Home – Home – Jornals – Geography and Natural Resources 2024 number 4

Ethnic contact zones, being one of the components of the geocultural space and ethnic system, are characterized by hierarchy, and by mosaic, spatial and temporal dynamics. The novelty of the study is related to the development of a methodology for determining the phases of development of ethnic contact zones, which has been tested at the level of Russian regions in accordance with the results of the 2010 and 2021 population censuses. Statistical, graphic and cartographic research methods are used. Four main phases of development of ethnic contact zones have been identified: 1) initial; 2) growth phase; 3) the beginning of the dissolution of the ethnic contact zone, and 4) return to a mono-ethnic environment, the completion of ethnic replacement. At present, there are no regions in Russia where the formation of new ethnic contact zones begins, associated with an increase in the share of the Russian population. At the same time, in most national regions there is now an increase in the share of titular peoples. The republics of Altai, Buryatia, Bashkortostan, Khakassia, as well as Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, entered the phase of growth of ethnic contact zones. The phase of the beginning of the dissolution of the ethnic contact zone, when the titular peoples exceeded half of the population and continue to increase their share, characterizes most of the national regions of the North Caucasus, as well as the republics of Tatarstan, Tyva and Sakha (Yakutia). Mono-ethnicity was achieved by two republics: Chechnya and Ingushetia. The category of regions with an increase in ethnic mosaic pattern due to an increase in the proportion of non-Russian population, which corresponds to the initial phase of the development of ethnic contact zones, comprised a whole group of Russian regions, including Moscow and St. Petersburg. However, the bulk of Russian regions still fell into the categories corresponding to the phases of the dissolution of ethnic contact zones and the transition to the status of mono-ethnic territories. Thus most regions of the country, both Russian and national, in the second decade of the 21^st century, moved towards the dissolution of ethno-contact zones and the growth of mono-ethnicity, which confirms the conclusion made earlier by ethnogeographers that the population of Russia was being drawn into their national formations.

We examine the transformation of the regional structure of long-distance passenger transportation in Russia during 2010-2022. This structure was analyzed by using the methodology proposed by these authors for determining the coefficient of passenger railway interaction, similar to the “shift plus share” methodology used in economics, which is, however, an independent one. The Central Federal District occupies a leading position in the country in terms of long-distance passenger traffic, but there this communication is developing in Moscow and those regions of the Federation which are connected to Moscow by high-speed trains that appeared in the 2010s. The Northwestern Federal District ranked next to it for most of the study period by virtue of St. Petersburg, but after 2020 it gave way to the Southern Federal District. In the Southern Federal District, passenger transportation is developing mainly due to Krasnodar krai. The North Caucasus Federal District has extremely low and constantly decreasing passenger traffic figures. The Volga Federal District as a whole is characterized by high rates of long-distance passenger transportation, but their trends are different in different regions of the Federation. The Ural Federal District is characterized by generally high, but steadily declining volumes of long-distance passenger traffic, especially pronounced in its largest regions, Sverdlovsk and Chelyabinsk oblasts. In the Siberian and Far Eastern Federal Districts, there is also a significant reduction in passenger traffic, with a few exceptions, however: for example, passenger traffic in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) has been growing after the construction of the Amur-Yakutsk railway. In general, Russia is characterized by a decrease in the volume and importance of passenger railway transportation, which occurred earlier in other developed countries. Its restoration through high-speed rail transport is possible only in the old-developed densely populated parts of the country, which is already happening.

The current situation with global and domestic tourism markets is summarized, reflecting the changes associated with the post-pandemic impact and geopolitical environment. The recognition of the ongoing crisis as an opportunity for reflection and the necessary revision of strategies for the development of the leisure industry in the context of prospects for increasing its sustainability is considered. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the current major trends affecting the development of the tourism sector, and to identify the benchmarks in the formation of its prospects. The research methodology provides a systematic approach to consider tourism as an integral system, including numerous factors that have a direct and indirect impact on it. The research is based on the analysis of expert estimates of the formation of the tourism market under the influence of external factors in 2020-2023. In Russia, the main attention is paid to the development of domestic tourism within the framework of the national project “Tourism and Hospitality Industry”. Within its contours the state support of the industry is realized, the response to which is a steady dynamics of growth in the segment of domestic tourism. Meanwhile, there are concerns that it is not an easy task to keep this trend, its solution should be based on the analysis of the features of the established global trends, the optimal use of tourism support from the authorities, and adjustment of regional strategies. In the context of the identified global trends affecting the development of tourism, we outline the main trends in the Russian leisure market, directions in the correlation of supply and demand, and the requirements for the product, based on the analysis of the “lessons” presented by the current situation. One of the features of getting out of the current crisis is the high competition between the subjects of the Russian Federation for the consumer. The role of the Far Eastern Federal District as a strategic tourist macro-territory with active application of preferential regimes is revealed. Real examples of the region’s aspirations to expand activities in the tourism sector are shown. It is noted that the Far Eastern territories are actively positioning their tourism potential, realizing the role of the industry development in Russia’s “turn to the East”, a closer interaction with Asia-Pacific countries.

This paper examines the main features of classical structural-dynamic models (V.B. Sochavaʼs epifacy models, and A.A. Krauklisʼ factor-dynamic series systems) which represent equifinal and serial states of geosystems, trends in their transformation and dynamic relationships that have developed between geosystems in the landscape. A scheme of landscape development is described, on the basis of which various categories of “dynamic processes” are analyzed, affecting the increase and decrease in the degree of spatial and temporal changeableness of geosystems, as well as showing the mechanism for achieving the indigenous (equifinal) state by serial geosystems. Based on this analysis, it is proposed to identify a new dynamic state of geosystems: a transitional (intermediate) one located between serial and equifinal states in the factor-dynamic series of geosystems. Two categories of epigeomer models are shown: 1) epifacy (epigeomer) of the landscape, and 2) epigeomer. The former model describes the macrogeochore as a structurally dynamic and spatially functional whole, and the latter model characterizes the epigeomers of various hierarchical levels, and reflects not only the structural-dynamic relationships between geomers, but also their typological, classification-hierarchical (taxonomic) subordination. Using the example of geosystems of Southern Cisbaikalia, a generalized hierarchical model of epigeomers of the topological level belonging to the mountain-taiga dark coniferous geome of conditions of limited development is constructed. This model shows an invariant-variant multilevel structure that reflects the spatial and temporal changeableness of geosystems at different levels of the hierarchy, and emphasizes their subordination and features of manifestation at each level.

This paper presents a brief history of its foundation and the main results of scientific research, organizational and popularizing activities of Melnikov Permafrost Institute SB RAS for the last two decades of the 21st century. Results of the Institute in different areas, both basic and applied, are outlined. The institute is doing research into the dynamics of the continental and subaquatic permafrost zone within the Russian Arctic. Emphasis is placed on analyzing the Arctic cryogenic ecosystem for global climate warming. Significant progress has been achieved in engineering geocryology, permafrost monitoring, permafrost mapping, and other areas. The institute’s research results are used in assessing stability of engineering structures and motor roads, and ecological security of northern cities, in optimizing the use of agricultural lands in the permafrost zone, and in determining the prospects for using subpermafrost water in the permafrost zone as an alternative source of water supply and cryogenic resources of Russia. It is pointed out that the main conditions for successful development of modern geocryology implies improvement of instrument and laboratory facilities used in research as well as organizing exchange of knowledge and data via conferences and cooperative projects by combining efforts of scientists from different countries and organizations. The solution of a complex set of geocryological problems in these conditions is possible with appropriate support from the state.

Presented are the results from analyzing the topography of Academician Ridge by using an array of detailed bathymetric data obtained with a multibeam echo sounder. It has been established that the surface of the ridge and its sides are dominated by fault ledges linearly elongated to the north-east. The benches form slope surfaces and give an asymmetrical shape to the transverse profile of the ridge. The summit surface of the ridge in its southwestern and central parts is complicated by ridge-ravine and hilly-hollow relief, the formation of which, presumably, may be associated with landslide processes, fault tectonics, and active seismicity of the territory. The rectilinear or slightly curved shapes in the central part of the ridge could have been created as a result of the dissection of the Akademician fault scarp by transverse diagonal faults. Some of them could have inherited the tectonic pattern of longitudinal and transverse faults in the basement and sedimentary strata. The assumption about the formation of a hilly-hollow relief and some linearly elongated forms as a result of the activity of bottom currents is not confirmed by the conducted studies. The southeastern slope of the range is complicated in the southwestern part by ridge-gully relief, and in the central part by terrace-like steps of tectonic origin as well as ridges of mud volcano complexes. Formation of landslides near the Bolshoi Ushkany island in the second half of the Holocene is associated with the seismotectonic activity of the territory. The established features of the ridge’s relief show that the leading role in its creation and further development belongs to tectonic movements of different ages and to modern seismotectonic processes.

The issues of high-quality drinking water supply in the settlements of the coastal zone of Lake Baikal within the Kabanskii, Pribaikalskii, Barguzinskii and Severo-Baikalskii districts of the Republic of Buryatia are discussed in this article. The number of people living in the Central Ecological Zone (within the Republic of Buryatia) makes up 6,9 % of the total population of the republic. According to the state statistical reporting, the Kabanskii and Severo-Baikalskii districts consume the largest volume of water, mainly from underground sources, in the Barguzinskii and Pribaikalskii districts, and the use of surface water prevails. In the territory under consideration, centralized water supply is provided only in large settlements, such as the cities of Severobaikalsk and Babushkin, the village of Vydrino, and the Ust-Barguzin and Nizhneangarsk urban settlements, and the others are dominated by sources of decentralized water supply. An analysis of the water supply of the population showed that fluctuations in the Lake Baikal level affect both the quality and quantity of water used for domestic and drinking needs; in addition, as a result of an increase in the water level, water intakes may be subject to flooding, which may lead to a deterioration in sanitary and hygienic indicators. According to the state monitoring of the conditions of subsurface resources, the availability of predictive and operational resources of groundwater of drinking quality is very high. The ranking of the settlements of the Lake Baikal coastal zone in terms of the population proportion provided with drinking water that meets the requirements of sanitary legislation, as a result of which it was revealed that 99 % of the Severo-Baikalskii district population consume good-quality water, and in the other areas in rural settlements the situation is not the best way. In recent years, thanks to the “Clean Water” federal program, many settlements have been equipped with water supply networks, and it is also planned to build and reconstruct water intake facilities, which will reduce the risk of poor-quality drinking water.

A geoinformation analysis of the spatial differentiation of the soil cover of the piedmont plains in the northeastern part of European Russia has been carried out. Geographical distribution patterns of soils differentiated by the active layer thickness have been identified, taking into account the bioclimatic and geocryological zoning in the region. The studies were carried out in typical and southern tundra, forest-tundra and northernmost taiga with continuous, discontinuous, massive-island and island distribution of permafrost. In studying the soil cover, classification criteria were used, which distinguished shallow and medium-depth permafrost, deep-permafrost and non-permafrost (seasonally freezing) soils. Latitudinal changes in geocryological and bioclimatic conditions are accompanied by significant spatial changes in soil cover. Shallow and medium-deep permafrost-affected soils are widespread in the northern part of the regional permafrost zone, and deep-permafrost soils are widespread in the southern part. When analyzing the soil cover geographically, it is advisable to divide the soils of the regional permafrost zone into groups of profiles: permafrost-affected soils with a shallow occurrence of the permafrost table, seasonally freezing soils with a deep occurrence of the permafrost table, and seasonally freezing soils on thawed soil-forming deposits. In the northern forest-tundra, under conditions of massive island permafrost distribution, the proportion of permafrost-affected soils with a shallow permafrost table is sharply decreased. A significant decrease in the portion of soils functioning on deep permafrost is observed further south, i.e. in the northernmost taiga with an island permafrost distribution. Soil-forming deposits largely determine the spatial differentiation of permafrost-affected soils, especially in the northern part of the regional permafrost zone. Vegetation cover largely determines the distribution of permafrost-affected soils in the southern permafrost zone.

This article is focused on analyzing one of the main factors, i.e. water flow, which affects the dangerous manifestations of river processes (bank erosion) within the flat area of Western Siberia, including the Ob, Nadym, Pura and Taz river basins. These processes occur under various natural conditions and are characterized by widespread coastal erosion, which poses a threat to water management and the development of water transportation on the territory. The development of a landscape-hydrological approach, which has worked well in areas with limited or no hydrological information on rivers, is considered. Based on the relationship between river order, which allows us to take into account channel morphology and changes in river size, the territory has been zoned. Six regions were identified where rivers with similar geographical and morphological, hydrological, hydrogeological and limnological characteristics flow together. A comparison between the landscape-hydrological zones and the available data on spatial changes in bank erosion rates in the Ob-Irtysh basin reveals similarities. They are manifested in a natural decrease of bank erosion from south-east to north-west, coinciding with a general increase in the natural regulation of run-off from marshes and lakes in this direction. Additionally, the presence of permafrost in the northern region also contributes to this process. Intra-annual variations in the distribution of run-off due to changes in temperature, precipitation, and the hydro-geology of the area also play a role. The results of this landscape-hydrological analysis can be used not only to study dangerous riverbed processes and patterns of their manifestations, but also to solve water management and transportation problems.

This paper examines the features of climate resources and nutrition of the population of the northern territories. An analysis of the actual specific volume of food consumption and its nutritional composition was carried out in the climatically contrasting northern territories of Siberia: the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), and Yamalo-Nenets and Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrugs. A positive dynamics of the specific consumption of the main group of products from 2006 to 2022 was revealed, but with noticeable differences in growth in meat and milk products, fish, sugar and confectionery. A comparison of consumed food substances with the standards recommended by the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences for residents of the North was made; a significant deficiency of proteins and fats in the diet for 2006 was determined, but by 2022 there had occurred a decrease in the deficit protein in Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug by half, and in fat by a factor of 4,8. Furtehrmore, it was established that protein (42,3%) and fat (29,6%) deficiency remained in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), which is associated with the regulatory zoning of the food basket when calculating the subsistence minimum in 2000 when the norms were equated in the southern half of the Republic (territory of the Far North) and in Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug (equated to the Far North of the territory). The result showed the largest deviations of indicators of population well-being in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) from the average values in the Russian Federation. The need to amend the severity of the climate in the specific norms of food consumption recommended by the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation to a level that meets modern requirements for healthy food in cold conditions is shown. The increase in the sickness rate of the population of the northern territories can be partially reduced by balancing the composition of food.

The morphological and morphodynamic features of the Malaya Belaya River in its lower reaches are considered. Various types of floodplain-channel complexes are identified, and some features of their functioning are characterized. The structure of the first terrace deposits in areas of different morphodynamic channel types was analyzed. The analysis showed a significant spatial differentiation of the deposits of the first terrace, associated with the heterogeneity of the morphostructural features of the Malaya Belaya River valley. It was found that the most stable part of the terrace, which has the most ancient age of the stabilization surface, is confined to the areas of development of a relatively rectilinear type of channel. The latter was apparently characteristic of the section of the valley considered and during the formation of the surface of the first terrace. In the meandering section upstream, the height of the terrace decreases slightly. Based on lithologic and facies analysis of sections of terrace and floodplain deposits, data on the rhythm of sedimentation within low morphological levels in the Malaya Belaya River valley were obtained. The main stages of the formation of floodplain generations have been identified. Stabilization of the surface of the first terrace in the areas of a straight channel began 10,8 ka. Fixing the surface of the first terrace at the sites of meandering channel type occurred in 9,3-8,9 ka. The formation of high (up to 3 m) floodplain occurred around 3,5 ka. Low floodplain deposits with a height of up to 2 meters began to form after 2,6 ka. An analysis of the structure of the sediments of the floodplain-channel complexes and the first terrace of the Malaya Belaya River made it possible to identify two stably developing floodplain-terrace complexes within a small section of the river channel.

This paper presents findings on modeling the flood zone boundaries and assessing the resultant damage in the downstream of the Irkutsk Hydro Power Plant (HPP) due to high water flows through the HPP which are possible in high-water years when the Lake Baikal level goes beyond the established range. A description of the relief model and the data sources used are provided. The hydraulic model of steady flow of the Angara River, which is developed in the form of automatic generation of a large number of cross-sections by calculating their characteristics, is presented. Currently, downstream flooding is observed when flow rate of Irkutsk HPP is 2800 m³/s (the bulk of possible flooding occurs in the city of Irkutsk). The results were verified using actual satellite image data. The paper presents the estimates of flooded areas and objects (buildings, structures) susceptible to flooding at various flow rates of the Irkutsk HPP. Based on the estimates obtained for the areas of the objects and the length of utility lines, which fall into the flood zones when the flow of Irkutsk HPP ranges from 2800 to 6000 m³/s, socioeconomic damage and losses for the downstream pool as a whole were determined. The results showed an increase in the damage starting with a flow rate of Irkutsk HPP of 4000 m³/s and its much higher increase with a flow rate of 4500 m³/s. The estimates obtained for the of damage due to elevated flow rates of Irkutsk HPP are compared with the estimates of damage in the upstream pool, which can occur when the level of Lake Baikal rises under similar water conditions. The critical level for the upstream pool is 457,20 m (according to the Pacific Elevation System). The critical flow rate for the downstream pool is 4000-4500 m³/s. These levels and flow rates are within the range of comparable damage in the upstream and downstream pools and have a probability of about 2 %.

This study used the cartographic method of research and gradient analysis on environmental factors. A zoning of the transect into landscape-geomorphological areas has been completed. The following areas were identified: mountain light coniferous taiga (Berezovaya River - Mogocha), mountain subtaiga (Ulei River - Zhirekent - Aksenovo - Zilovskoe - Berezovaya River), and mountain forest-steppe (Kholbon - Nerchinsk - Chernyshevsk - Ulei River). They differ significantly in composition, structure and spatial combination of plant communities. Steppes are the predominant type of vegetation in the mountain forest-steppe. They occupy 60 % of the territory. Forests are represented by birch forests and occupy 12 %. Riverside thickets and meadows predominate in the valleys. Anthropogenically transformed vegetation occupies large areas. Light coniferous forests and their derivatives occupy more than half of the territory (64 %) in the area of mountain subtaiga. Pine and larch-pine forests are also common here in small areas. Steppes occupy steep southern and southwestern slopes (about 3 % of the study area). Shrub-birch-willow-shrub moss-grass thickets are characteristic communities of the site and occupy high floodplain terraces and long piedmont plumes (6 %). The riverine rows of plant communities become more complex. Forests occupy more than half of the site (53 %) in the mountain light coniferous larch taiga. Mari is widespread (30,9 %). Dry xerophytic-herbal communities with shrub grow on very steep and well-heated slopes. Their area is less than 0,5 %. Floodplain forests acquire a taiga character in the valleys. Characteristics of the habitat of plant communities according to the complex of ecotopic factors are given. These are heat supply, soil richness, soil moisture, soil carbonate content, and cryo-conditions of soils.

A quantitative assessment is made of the density of thermokarst lakes in the same type of landscape-geomorphological conditions in the flat areas within the Lower Amur basin and adjacent areas, based on counting their number when interpreting high-resolution satellite images from ESRI ArcGis Imagery and data on the relationship between changes in the area of lakes and the nature of the distribution of permafrost. Areas of relatively cold continental conditions have been identified along the western edge of the Lower Amur Lowland, in which the latitudinal zonality of the distribution of the thermokarst process and associated landforms is clearly visible. In areas with a relatively warm climate in the area of the coasts of the Tatar Strait and Sakhalin Bay, as a result of the degradation of permafrost, post-cryogenic thermokarst lakes have become widespread. It has been established that the dynamics of cryogenic thermokarst processes in the warmest climatic conditions of the region under consideration is associated with a general tendency to increase the areas of permafrost in the direction from east to west with increasing continental climate from the coast of the Tatar Strait inland of the continent, taking into account the influence on the climate of the cold Sea of Okhotsk and natural climatic factors and natural conditions of the Bureya mountain range. A general assessment of geoecological conditions and the risk of economic development of the plain territories of the Lower Amur region is made as well as considering the prospects for the further use of plains and lowlands for their further development and construction of production and industrial infrastructure, including for connecting the road infrastructure of the settlements along the coast of the Sea of Okhotsk with large mineral deposits, both under development and promising, remote from the sea coast.

This study focuses on the role of a specific unit in the spatial structure of the migration system, the transit region. In consequence of a sharp increase in the number of asylum seekers and refugees, there has been a gain in the duration of their stay in temporary accommodation centers (TACs) - the main form of their resettlement in the transit region. The geographical types of TACs are highlighted: border entry, agglomeration, peripheral and border exit. TACs act as a kind of “dampers” on migration routes and further they release along the route of accumulated migrants in portions, that is to say, they form migration waves. In some cases, the migration wave passes through the territory of one country through all types of TACs; however, more often it is interrupted and/or shortened. The condition of the shortened is usually implosion and specialization of the TACs. During the passing of the first migration wave, as a rule, on both sides of the state frontier there emerged border entry and exit centers regulated by the authorities of the respective countries. Then during the passing of the second and subsequent waves, their convergence (“attraction” to the border) occurs first, and then the disappearance of centers of the same type (more often, border exit). The costs of maintenance migrants in all types of TACs are too high, in consequence of which one or two types of centers are formed in countries located one after another along the migration route, depending on the “specialization” of neighboring countries. As a result of TACs’ implosion and specialization, the migration wave lengthens spatially: thus it can arise, develop and fade within not one country, but the entire transit region.

А number of anthropogenic and natural disasters that have impacted the fragile ecosystems of the Baratang group of islands in the Andaman-Nicobar archipelago, resulting in the degradation and depletion of their natural environment and biodiversity, have been identified. It was found that in the early 20^th century the resources of the archipelago, especially Baratang Island, were exploited for infrastructure and plantations, resulting in a decrease in forest cover and an increase in anthropogenically transformed landscapes. However, the most recent available information on land use and land cover is only from 2013. This study aims to understand the dynamics of land use and land cover change in the Baratang Island group using multi-temporal satellite data for 1976, 1993, 2004, 2014, and 2023. Using visual interpretation techniques, spatial and temporal change maps were created to represent the different land use and land cover features in the study area. Analysis of these maps revealed an interesting trend: there is an increase in forest area with a simultaneous decrease in settlements and agricultural land, which contradicts the findings of previous studies. This work has identified several factors contributing to this trend, namely natural regeneration, reduction in logging and human activities, government policies and laws, and implementation of conservation measures by the forest department. However, the evidence on mangrove decline attributed to both human activities and natural disasters is consistent with the results of other studies. This study emphasizes the importance of regular monitoring of the island’s landscape dynamics to understand changes in land use and land cover and to take appropriate conservation measures.

The life path and scientific heritage of the outstanding Russian scientist, botanist and geographer, naturalist, researcher of the nature of Siberia and Central Asia, organizer of science and education, professor of Tomsk State University Vasily Vasilyevich Sapozhnikov are briefly described. The contribution of V.V. Sapozhnikov to geographical science is considered. Among them are his expeditions to the Russian Altai (1895, 1897, 1898, 1899, 1905, 1911, 1920, and 1921), to the Mongolian Altai (1905, 1906, 1908, and 1909), to Semirechye (now it is the territory of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan) (1902, 1904, 1912, 1913, and 1914), to Turkish Armenia (now it is the territory of Turkey) (1916). It is pointed out that V.V. Sapozhnikov’s expeditions gathered extensive botanical, zoological and mineralogical collections, made instrumental measurements of altitudes on all routes, obtained meteorological observations and observation of modern and ancient glaciation of Altai, discovered new glaciers as well as providing results of measurements and mapping of all glaciers in all of the mountain systems studied. His scientific heritage makes it possible to judge changes in climate and vegetation, the retreat of glaciers and the rate of their melting, and to describe new plant species even after 100 years.

At IDSTU SB RAS, research efforts in the field of development and use of geoinformation technologies began at the early stages of their application, back in the 1990s. Since then we have developed a number of original geoinformation software libraries and systems, and other software systems that support presentation of information using electronic maps as well as the systems for working with spatial information created using off-the-shelf software solutions. In this article we consider the most interesting of these systems from a historical perspective. We discuss the experience gained in the course of developments, such as: converters between different vector map formats; information and reference systems with map data representation; information-analytical and OLAP systems; systems for Internet/intranet publishing of vector maps; the service for obtaining fragments of vector topographic maps; the original MRG file format for representation of big raster data; an original library for working with triangulations and some its applications; the municipal GIS and the Address Plan of Irkutsk; the system GIS Investor of Irkutsk; the geoportal software developed in the institute; the methods for processing remote sensing data using neural networks, and the digital environmental monitoring platform developed within the framework of a major scientific project “Fundamentals, methods and technologies for digital monitoring and forecasting of the environmental situation of the Baikal natural territory (BNT)”.