First Data on the Age and Formation Conditions of Secondary Carbonate Accumulations in Upper Pleistocene and Holocene Soils of Upper Angara Region

Doklady Earth Sciences - The first data on the age of carbonate cutans in soils of the Upper Angara Region are given. Three groups of them were identified on the basis of the conditions of their...     

Use of historical data in mapping geosystems of the Vitim basin

We examine the main stages of geographical investigations across the territory of the Vitim river basin. An analysis is made of the different-time specific character of the natural and economic situation in the key study area, the Muisko-Kuandinskaya depression. The schematic map of the present-day natural complexes is provided.     

Complex Assessment of Permissible Pollutant Loads for Freshwater and Terrestrial Ecosystems Using the Selenga River Basin as an Example

Doklady Earth Sciences - An approach to complex assessment of permissible pollutant loads for aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems has been proposed. The approach is based on evaluation of the...     

The 50th anniversary of the appearance of V. B. Sochava’s first article on the geosystem

In 2013, we celebrate the 50^th anniversary of the publication of V. B. Sochava’s first paper in which he offered the definition of the term “geosystem”. His paper entitled “The definition of some notions and terms in physical geography” remains one of the most frequently cited articles in the national geographical literature. The concept of the geosystem was included in encyclopedias. The geosystem ideology is used in training of specialists in the field of geography.     

CARTOGRAPHIC MODELS IN THE ANALYSIS OF SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL TRENDS IN URBAN POLLUTION

Methods of assessing the informational content of multispectral imagery from satellites are examined. The utility of integral measures of the quantity of information from selected vis-à-vis one- and two-dimensional histograms of the brightnesses of multispectral space images are demonstrated. Such a procedure makes it possible to compare data obtained at different times and data obtained using different measuring instruments, which facilitates solution of the problem of predicting possible changes in the investigated area under the influence of natural and human agents.     

The consequences of vegetation degradation under the influence of anthropogenic activity in the territory of the Zarafshan Range (Western Tajikistan)

We examine the richness and diversity of the flora of the Zarafshan Range in Tajikistan by using endemic species as an example. We determined the character and type of ecosystems, and the presence of endemics in a particular biotope. A potential threat to the unique ecosystems is brought by the cutting down of shrubs and juniper vegetation, unauthorized removal of rare plants, gathering of edible plants as well as waterlogging of the territory.     

Anthropogenic disturbance to vegetation on the polygon-transect in the Kulikalon depression (Tajikistan)

Investigations into the vegetation cover on the polygon-transect in the Kulikalon depression (Tajikistan) revealed the influence of anthropogenic pressure on the ecosystem of archovniks (juniper forests). Archovniks constitute the main landscape component of the Zarafshan geobotanical region. Only small areas occupied by them are not disturbed by human economic activity on the territory of the Kulikalon depression.