Home – Home – Jornals – Geography and natural resources 2018 number 4

The tendency for the progressive establishment of the formation of a broad integration association of a continental scale, «Greater Eurasia», on the basis of the Eurasian Economic Union and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization is highlighted. A common geographical feature of the countries referred involved in this partnership is revealed, i. e. the unique ultra-continen tal location of their remote inland territories at the world’s largest distance from economical sea routes and major world markets. An example of the countries of Central Asia, Russian Siberia and western regions of China shows the negative influence of the ultra-continentality factor manifesting itself primarily in increased transportation costs, which creates considerable barriers to economic growth and foreign trade activity. It is suggested that the accelerated creation of international transport corridors of both latitudinal and meridional orientation be regarded as a potential powerful means for closer economic consolidation and interdependent economic development of the remote inland territories of «Greater Eurasia». The new development opportunities for Siberia opening up before Siberia with the establishment of «Greater Eurasia» are pointed out: access of the Siberian regions via the transport corridors to nearby inland markets, the creation of preconditions for a deeper onsite processing of Siberian raw materials by organizing final process stages and obtaining transportable products with high added value, and by overcoming the depressing effect of the ultra-continentality on economic growth through the construction of the transport corridor on the basis of the Trans-Siberian Railroad using advanced technological solutions.

This paper outlines the principles of using GIS technologies in conjunction with methods from natural sciences in geoar chaeological research. We examine the model of the development of geoinformatics demonstrating the technological transition from «data» through «information» to new «knowledge». The relevance and importance of these categories are highlighted for different stages of geoarchaeological analysis. It is determined that the technology for generation of archaeological and geo graphical databases providing a means of dealing with two problems: cataloging of archaeological sites and retrospective model ing of the historical process with the archaeological landscape, is the key element of the suggested approaches in accumulation and processing of information on artifacts. Central to the conceptual model of GIS-based mapping of archaeological sites used in this study is the technology of mathematical-cartographic mapping based on the synthesis of mathematical, information, geo information, cartographic and other models. Special attention in this cognitive process is paid to the fundamentally new capa bilities of the geoarchaeological analysis and archaeological reconstructions whose potential has not yet been revealed. It is emphasized that the cartographic and geoinformation-based methods are the key tools in the spatiotemporal analysis. Experience and results of experiments as obtained in the course of investigations showed considerable prospects for a further development of archaeological geoinformatics and cartography. It is established that algorithmization of the procedures of geoarchaeological data collection and GIS model construction is an integral part of the spatial analysis of geoarchaeological sites. By testing in practice some of the technological methods, it was possible to make a comprehensive geoarchaeological analysis of the study territory during the era of the Great Silk Road as well as realizing in full measure one of the classes of cartographic models and develop ing on their basis a series of thematic maps.

It is determined that nowadays the creation of atlases of a large region requires its integrated study (by combining eco logical, environmental and socio-economic components), which is only possible subject to the availability of explicitly developed integrated mapping programs. It is shown that for the transformation of research material to a constructive mapping model, it is necessary to determine the range of topical issues to be studied, establish the procedure of developing them, and select methodol ogy and technology of cartographic modeling of results from theoretical frameworks. We outline how a further development of the scientific principles, methodology and technology of system-ecological mapping furnishes a means of making a prospective targeted cartographic analysis and interpretation of social, economic and physical-geographical information thus enabling easy switchover to the creation of assessment, optimization and other environmental maps of new constructive contents. On the basis of summarizing experience of developing All-Russian and regional ecological atlases covering the territory of the Baikal region, we examine the conceptual approaches and organizational-methodological principles of creating a new type of atlas by using, as an example, the draft of the Atlas of the Baikal region: Nature and Society.

Long-term comprehensive field investigations of landscapes on the territory of Donskoi Natural Park and Elton Natural Park in Volgograd oblast suggested the conclusions about the pyrogenic dynamics of geosystems. A monitoring has revealed that fires have a negative influence on steppe and desert steppe landscapes. It was determined that fires lead to a reduction in biodi versity of geosystems, an attenuation of the self-regulation processes and a decrease in resistance to external effects. It is found that the structure is simplified in steppe geosystems, the homogeneity of vegetation cover increases, the height of the grass stand overall projective cover decrease by a factor of 2-3 and 1.5-2, respectively, and woody-shrubby vegetation dies. The color aspects of steppe are only poorly pronounced. Frequent fires in virgin steppes cause changes in the phytocenosis structure, namely, mesophilic grasses and forbs disappear, Festuca valesiaca replaces Stipa, and sagebrush and other weeds invade ter ritories. Biological productivity of geosystems decreases considerably within a long period (3-5 years). Consequences of the pyrogenic influence have been recorded. Aneolation and ablation come into action. Landscapes of calciphilous steppes and desert steppes suffer the most from the harm done by fire. It has been recorded that the most serious damage is inflicted by late summer and autumn fires when there is a considerable amount of leaf litter accumulated on the soil surface. It has been con cluded that the pyrogenic transformation of geosystems presents the most serious threat to biological and landscape diversity of steppes.

One of the world’s largest rivers, Yenisei, is considered in terms of sustainable water management, in accordance with the Water Strategy of the Russian Federation into 2020. For that purpose, the UN indicators of water management and the re gional indicators (developed by the authors previously) were used as well as the hydrobiological indicators which they can be regarded as the measure of ecosystem stability as they reflect the response of hydrobionts to the anthropogenic effect. The system of indicators thus generated includes four criteria: hydrographic characteristics, the socioeconomic state of water management, waste water characteristics, the surface water quality, and biological characteristics. Each of the criteria is represented by sev eral indicators whose contents are filled with statistical material for the period 1993-2015, by numerical estimates made by these authors, and by expedition-based and published data. It is shown that the water discharge within the Yenisei basin is ineffective: the technical status of the water supply systems is in serious decay, the proportion of recycled and reused water is low, and the water consumption indicator per unit of gross domestic product is high. Because of the decline of the production level, freshwater intake and waste water discharge have decreased; however, this has not led to any improvement in surface water quality. The chemical and biological methods of water quality assessment for the Yenisei river have shown similar results corresponding to the «contaminated» and «dirty» classes. Channel storage of the Yenisei changed its thermal regime, resulting in structural rearrange ments of biological communities and triggering a decrease in stability of the aquatic ecosystem.

An analysis is made of the migration and accumulative ability of pollutants to identify their role in formation of the chemical composition of the water environment using, as an example, the Southern-Minusinsk Depression affected by atmospheric pollution from aluminum production. Information is obtained on the chemical composition of water in atmospheric precipitation, rivers, lakes and deep waters of the background territory which are used as a standard of comparison with the analogs from the zone of atmospheric pollution where the content levels of the main pollutants (F^-, Na⁺, Al³⁺, and Ni²⁺) were determined. The fluoride ion was identified as the priority pollutant element, with its weight and toxicity predominating. The area of lands polluted by this element is about 250 km ² . It is established that the water component of the initial segment of the hydrosphere in the atmospheric precipitation → soil solutions → waters of the surface runoff → groundwater sequence underwent the largest effect. It is found that the composition of snow water changed from chloride-hydrocarbonate sodium-calcium to sulfate-fluoride sodium aluminum. The composition of rain water changed from chloride-hydrocarbonate calcium-sodium to hydrocarbonate-fluoride calcium - aluminum-sodium. Soil solutions contain in their composition a larger number of HCO3 and Ca²⁺ ions and are categorized as sulfate-hydrocarbonate calcic with the involvement of F^-, Na⁺ and Mg²⁺ . It is determined that groundwater of the 1 ^st level (as deep as 10 m) remains almost unchanged in its structure but in the vicinity of the plants they contain an increased amount of fluorine. Deep hydrocarbonate magnesium-calcium water used for drinking water supply is characterized by a persistently low fluorine content level. A very small quantity of this element remains in the Yenisei which is in 5 km to the south from the emission source. The increased amount of fluorine and aluminum in lakes is caused mainly by natural factors.

Presented is a generally large-scale scientific reference vegetation map compiled for the first time at a scale of 1:100 000 for the Zeya State Nature Reserve and Tukuringra Range. The map legend is based on original field material, and the contour part of the map was developed by using Landsat and Spot imagery from different seasons. Spatial distribution models of species with a significant role in phytocenosis were used to delineate between vegetation units. The scheme of the altitudinal-belt dif ferentiation of vegetation is refined; in the eastern part of Tukuringra Range, we identified three altitudinal belts: subgoletz, mountain-taiga and subtaiga, with subbelts and altitudinal-climatic belts. The cenotic diversity and structure of vegetation is presented in the context of the altitudinal-belt and intrabelt organization of vegetation cover. The map displays the diversity of plant communities of the territory at the level of groups of associations and, more rarely, associations within formations and provides 72 thematic units including five for tundras, five for elfin wood and open wood, 42 for forests, three for vegetation on rocks and screes, one for meadows, and one for shrubs. A rationale is given to the boundaries of encroachment of the Manchu rian florocenotic complex on Tukuringra Range. An assessment is made of the spatial role of different plant communities. We examine the dynamical states of plant communities and identify the areas occupied by secondary small-leaved forests, and by plant communities of early stages of post-fire rehabilitation. The association of plant communities with the geomorphological structure of the territory is pointed out; more specifically, the valley vegetation on the map is considered in the form of series reflecting the formation stages of vegetation at different ecological and age levels of the floodplain-terrace complex. It is shown that the patterns of ecological and spatial occurrence of plant communities as revealed by mapping them can be extrapolated to neighboring mountains of the Amur river basin.

Long-term soil research efforts (1980-2017) in the Baikal drainage basin revealed a widespread occurrence of thin layers of skeletal soils in the tundra zone: peat-lithozems, lithozems coarse humus and humic and dark-humus, and petrozems. A va riety of full-height soils is represented by podburs, peat-podburs, podburs gleyic, podzols and gleysols. It is determined that the soil cover of the mountain-taiga zone is nonuniform because of the manifestation of the vertical zonation, slope aspects and permafrost of different types. The main background of the Khangai soils consists of cryosols and podburs; Khentii - sod-podburs and dark-humus soils; near Lake Khövsgöl - cryosols, podburs and sod-podburs; the Baikal region - podburs, podzols, peat podburs and sod-podzols, and on the windward slopes of the mountain ridges facing Baikal - podburs and coarse humus bu rozems. The occurrence and development of burozem soils in the Baikal region is confirmed. In the forest-steppe zone of Hangai and Khentii, the soil diversity is presented by cryosols, sod-podburs, dark- and gray-humus soils, and in the forest-steppe contact zone - chernozems and castanozems. It is established that in the Selenga middle mountains, the basis for soil cover is provided by sod-podburs, and the accompanying soils are gray metamorphic, light-humic and cryoarid soils. We identified a new type of soils, cespitose-gray soils. Psammozems and light-humic soils occur on sands. Chernozems prevail in the steppe zone, and cas tanozems, cryoarid and, light-humic soils are dominant in the arid steppe zone. It is determined that the floodplain develops soils of different types: immature, alluvial and halophytic. A study is made of the specific character of floodplain soil formation de termined by the mountains on the territory, the regional features of floodplain-alluvial processes, the extremely continental climate, and by the functioning of soils in conditions of the combined manifestation of cryodization and aridization. It is emphasized that the 1:5 000 000 soil map of the Lake Baikal drainage basin was created using a unified methodological framework and a uni fied classification by soil scientists of Russia and Mongolia. It is established that the soils of the Baikal region differ from the soils located at the same latitude of the European territory of Russia. It is found that the mountain zonality has a determining influence on the formation and spatial distribution of soils.

Based on hydrological, hydrochemical and hydrobiological studies made during 2010-2016 and considering the previous data, we discuss seasonal and interannual changes in the content of total and inorganic phosphorus on the Russian territory of the Selenga river. The study period is characterized by low hydraulicity of the river (especially in 2015) and short-lasting sum mer floods in 2012 and 2013. Concentrations of inorganic phosphorus varied within 0-174 μ g/L, and total phosphorus varied from 28 to346 μ g/L. Their maximum values are largely due to phosphorous inputs with sewage from economic facilities. It is shown that inputs of pollutants from the Mongolian territory are responsible for the increased phosphorus content levels in the river (as far as the river mouth) on the Russian territory, with corresponding local increases in phosphorus concentrations content manifesting themselves under the influence of anthropogenic factors. The lowest concentrations of inorganic phosphorus are re corded in the spring-autumn period with low hydraulicity and the mass development of the phytoplankton. During floods, high concentrations of inorganic phosphorus are recorded with an increase in flow velocity as well as with input of suspended solids and pollutants from the catchment area accompanied by a dramatic decrease of algal growth. In conditions of a long-lasting low water level since 1996, the Selenga has shown a tendency for a decrease in average annual concentrations of inorganic phos phorus and for an increase in the content level of its organic compounds. It is shown that outputs of both inorganic and total phosphorus by the river are governed by changes in the water runoff. During the 2010-2016 low water level, the output of in organic phosphorus with the waters of the Selenga river decreased by a factor of 1,9-4,5, whereas the total phosphorus concen tration increased by a factor of 2,9. The structure of phosphorus output to the lake has changed, i.e. outputs of inorganic and organic phosphorus decreased and increased, respectively.

Based on the data from 17 meteorological stations, we have analysed the characteristics of the temperature change within the surface water layer (0,2-0,5 m) in the coastal zone of Lake Baikal. It was determined that during 1970-2016, the average temperature trend in May-September was increasing from Southern Baikal to Central and Northern Baikal due to a combina tion of physical-geographical features (heat from the sun, orography of the coastal mountains and underwater slopes, wind conditions, and water dynamics) in the lake basin. It was established that the low value of the trend in Southern Baikal is due to a relatively poor protection of its water area by the Primorskii Ridge (approximately 800 m high) from strong winds of the western quarter. It was found that an increased wind activity causes a more pronounced wind-wave mixing in the upper layers as well as more frequent upwellings/downwellings which also involve the waters from the deeper layers in the exchange with the upper water layers. In the Central Baikal basin, the influence of the water mass on the atmospheric circulation in the surface layer is the most obvious. Its consequence implies high atmospheric transparency and decreased cloudiness over the lake leading to an increase in incident solar radiation in the upper water layers. The high temperature trends, compared to the other parts of Baikal, correspond to the Northern Baikal basin best protected from the strong westerly winds by the Baikalskii Ridge (up to 2500 m high). Over the past two decades (1994-2016), the trend of warming of the surface water layer has decreased signifi cantly, along with an increase in the warming rate of Central and Southern Baikal. Using data of deep-water temperature monitoring in Southern Baikal, we estimated the spatial scales of the identical response of the surface temperature and the lake water column to climate change.

Presented is the evidence concerning the groundwater and surface water quality on the territory of the settlement of List vyanka which are used by the local population for water supply. The development of the tourism industry in the Baikal region leads to the anthropogenic impact on the Lake Baikal ecosystem and to changes in natural landscapes as well as deteriorating the state of the terrestrial and underground hydrosphere. Detailed hydrogeological sampling of 106 boreholes and wells in the pad’s and narrow valleys of the settlement revealed areas of polluted groundwater. It is established that groundwater within the Sennaya pad’ is generally of good quality and suitable for drinking purposes. In the Bannaya pad’ where the brook of the same name is the main drain, nitrate content slightly exceeds the background values. The Krestovaya pad’ showed the largest number of groundwater sources (mainly public wells) with polluted groundwater. In the Malaya Cheremshanka pad’, the waters are polluted by nitrates, and their content exceeds the requirements laid down in health standards by a factor of 1.1-2.5. In the Bol’shaya Cheremshanka pad’, increased contents of nitrates were also recorded in groundwater from one well and one borehole. Groundwater from the Berezovaya pad’ contains nitrates exceeding by a factor of 2,5-2,9 the permissible concentration. The main pollution source of groundwater is domestic sewage from the numerous hotel complexes located along the valley bottoms and the sides of narrow valleys. On the whole, the content levels of standardized components (nitrates, ammonium and silicon) in groundwater of Listvyanka do not exceed the threshold level value for drinking water.

T is shown that the unfavorable intra-annual distribution of river runoff, and low-water and high-water periods complicate the use of water resources of the Novosibirsk reservoir and are accompanied by a number of negative consequences. The possi bilities of creating reservoirs in the basin and their influence on the runoff of the Upper Ob are analyzed. The Novosibirsk res ervoir is considered as an example of water resources management in the extreme hydraulicity conditions of the river. It is noted that in spite of the shallow seasonal flow regulation, the reservoir allows the negative consequences of floods and low-water situations to be reduced. At present, the Upper Ob is characterized by an increase in the recurrence frequency of low-water years and low-water cycles consisting of two years or more. For the period 1959-2015, 21 years were high-water, 11 years - moderate water and 24 years - low-water. We examine changes in hydraulicity of the Upper Ob for the period 2012-2015, including extremely low-water, high-water and moderate-water years. An analysis of the use of the water resourc es of the Novosibirsk reservoir in the low-water conditions shows that forecasts of the spring inflow into the reservoir do not permit any reasonably high-quality management decision-making corresponding to the extreme conditions of formation of the annual low inflow. In some periods, warm spring weather causes intense snowmelt in Altai, which leads to a rise of the water levels in local rivers, and the inflow into the reservoir increases up to seven times. Generally, almost a third of the high-water inflow is accumulated in the Novosibirsk reservoir, which makes it possible to influence the processes of flooding and underflood ing in the downstream. As a result of the studies carried out, a need for a deeper regulation of the Upper river flow has been revealed.

A set of climate-induced changes in the typical landscapes of the Siberian taiga at the southern periphery of the permafrost zone is discussed. The results obtained are based on long-term field investigations made in the key areas within the eastern margin of the West Siberian Plain, in the northern part of the Yenisei Ridge and the western Central Siberian Plateau. Analysis of primary climatic data shows that since the early 1980s the mean annual temperature in the boreal areas of Siberia increased by 1-2 ° C against the previous cooling period 1950s-1970s. Winters became warmer and springs and autumns longer. It is established that such changes have influence primarily on the state of ecotone landscapes located in the vicinities of their eco logical borders. A study is made of the boreal landscapes of the permafrost ecotone corresponding zonal-geographically to the natural complexes of the middle taiga. These geosystems are characterized by the highest vulnerability to any external influ ences, which renders them particularly informative for studying the consequences of climate changes. On the basis of using visu ally observed landscape indicators representing complex links between their components, combined with instrumental data, the main trends in geosystem changes in the areas of sporadic and discontinuous high-temperature ice-bounded ground are revealed. These trends are considered in the form of the following response processes observed in the Siberian taiga in the south of the permafrost zone: degradation of ice-bounded ground and intensification of solifluction in dark-coniferous landscapes of glacial plains; local replacement of solifluction with land sliding; melting of goletz ice in kurums; mudding of kurums with fine earth and their further overgrowing with mosses, lichens and small-leaved forests; changes in animal habitats, and deterioration of the worsening conditions for taiga bioresources reproduction, etc.

A landscape and ecological analysis is made of the structure of soil zoocenoses in the Tunka depression and the foothill area of Khamar-Daban. We examine the patterns of change in quantitative characteristics and taxonomic diversity of invertebrate communities in the landscape-ecological range under the influence of natural and anthropogenic factors. Taxonomic diversity and structure change mainly in the gradient of edapho-climatic and phytocenotic conditions which vary with the location of a biogeo cenosis in the landscape. Within the taiga and forest landscapes, the general regularity of distribution of soil invertebrates is an increase in the number of species from steppificated pine and larch forests to dark coniferous-fir and mixed sufficiently moist biogeocenoses of the mountain forest belt. The relatively low heat availability of the root layer, combined with high humidity, and also the high temperatures that lead to drying of the soil, negatively affect on the taxonomic diversity of the mesopopulation. The main trend of change in taxonomic diversity of pedobiont communities is a decrease of the number of species in the gradient of increasing climate aridity, and an enhancement in hypothermaia and anthropogenic pressure. A structural and dynamical analy sis identified two main types of structure of the communities: mesothermohygrophile (with a relatively small contribution from of insects and a large contribution from annelids), and xeroresistant (with a significant involvement of representatives of the insecta class. The first type includes zoocomplexes of taiga, forest, meadow and wetland biogeocenoses represented mainly by moisture-loving forms; the second type includes steppificated, steppe and radically anthropogenically disturbed biogeocenoses, the composi tion of which is dominated by invertebrates with relatively short development cycles and largely adapted to moisture deficit.

Reconstructions of changes in vegetation, climate and sedimentation conditions in the valley of the lower reaches of the Bikin river lower reaches (Northern Primorye) for the last 70 thousand years were made from results of palynological and dia tom analyses, radiocarbon dating of peat samples, plant detritus and wood residues contained in the alluvial and biogenic de posits of floodplain and above the floodplain terraces exposed by profiles. New evidence was obtained for multiple and significant transformations of natural environment of the region for several climatic cycles during the Late Pleistocene and Holocene cor responding to marine isotope stages MIS 4-1. It was established that the final phase of MIS 4 was dominated by ecosystems of mari and dark coniferous taiga, the interglacial stage of MIS 3 by communities of birch forests with the involvement of broad-leaved plants, and the glacial stage of MIS 2 by birch open wood with larch and spruce as well as by sphagnum bogs and dwarf birch. In the Early Holocene (Q¹_IV) there occurred a rapid expansion of deciduous plants. During the Holocene Optimum, about 6,5 ka, the ecosystems were dominated by polydominant forests. The maximum development of oak-deciduous forests with co nifers is recorded about 5 ka. The transition from the Middle to Late Holocene (Q² _IV) is characterized by a reduction in IV-Q³ the proportion of pine and broad-leaved vegetation and by the development of small-leaved and dark coniferous plant communi ties. It is found that in the second half of the Late Holocene (Little Climatic Optimum), pine-oak forests began to dominate the landscapes, and the end of that period developed the contemporary ecosystems.

We examine territorial marketing, a direction of regional policy, which is gaining increasing popularity across the globe; it emerged at the interface of marketing and socio-economic geography and is based on the notion of the uniqueness of each place. We discuss the methodological issues related to this direction and to its relevance to Irkutsk. A study is made of the use and prospects of the images of the city of Irkutsk as the tools for the promotion of the place and the attraction of migrants and tour ists. The investigation was made at different geographical scales: regional (Irkutsk - Baikal); microgeographical toponymics, and statistical analysis of the individual perception of the city. Use was made of different investigation techniques: a multi-scale treatment of the same geographic phenomena against the background of the world, the country, the region and the agglomeration; analysis of the city’s recreational-geographical location as a variety of the economic-geographic location; comparison of street names according to the locality of the names, that is, the extent to which they are connected with the history and culture of the city as well as according to their popularity and content analysis of texts and images taken from the Internet and belonging both to tourists and to local residents, and images in the field of emotions. Some recommendations are made for the use of the im ages of the city in its marketing promotion. It is pointed out that the identified images were used in practice; in particular, in designing the historical 130 ^th Quarter in Irkutsk where timber representing one of the city images was widely used.

The role played by the household farms in the agrarian economy of the Republic of Buryatia is investigated. «Points of growth» are revealed, namely, commercial farm households located in the suburban zone of the capital of the Republic. A study is made of changes in marketability of products. Emphasis is placed on the high marketability of cattle meat which reaches in some years 50 % of the products obtained as well as a steady growth of the marketability of milk and potatoes. Sociological sur veys were carried out among 47 farm household owners and members of their families. The criteria for selection of households as objects for study were the regularity and a long period of sales at a given outlet, and the availability of the staple range (milk and dairy produce sold throughout the year). The surveys revealed the distinctive features in the internal structure of the households influencing their competitiveness. The factors were identified, which contribute to increasing the effectiveness of sales. A charac teristic is given to the age structure of the households owned by the population and of the approaches used in selling products. The range of products sold in each season is considered, and the prices are given. The places of product sales are characterized. The factors are formulated, which influence the price and the range of products. The study revealed the influence of the economic-geographical location of the sales places, the availability of the automobile in the farm households, and the population’s capacity to pay the price of products. Statistical information was used to determine a surplus of some kinds of agricultural products, and their marketability was analyzed starting in 1998. A characteristic is given to the development of the suburban and peripheral farm households. Additional channels of sales of agricultural products obtained in the farm households are analyzed.

We examine the enterprises of the fuel and energy complex of the Tyva Republic in which the in which the coal industry and the heat power industry play a leading role. This complex is a crucial economic sector whereas it has a serious negative impact on the environment. Coal mined on the territory of the republic is currently being used primarily for the production of thermal energy. Tyva experiences a shortage of electricity that is offset by energy from the Unified Power Grid of Siberia. A characteristic of the coal-mining enterprises and heat power generation facilities is provided. For the environmental assessment of the coal-mining enterprises we used the most significant indicators, such as the method of mining and the area of disturbed lands whereas for the heat power generation facilities we took into account the amounts of atmospheric pollutant emissions. Data on pollution of soils and earth materials, groundwater, snow and atmospheric air are given. The most significant environmental problems were revealed for the Kaa-Khem coal mine and in the zone of influence of the Kyzyl thermal power plant located in the urban area of Kyzyl. Some measures for a minimization of environmental stress are considered. The findings are displayed on the environmental map. An original cartographic language was developed for this map compilation, which is represented by the system of graphical point signs for displaying coal deposits, the impact of mining enterprises on the environment, mapping of enterprises in the heat power industry and their environmental indicators. The area map symbols show the density of violations for municipalities. The findings expand the methods of thematic mapping and can be used in governance of environmental man agement.

Processes of accretion and abrasion and possibilities of using the main natural resources in the maritime coastal areas of the Red River delta in the north of Vietnam are considered. Quantitative data on erosion and accretion are provided for the period since 1930 till the present, and the level of accretion and erosion processes is estimated according to their intensity and prevalence. Three periods of development of accretion and erosion in three areas of the Red River delta have been identified, and the results of cartographic and quantitative analysis of their intensity are presented. It was determined that the erosion areas in some periods reached 47 ha/year with the destruction rate of the coast as high as 9,2 m/year and the rate of accretion 445 ha/ year, and the seaward shift of the coastline with the velocity of up to 37,6 m/year. The most eroded coastal areas are Wang Li and Hai Hau, and accretion is largest in Ba Lat. The area characteristics of the eroded and accretion areas are given for ten coastal regions from the city of Haiphong to NinhBin Province. It is shown that the dynamical processes in the coastal zone of the northern part of Vietnam significantly complicate the use of natural resources and their economic development. The specific character and ecological problems of sea salt extraction, cultivation of aquaculture, restoration of mangrove vegetation in the maritime and coastal zone of the Red River delta are considered. It was determined that irrational use of the coastal territories gives rise to environmental problems and to a decrease in economic efficiency of natural resource management. It is concluded that the identified patterns of formation of the estuary should be properly identified and, on this basis, it is advisable to develop balanced methods for sustainable use of natural resources of the coastal regions of Vietnam, including coastal shoals.

A palynological analysis was made of the paleosoil (less than 20 cm in thickness) of the age of 4110 ± 110 BP which had formed on the top of river sediments and was subsequently covered with aeolian sands (3,6 m thick) of the so-called Bledow Desert. The results of the palynological analysis indicate: (1) the dominant role of pollen from lime (Tilia) among the tree species; (2) substantial amounts of pollen from maple (Acer); (3) a significant presence of pollen from heather (Ericaceae), and 4) an increase in the contribution of pollen from plants (including grains) associated with human activity. A comparison of data obtained with results from analyzing the contemporary pollen rain in different plant communities of the other parts of Poland indicates that during the formation stage of the Holocene soils in the Bledow Desert, the aforementioned tree species were dominant in the composition of forests and that the presence of a large contribution of pollen from lime and pollen in the soil was determined by their properties and ability to persist in the paleosol.