. The countries of the Anglo-Scandinavian type are characterized by Protestant pluralism. The polarized type combines countries and territories in which Protestants and Catholics form stable, influential and competing blocs. The countries in which the secularization processes were unable to seriously shake the influence of religion in society, because it is the institute of church that was resisting the political and cultural infringement by neighboring states over centuries, refer to the type of religious infringement. The resettlement type is characteristic for the countries whose population was being formed as a result of migration of various confessional (primarily Protestant) groups. The post-socialist type includes the countries in which an active policy of not infrequently forced “political” secularization was pursued. The Confucianistic type combines the states, most of the population of which was pursuing various religious-cultural traditions, with Confucianism predominating in general, and with a widespread occurrence of polyconfessionalism. This geographical typology of secularization embraces the countries, the communities of which have gone through the stages of secular development. The spatial boundedness of the secularization processes in the world is determined by the fact that secularization itself is the product primarily of the entire Christian European civilization.     

Developing KaNgwane: geographies of segregation and integration in the new South Africa

This paper examines social, political and economic processes within the former KaNgwane bantustan to understand the changing relationships between society and space in the post-apartheid era. Research on rural development and reconstruction in South Africa attest to the spatial legacy of apartheid while suggesting that dynamic transformations are occurring within the former bantustans. A central concern of this paper is the ways the apartheid government constructed and presented KaNgwane as a development project in order to justify racial segregation and control. While the bantustans have been effectively erased from the popular imagination, these spaces continue to be framed developmentally in ways that provide limited attention to local context and change. In order to consider the shifts in environment and development discourses within these territories, a case study is employed to evaluate livelihood production systems, environmental change, and governance institutions. It is argued that these patterns reveal the simultaneously static and dynamic nature of the bantustans while demonstrating that their reincorporation will remain an ongoing process in the post-apartheid era.     

Emerging trends in urbanizing Palestine: neglected city-builders beyond the occupation

In this article, we draw attention to trends in land transformation in the West Bank since the Second Intifada, after which a surge of investment from Gulf countries entered Palestine, almost exclusively in the West Bank. The occupied Palestinian territories have attracted a great deal of attention from media and academics, yet the vast majority of scholarship focuses on the conflict and the variety of social, economic, and political repercussions of the on-going Israeli occupation. While the occupation has undeniably serious impacts on every aspect of life for Palestinians, the near-exclusive focus on the conflict means that significant new trends, such as urban mega-developments and emerging market-based urbanisation processes, have been largely overlooked. We outline three directions for future research: the assemblage of “neglected city-builders” shaping current urbanization processes in Palestine; the ideas, policies, and norms circulating in the West Bank; and the social, spatial, economic, and other impacts of these new urban developments.     

Existing Territories and Formalization of Territorial Use Rights for Moored Fish Aggregating Devices: The Case of Small-Scale Fisheries in the La Désirade Island (France)

Moored fish aggregating devices (MFADs) are used by small-scale fishers to access fish species difficult to harvest in large numbers. In the case of Guadeloupe (Caribbean area), the use of MFADs has increased considerably and this is causing congestion in these fishing areas and creating conflict between fishers. The aim of this article is to understand how informal fishing territories around the La Desirade Island were established and examine these territories through the lens of economic defendability theory. Results of semistructured interviews show that MFAD fishers display territoriality along MFAD tract lines forming quasi-privatized areas. Territoriality in this article is based on the following factors: the type of targeted resources, the cost of harvesting, the defending of territories, and the acknowledgment of territories by the fishing community. Conflicts and utilization of MFADs (overcapacity) have raised an opportunity to create co-managed legalized territorial use rights for fisheries.     

Landscape diversity in the Russian part of the Lesser Khingan

Three key types of natural-territorial complexes (NTCs) ensuring geosystem stability are identified on the basis of assessing landscape diversity in the Russian part of the Lesser Khingan. Landscape representativity for special protected natural territories of the Lesser Khingan is outlined. A need to increase the protected area of taiga landscapes is revealed.