Home – Home – Jornals – Region: Economics and Sociology 2026 number 2

The Middle Devonian-Lower Frasnian terrigenous complex of the Izhma-Pechora Depression of the Timan-Pechora petroleum province contains rocks with very good, good, and fair hydrocarbon potential. This article presents the results of organic petrography analysis of rock organic matter, including VRo determination, pyrolytic studies using pyr-GC and pyr-GC/MS, IR spectroscopy analysis, and a study of the kinetics of hydrocarbon formation using the Rock-Eval method and individual C1-C5 gases in stepwise pyrolysis. The main groups of hydrocarbon-generating macerals in the rocks are alginite and liptinite, represented by sporinite. The kinetic characteristics and chemical structure of the fossil organic matter resemble type I kerogen, despite the relatively low hydrogen index (HI) and the results of organic petrography studies. The organic matter of the rocks of the Middle Devonian-Lower Frasnian deposits is enriched in n-alkyl structures and realizes its hydrocarbon potential in the form of highly paraffinic oil at relatively high stages of thermal evolution, with EASY%Ro/EASY%RoDL values of about 1.2%.

Using the example of the Kuznetsk Basin – one of the largest coal-mining regions in the world – a comprehensive analysis has been performed of the composition of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in groundwater of various hydrodynamic zones and of their interrelation with surface waters. With the use of modern analytical methods, namely high-performance liquid chromatography for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry for n-alkanes, the concentrations and ratios of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and n-alkanes have been determined. The PAHs are predominantly of pyrogenic origin (coal and fuel combustion), but in groundwater their initial composition is significantly transformed. The distribution of n-alkanes and the calculated indices (CPI, TAR, Paq) reflect a change in sources: from phytoplanktonic in surface waters to terrigenous (higher plants, macrophytes) in the deep horizons of the slow water‑exchange zone. A correlation has been revealed between water mineralization and the ratio of low‑ to high‑molecular‑weight PAHs, which indicates the influence of ionic strength and sorption processes in the water–rock system. The molecular composition of DOM is a sensitive indicator of pollution sources and of the transformation processes of organic matter in anthropogenically disturbed coal‑bearing territories. The results are significant for environmental monitoring and for prediction of the state of aquatic ecosystems.

The intense urbanization observed in the world is accompanied by the active growth of urban agglomerations. The largest Moscow agglomeration in Europe is currently dynamically developing, which leads to the emergence of additional factors contributing to changes in urban ecosystems, weather and climate. One of the indicators of such processes is the variability of the properties of atmospheric aerosols. In this study, the main types of natural and anthropogenic impacts and their characteristic features are identified. To this end, a comprehensive algorithm for assessing the indicators of typical aerosol pollution of the city atmosphere and classifying impacts has been developed based on the results of continuous six-year (2020-2025) experimental observations at IAP RAS and measurements from the Mosecomonitoring network. The results can be used to clarify the aerosol emissions in Moscow, in chemical transport models, and in assessing and forecasting the state of urban ecosystems and climate.

To study the influence of three-dimensional cloud effects on the forecast of longwave radiation and air temperature during warm air advection onto a snow surface for the Moscow region, experiments were conducted with the ICON v.2025.04 model using various algorithms of cloud heterogeneity accounting. Additionally, experiments were conducted with the ecRAD radiation scheme in autonomous mode. The ICON model with the McICA algorithm reproduces positive NLR values, but underestimates them. The use of the SPARTACUS algorithm, which makes it possible to describe the three-dimensional effects of clouds, reduced the NLR RMSE by 4 W/m². At the same time, in the ecRAD autonomous mode, the effects reached 15 W/m², which corresponded to the measured NLR values within the measurement error. The study showed that the decrease in the effect of the SPARTACUS algorithm in the ICON model is associated with the influence of the algorithm on the cloud properties. Using the ecRAD autonomous mode, nonlinear NLR dependence on the cloud liquid water path and ice water path have been revealed. The temperature sensitivity to NLR changes was 2.7 °C per 100 W/m² in model experiments with McICA and 4.9 °C per 100 W/m² in experiments with SPARTACUS for night hours with positive NLR. Differences in the temperature response of the ICON model to changes in longwave radiation due to the replacement of the algorithms are also estimated.

Soot aerosol particles (black carbon) significantly contribute to atmospheric heating by effectively absorbing radiation across a wide range of wavelengths and, along with greenhouse gases, play an important role in climate change. The hypothesis of volcanogenic soot in the stratosphere (a possibility of formation of black carbon nanoparticles during Plinian volcanic eruptions and their casting to high altitudes) is critically analyzed. Features of thermal decomposition of methane and formation of reduced carbon in a two-phase gas-ash volcanic column are discussed. Known data on the detection of carbonaceous particles in the atmosphere, their properties, and possible, but not yet confirmed, connection with powerful volcanic eruptions are evaluated. The discovery of different reduced carbon forms in the ashes of modern volcanic eruptions in Kamchatka (the phenomenon of volcanic carbon paragenesis) is commented on. Energy competition between two ways of formation of reduced carbon in the forms of soot nanoparticles and carbon products strongly mechanically bonded to pyroclastic material is discussed. The results can be useful for atmospheric aerosol physics and climatology in analyzing the main sources of black carbon in the atmosphere.

Aerosol particles formed during the atmospheric photooxidation of organic compounds have reactive functional groups on their surface, which may be responsible for the biological action of the organic aerosol. This work studies the kinetics and mechanism of atmospheric photonucleation of o-dichlorobenzene as a compound modeling chlorinated aromatic hydrocarbons, known for their stability against environmental factors. The concentrations and sizes of the formed particles were measured using a diffusion spectrometer of aerosol; the composition of gas and aerosol products of photonucleation was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography and gas chromatography - mass spectrometry. The effect of water vapor and hydrogen peroxide on the yield and composition of aerosol products was studied. The pathways leading to the formation of identified products were determined relying on the data on the rate constants of elementary stages involved in nucleation. It is shown that atmospheric photonucleation of dichlorobenzene does not lead to the photochemical generation of ozone in the surface air layer. Quite contrary, the products of dichlorobenzene photolysis participate in the processes that cause ozone destruction. On the basis of the data obtained, the contribution from emissions containing chlorinated aromatics into the formation of organic aerosol in urban air is assessed qualitatively. The presence of reactive functional groups in the aerosol products allows us to assume that the aerosol may cause negative biological action. The results of investigation can be used to model photochemical processes in polluted urban air.

Cloudiness is one of the main factors determining the processes of radiation transfer in the atmosphere; it plays a key role in the formation of the radiative balance of the Earth’s surface. The paper analyzes the impact of various single-layer cloud cover types on the shortwave balance of underlying surface (SBS) obtained using broadband flux simulation and long-term atmospheric remote sensing data for northern and southern regions of Western Siberia. Calculations performed for cloud characteristics averaged over the period 2001-2019 revealed that an increase in the cloud optical thickness decreases the daily SBS in summer from ~ 25 to ~ 8 MJ/m², while an increase in the underlying surface albedo in winter significant decreases the radiation balance, down to ~ 0.4-1 MJ/m². The presented estimates of the cloud radiative forcing (CRF) demonstrate its increase with the optical thickness of clouds from -60 W/m² (thin ice clouds) to -200 W/m² (dense cirrus clouds and middle-level clouds) in summer, and a significant decrease in the CRF modulus (to 4-7 W/m²) in winter. The SBS estimates can be considered as the regional averages for the cloud types under study.

The impact of a metropolis on the composition of near-surface air in the suburbs is one of the most pressing environmental problems. The work studies the influence of horizontal wind characteristics (direction, speed) on aerosol concentration in the near-surface air of Moscow megapolis and 50-60 km away from it. The data on PM₁₀ aerosol concentration obtained by the authors in the area of Zvenigorod (western suburb) and in the center of Moscow, as well as measured in Moscow at all atmospheric pollution control stations of the State Budgetary Institution “Mosecomonitoring” (megapolis) and in Pavlovsky Posad (eastern suburb). The “roses" of wind direction frequency, wind velocity, and PM₁₀ concentration at the points of observations in different seasons average over 2021-2024 are analyzed. Despite the predominant air mass transport from the west throughout the year in all three locations, the season average PM₁₀ fluxes have different directions and values both in the city and in the suburban points. In general, the annual PM₁₀ fluxes in near-surface air at the considered points have northerly direction, and they are higher in magnitude in suburban areas than in the city. The results can be useful in assessing environmental risks and public health in the Moscow Region, as well as for climate calculations and verification of their results.

Atmospheric transport is an important wave of supplying dispersed sedimentary matter (insoluble micro- and nanoparticles), including pollution, to the seas and oceans and their catchment areas. The study of dispersed sedimentary matter in the snow cover is of great importance, since it characterizes the winter atmosphere, when the surrounding land is covered with a layer of snow, and rivers and seas are covered with ice, and atmospheric supply of matter prevails. This article summarizes the results of the study of dispersed sedimentary matter in the snow cover (a natural archive of atmospheric deposition) of the Dvina Bay of the White Sea catchment area from 2016 to 2025. Snow was collected at the end of winter in pits down to frozen soil or lake ice. In the laboratory, the snow was melted and filtered through pre-weighed nuclear filters 47 mm diameter with a pore diameter of 0.45 μm. The particle composition was studied using a VEGA 3 SEM (Tescan) scanning electron microscope with an INCA Energy microprobe analyzer (Oxford Instruments). At points located in background areas, concentrations of insoluble particles in snow varied from < 1 to 10 mg/L. Significantly higher particle concentrations were observed in Arkhangelsk and its environs and at distances less than 100 m from roads. The dust load, not only at background points but also in the northern part of Arkhangelsk, is significantly lower than in many Russian cities. In background areas, dispersed snow sediment consists primarily of biogenic (plant fibers, spores and pollen, diatom valves) and lithogenic particles; near Arkhangelsk, soot and fly ash particles predominate. The results can be used for assessment of the impact of air transport of dispersed sedimentary matter on the state of ecosystems in the Dvina Bay catchment area, as well as for geoecological monitoring.

The biological component of atmospheric aerosols includes fungi, bacteria, viruses, and different natural and anthropogenic organic microparticles, which can affect the climate, atmospheric processes, and human health. Fungi are important multifunctional components of the microbiome of the atmosphere From April to August 2025, atmospheric aerosols were sampled on the territory of Koltsovo settlement, Novosibirsk region, with the aim of estimating the concentrations and biodiversity of fungi in them. Aerosol was sampled with the use of impingers with Hanks' medium; the resulting suspensions were inoculated onto nutrient media to isolate pure cultures and further study them. The fungi were identified by sequencing the nucleotide sequences (ns) of the fungal isolates' genomic DNA. The sequencing results yielded the ns of the fungal DNA marker regions, which were further identified by comparing them with the GenBank database using the BLASTn algorithm. The total number of microorganisms isolated from different aerosol samples significantly varied, from zero to 1.85 × 10⁴ CFU/m³. The concentration of fungi was significantly higher than the concentration of bacteria in many samples. Daily fluctuations in the concentration of fungi in the aerosols were ascertained. Widespread mold fungi Aspergillus, Aureobasidium, Candida, Fusarium, Penicillium, Cladosporium, etc. and higher fungi Trametes, Coprinellus, Bjerkandera, Phanerodontia, Schizophyllum, etc., were identified among the isolates, including saprotrophs and pathogens responsible for infections and allergic reactions in humans and animals. Our data indicate a need in monitoring studies of the atmosphere microbiome in order to assess its harmful effects on the regional environment and public health. The results can be used for distinguishing periods of the most active spore production by fungi in order to calendar the concentration of pathogenic fungal spores in the atmosphere and to develop timely preventive measures.

The problem of atmospheric air pollution by fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) in large industrial centers during winter is one of the most acute environmental threats affecting the life expectancy and quality of life of population. The study examines the processes of temperature inversion layer formation and its impact on atmospheric PM_2.5 in Krasnoyarsk during the winter months of 2022-2024 based on data from a monitoring network, which measures air temperature, atmospheric pressure, wind speed and direction, PM_2.5 concentration, and cloud cover, and data from an MTP-5 profiler, which determines the vertical distribution of atmospheric temperature. The multi-hour and multi-day regimes of radiation and advective inversions are analyzed. The necessary and sufficient conditions for their occurrence are established. The statistical dependences of PM_2.5 concentration on the category and intensity of inversions are derived. The results can be used in short-term forecasting of temperature inversions and the associated periods of high PM_2.5 air pollution in the city of Krasnoyarsk.

The role of vegetation in atmospheric chemistry is not limited to carbon dioxide absorption and oxygen evolution during photosynthesis. It is known that plant-emitted organic compounds (alkenes and aldehydes) participate in the generation of atmospheric aerosol. However, the mechanisms of related processes have been studied in detail only for alkenes. Our work assesses the effect of urban trees on air quality for the case of Novosibirsk. Tree species characterized by stability against urban air pollutants (nitrogen oxides, ozone, organic peroxides, and acids) were revealed, biochemical markers providing the stability of these species were determined, and the composition of volatile organic compounds emitted by these species was studied. Under laboratory conditions, the aerosol-forming ability of these compounds was studied, the mechanisms of their photooxidation were determined, and the yield of aerosol products was measured. For some species (aspen, birch, linden, poplar, and maple) used for greening in Siberian cities, the ability to absorb gaseous pollutants, such as formaldehyde, formic acid, and organic peroxides, has been discovered. On the basis of the data on absorption and emission of aerosol-forming components by trees, the contribution from urban green zones into the chemistry of organic aerosol was evaluated. It is shown that targeted greening of the cities with gas-absorbing tree species can reduce the aerosol load on residential areas by no less than 20-30%.

Under the current global warming, an increase in the water temperature in rivers flowing into the Arctic Ocean is becoming a significant factor, which not only affects the functioning of river ecosystems, but also increases river heat flux into the ocean. The latter could result in redistribution of heat over the ocean and further climate change. Based on decade average values of water temperature from 13 hydrological stations in the Middle and Lower Lena from 1990 to 2011, we study the relationship between air and water temperatures during the open-water period with the use of a regression approach. Quantitative estimates of river water temperatures under the climate change are performed. The use of air temperature as a predictor in a linear equation enabled us to assess monthly average water temperatures with acceptable accuracy. The results can be used in simulation of currents in the Laptev Sea.

Methods for numerical interpretation of satellite measurements of nitrogen dioxide with the use of a model for reconstructing long-term regional pollution from a high-altitude point source of atmospheric emissions are discussed. The model is based on asymptotic representations of impurity concentration fields at significant distances from the source. Numerical analysis of satellite measurements of nitrogen dioxide content in the area of the Gusinoozersk’s State District Power Plant (SDPP) was carried out. A high level of agreement was obtained between satellite observation data and model descriptions of concentration fields for nitrogen dioxide emissions from the power plant pipes in the southwest and northwest directions. The analysis revealed the presence of significant background concentrations of nitrogen dioxide caused by emissions from remote sources. The used assessment model also allows us to estimate the contributions of additional sources to the concentration fields of NO₂ emitted by the Gusinoozersk’s SDPP.

Russia’s national projects are having an increasingly significant impact on the country’s socio-economic development each year. The aim of this study is to examine the contribution of national projects, grouped by region and based on indicators of their implementation, to changes in the socio-economic development at the regional level, and to identify the gap between leaders and laggards in development. The novelty of this study lies in the attempt to assess the contribution of national projects to the socio-economic development from a regional perspective. It is shown that national projects are a relatively new but effective method for stimulating the socio-economic development of regions. The positive impact of national projects is noted, which consists in the formation of a more favorable economic environment in the regions according to specific indicators, such as, for example, gross regional product. One of the key factors slowing down the socio-economic development of regions is population decline, which the national projects included in the “Human Capital" block are aimed at counteracting.

There remains a pronounced interregional differentiation in the level of digital development across the Russian Federation, which necessitates a comprehensive analysis of the factors influencing the digital maturity of public administration bodies in the country’s regions. This article offers a quantitative assessment of the impact of external socioeconomic, institutional, and technological factors on the level of digital maturity of government agencies in the constituent entities of the Russian Federation, as well as identifies statistically significant predictors based on panel data models. Within the framework of a PEST analysis, 38 macro-level factors potentially affecting digital maturity were examined, of which 17 measurable indicators were selected and grouped into categories: economic conditions of the region; public support and investment in the digital sphere; education and employment levels; innovation development; and the availability of IT infrastructure. A panel data set was compiled for 84 regions of the Russian Federation for the period 2021-2023, and fixed effects models were constructed. The analysis confirmed the statistical significance of such factors as gross regional product, budget expenditures, education level, innovation activity of organizations, number of employees in the ICT sector, and citizen satisfaction with digital platform solutions. The findings demonstrate that the digital maturity of regional public authorities is shaped by a complex set of external conditions, which should be taken into account when developing digital transformation strategies.

This study aims to identify groups of Russian regions by their level of sanctions risk prior to the imposition of sanctions and to test the actual exposure to sanctions of these groups after 2022. The application of k-means clustering allowed us to identify three clusters of regions based on their level of sanctions risk using 2021 data: regions with high, medium, and low sanctions risk. Data on the number of sanctions imposed on enterprises in the regions by the end of 2023 confirmed the validity of the cluster allocation. The average number of sanctions imposed by the end of 2023 on enterprises in regions belonging to the high-sanctions-risk cluster is 129. For the cluster of regions with medium sanctions risk, this figure is 28, and for the low-risk cluster, it is 4. It was found that reliable predictors of a high level of sanctions pressure are such indicators of the regional economy as the region’s engagement in trade with overseas countries and the share of the manufacturing industry in the gross regional product. At the same time, economic diversification does not always contribute to a lower risk of sanctions pressure.  The results of the study have high practical significance for regional economic policy.

Successful development of creative industries is impossible without active government support. At the regional level, support instruments can ensure maximum productivity based on local economic, cultural, and social characteristics. The objective of this study is to develop a methodological approach to assessing the productivity of creative industries support measures and subsequently testing it for cities in the Ural region. The study covered 102 cities in the Sverdlovsk and Chelyabinsk Oblast and Perm Krai. The research database is compiled from open registries of the Federal Tax Service and includes data on small and medium-sized enterprises classified as creative industries and support measures for them for 2019-2025. To assess the productivity of government support measures, the authors used an approach developed by the statistical and analytical method of comparative quartile analysis. This approach allowed to calculate the productivity of each measure, thereby characterizing the response of creative industries in cities to changes in the intensity of a particular support measure. Calculations showed that the productivity of all support measures in the regions under consideration is low and does not significantly impact creative industries development. Creative industries support measures were ranked in descending order of importance: consulting, financial support in the form of subsidies and grants, informational support, and property support. The obtained results allow to re-evaluate the existing measures for supporting small and medium-sized enterprises in the creative industries and make improvements based on local specificities that are crucial for the development of these industries in cities.

Against the backdrop of growing interest in and the increasing importance of the creative sector of the economy in regions with a high level of socio-economic development, located primarily in the European part of the country, the development potential of creative industries in the Far East has become a relevant topic of research. The objective of this study is to formulate pro- posals for the development of the creative sector of the economy, taking into account regional characteristics, based on a systematic analysis of issues in the field of creative industries within the regions of the Far Eastern Federal District. Based on data on job vacancies in the labor market within the creative industries, supplemented by microdata on aggregated revenue and profit and the average headcount of employees at creative enterprises, and taking into account the level of the Russian Regional Index of Creative Industries, a quantitative analysis is conducted of the development potential of creative industries in the regions of the Far East, as well as a qualitative analysis of the relevance and demand for creative professions and employer requirements. The qualitative analysis is supported by an in-depth comparative analysis of the regions, taking into account their institutional, infrastructural, and cultural characteristics, and an interpretation of the identified patterns is provided. The study drew on data from the RosNavyk platform regardingjob openings by region, as well as financial reports from companies in the SPARK-Interfax information and analytical system. The study’s findings indicate that constraints on the development of creative industries are linked to a shortage of skilled personnel, insufficient educational attainment, and remoteness from Russia’s central regions. Overcoming these constraints is seen in the development of the export potential of creative companies, the formation of creative specialization, the development of creative education, and support for joint projects between the Arctic and Far East regions to achieve a synergistic effect. The results of the study contribute to an understanding of the challenges facing the development of creative industries and identify the conditions for their successful operation in today’s reality.

In the context of implementing Federal Law No. 330-FZ “On the Development of Creative Industries in the Russian Federation ", informal institutions, primarily professional and thematic communities, are acquiring special significance in the formation of social capital as a resource for regional development. This study aims to identify the role and functions of such communities as institutions for the creation, mobilization, and conversion of social capital in the creative industries. The study empirically documents, for the first time, self-reported changes in key components of social capital (trust, networking, access to resources, emotional support) resulting from participation in communities. Based on an online survey of 132 participants in the “PR-sreda" professional community and the thematic club “‘Women’s Territory" in the Krasnoyarsk Krai, it was found that the most pronounced effects are seen in the expansion of professional connections (+90.2%) and increased confidence in the ability to mobilize social resources through the use of other participants’ contacts (+87.9%); an increase in trust (+48.5%) was also recorded. The results confirm that communities act not only as repositories but also as generative institutions of social capital, fulfilling both instrumental (networking, knowledge) and expressive (support, inclusion) functions, which makes them a strategically important asset for the development of the creative economy at the regional level.

In modern conditions, the level ofpoverty has become one of the key factors in the social well-being of the population and determines the effectiveness of state social policy in general. Using the example of the Volga Federal District, the article examines the main problems and trends in the formation of poverty among the working population in the regions of the Russian Federation and justifies the use of agent-based modeling tools for forecasting the dynamics of poverty levels. The article also discusses the structure of the data used and the logic of building a special agent-based model. As part of the testing of the developed model, the results of experiments on assessing the dynamics of poverty levels in the regions of the Volga Federal District for the period up to 2030 are presented, based on various scenario options. Based on the conducted experimental studies, a general assessment of the dynamics of poverty levels in the regions of the Volga Federal District is provided, and the regions are grouped according to their poverty levels. The necessary management measures are justified to reduce poverty levels for each group, including for the regions at highest risk.

The article assesses fertility trends in Russia’s northern regions in the context ofpro-family demographic policies in the first quarter of the 21st century. The official data of Rosstat and the legal documents in the field of the demographic policy makes the information base. The trends of birth rates in the northern federal constituent entities are generally similar to those in the Russian Federation, but the level is above the national average in most of them. The Republic of Tyva and the Nenets Autonomous Okrug are particularly marked, with the significant percentage in their population of the indigenous ethnic groups with an incomplete transition to the reduced lifetime fertility. As in the whole country, in the north fertility is higher in the rural areas. Particularly significant differences were observed within the period of 2012-2017 due to the very high total rural birth rates resulting from the implementation of the regional maternal capital programs for the third child and the introduction of a monthly allowance for the third and subsequent child in the families with the low income. The most significant differentiation between urban and rural areas is typicalfor the Republics of Tyva, Komi and Karelia, the Nenets Autonomous Okrug and the Arkhangelsk Oblast. Strengthening of the federal demographic policy by the regional measures has prolonged in the first half of the 2010s the trend of increase in the birth rate already in the context of deterioration of the age structure of the childbearing contingents and has contributed to the increase in the birth rate due to the change in the calendar of births, better fulfilment of the population’s reproductive expectations and improved fertility rates. However, the early exhaustion in the first years of the demographic policy of the final fertility of women, especially the rural ones, reinforced the structural factor of the birth rate decline within the period of 2016-2023, and it is likely to slow down the upcoming structural increase in the coming years. Under these conditions, the further activation of the state assistance to families with children is required.

Using a resource-based approach and the focus group method, the author of this article attempts to identify the attitudes of working youth in a modern mono-industrial city toward volunteering. The study lists the reasons for the non-participation of modern young workers in volunteer activities: “no time, " “didn’t like my first experience with volunteering," “incompetent management/employer, " “event organizers change their plans too often," “lack of financial compensation," “inability to communicate /fear of public speaking," “I know I won’t be able to balance it with work," “no desire to do this." The following have been identified as the main barriers to fostering a culture of volunteerism among young workers: a lack of awareness among young workers regarding government support programs offered by employers; limited awareness among young workers of the activities of civic organizations in the city to which they could offer their assistance as volunteers; the absence or underdevelopment of corporate volunteer practices; young workers’ distrust of the government regarding the excessive formalization of volunteer practices; and the lack of project support at the city/municipal level. The data obtained in the course of this study can be used by regional and local government bodies to more effectively address issues related to the development of urban culture in single-industry cities.

The article proposes to supplement the transport strategy of Russia with elements of the evidence base of some strategically important transport projects. An excursion into the history of Russia’s advance into Siberia at different stages of its development shows how important reliable transport communications are. As a tool for calculations, it is proposed to use the Optimization Intersectoral Interregional Model (OIMM) in conjunction with the PROgnosis of the System of Transport Industries of Russia (PROSTOR) model. The project of completing the new Vanino-Indiga latitudinal transport corridor is being discussed. The significance of this project is increasing significantly due to the geopolitical changes in Russia’s position on the Eurasian continent. This can be demonstrated using the OIMM’s multi-variant solutions with different hypotheses about the possibilities of entering global markets. At the same time, PROSTOR allows us to assess the range of changes in transport costs. It is important not only to advance towards the Arctic coast, but also to strengthen social control over the vast, resource-rich, but still sparsely populated territory of Siberia and the North-West of the Russian Federation.

Russia and Asian countries is growing rapidly, with trade in services playing a significant role. The aim of this study is to analyze the shift of Russian service exports toward the East, using Russia’s Asian regions as an example, and to identify avenues for increasing these exports through the development of the GEP. A comparative analysis was conducted of the volume and structure of service exports from Russia’s federal districts, particularly the Ural, Siberian, and Far Eastern districts, ranked by individual regions and types of services, which revealed the presence of a general eastward trend and regional specificities in its growth. The representation of BEP countries in the service exports of the analyzed regions was assessed. The analysis showed that service exports are importantfor the development of Russia’s trade and economic cooperation with BEP countries, which confirmed the study’s hypothesis. Regions are establishing footholds for this growth. Directions for promoting service exports to BEP countries have been substantiated, based on Russia’s participation in international megaprojects within the BEP framework in the areas of transport and energy, industry and innovation, culture and tourism, and marketing and digital infrastructure.

The concentrations of organophosphate flame retardants in the environment are rising due to the increasing volume of their production and usage. Trichloropropyl phosphate (TCPP), which is an organophosphorus ester (OPE), can be found in air, water, and soil. A significant amount of OPEs enters reservoirs. Aquatic plants have been understudied in terms of their ability to accumulate organic esters. Meanwhile, plants are an important primary link in trophic chains. They play a significant role in the transformation and migration of organic compounds within ecosystems. The accumulation of TCPP in three species of aquatic plants - Lemna minor L., Ceratophyllum demersum L. and Elodea canadensis Michx - was studied experimentally at initial ether concentrations of 100, 500, and 1000 ng L^-1. All plants accumulated TCPP. The maximum accumulation coefficient (BCF) was determined for all studied species at the lowest concentration of TCPP (100 ng L^-1). In water with higher concentrations of TCPP, the BCF values decreased. With a tenfold increase in TCPP concentration, the BCF value decreased the least in C. demersum (by 17 %) and decreased significantly in L. minor (by 72 %). The accumulation coefficient of E. canadensis was 40 % lower at 1000 ng L^-1 of TCPP in water compared to 100 ng L^-1. The bioaccumulation potential of C. demersum showed little change depending on the concentration of TCPP. C. demersum accumulated 9-13 % of the TCPP that was originally in the water. It is suggested that the uptake of OPEs by aquatic plants depends on the type of plant and the ability of organic compounds to penetrate not only through the roots, but also through the shoots that are completely submerged in water.

Under the observed climate warming in the highlands of Central Asia, studies of the thermal state and dynamics of permafrost have become particularly relevant. This paper presents the results of rock temperature monitoring at two key sites in the northern Tian Shan: Zhosaly Kezen Pass and a west-facing slope near Bolshoye Almatinskoye Lake. At the high-mountain pass, a statistically significant increase in mean annual permafrost temperatures was observed: from 0.13 °C/decade at the base of the active layer (5 m depth) to 0.06 °C/decade in the lower part of the section (25 m depth). Particularly noticeable changes occurred after 2010, when the active layer thickness consistently exceeded 5 m. The results indicate permafrost degradation through both the thickening of the active layer and the upward shift of permafrost base. These processes occur against the background of increasing mean annual air temperature (0.30 °C/decade). In the intra-annual dynamics, the most intensive rock warming occurs during summer months (up to 0.89 °C/decade) in the upper layers (1-2 m) and correlates with April-July air temperature rise (up to 0.80 °C/decade). Near Bolshoye Almatinskoye Lake, mean annual temperatures in seasonally frozen layers (to a depth of 3 m) remain stable, while at depths of 5.0-9.8 m, they show a warming trend of 0.31-0.35 °C/decade. These trends align with data on temperatures of thawed rocks and permafrost from other areas of Asia’s mountain permafrost.

Geotechnical monitoring of buildings and structures in permafrost regions has become an integral part of regulatory documentation. There are clear requirements for the methodology and frequency of observations. However, with regard to geotechnical forecasting, the regulatory document adopted in 2020 provides only general requirements for predictive thermal and geotechnical calculations. Analysis of monitoring results and comparison with forecast values are left to “specialized organizations”. This paper aims to show that a geotechnical monitoring program (the document on the basis of which the work is carried out) requires more than just making a thermal field forecast and planning observation networks. It also requires developing measures for restoring geocryological conditions in case deviations occur. This allows estimating the time needed to return the temperature field to its design conditions.

The results of drilling a series of boreholes in Central Yakutia are discussed. At a depth of 250-300 m, in the Cambrian carbonate rocks and in the Lower Jurassic terrigenous sediments, a zone of sulfide mineralization with contrasting geochemical anomalies was discovered. The zone of sulfide-saturated rocks is localized in the interval from the permafrost base to the table of subpermafrost groundwater; it extends laterally for 80 km and does not depend on the composition and age of sediments. The development of sulfide mineralization in the Cambrian carbonate rocks and Lower Jurassic terrigenous sediments was due to cryogenic processes during sharp and strong cooling of the climate. In that period, the groundwater of bicarbonate-sodium composition depleted of lithochalcophile elements was formed. This was accompanied by the formation of the zone of sulfide mineralization and contrasting anomalies of Mo, V, Ni, Cu, Li, Sn, Ta, Nb, Ge, and Au at the permafrost base.

The article considers the application of machine learning methods for predicting the retreat rates of the coasts composed of frozen unlithified sediments. To test machine learning technologies, three well-studied coastal sites in the southwestern part of the Kara Sea were selected. These sites have been monitored by the Laboratory of Geoecology of the North at Lomonosov Moscow State University since the 1980s. Data have been collected at 10-meter intervals for each site, including categorical characteristics of the coastal zone (geomorphological level, lithology, dominant permafrost process) and quantitative indicators of coastal retreat rate. A sequential application of correlation analysis using the Random Forest algorithm and the dispersion analysis (Welch’s ANOVA) made it possible to identify features that most significantly affect the retreat rate of the bluff, as well as to determine zones with the highest risk of intensive changes and average values of the coastal retreat rate with a certain combination of categorical features. The study proposes an approach that enables the segmentation of the sea coastline based on its resilience to key natural factors affecting coastal dynamics in the permafrost zone using machine learning technologies.

The results of six years (2018-2024) of geocryological monitoring at the CALM R24A-2 site (Kumzha) in the Pechora River Delta are presented. The study is based on the integrated application of ground-penetrating radar (GPR) with different offsets: zero-offset profiling with a 300 MHz antenna for boundary tracing and multi-offset sounding with a 150 MHz antenna for precise velocity determination. It was found that the average depth of permafrost table increased by (1.3 ± 0.2) m, which corresponds to a trend of 20 cm/year. A set of different offset GPR techniques has demonstrated its effectiveness as a non-destructive method of geocryological monitoring. The obtained data provide the basis for verifying and improving predictive models of permafrost development, which is crucial for planning sustainable nature management and minimizing damage from permafrost degradation.

The review is devoted to the Ilya Arkadyevich Komarov’s monograph, which is a textbook on one of the main areas of geocryology - thermodynamics and thermophysics of frozen soils, published by “Nauchny Mir” (Moscow) in 2025.

The article contains information on 32 type specimens of 12 taxa of the genus Glycyrrhiza Tourn. ex L. (Fabaceae) stored in the Herbariums of the Central Siberian Botanical Garden SB RAS (NS, NSK), 4 specimens stored in the collection of the Herbarium of the Komarov Botanical Institute RAS (LE), 2 specimens from the Herbarium named after prof. V.I. Smirnov of Irkutsk State University (IRKU). For each taxon, the Latin name with the nomenclatural citation, the category of the type specimen, citations of the original label, protologue and notes are given. A total of 3 lectotypes, 2 isolectotypes, 1 syntype, 3 holotypes, 1 isotype, 13 paratypes, 12 authentic specimens and 3 elements of the original material are indicated. The lectotypes of G. glabra L. var. pubescens Litv., G. michajloviana Grankina & E.V. Kuzmin, G. sergievskiana Grankina & Aralbaev are designated. The type collections include specimens of taxa described by K.F. Ledebour, I.D. Litvinov, and V.P. Grankina from Central and Middle Asia and Siberia.

Comparison of the populations of Pelargonium caroli-henrici B. Nord. s. str. and P. caroli-henrici sensu E.M. Marais, based on the thorough analysis of morphological characters, including color and arrangement of nectar guides, corolla morphology, the number and morphology of fertile stamens, filament orientation, pollen presentation mode and leaf lamina morphology led to the conclusion that the populations P. caroli-henrici sensu Marais should be described as а new species P. invertum F. Gren. ex V.I. Troshkina & E.M. Ioganson. Detailed morphological description, a comparative table of diagnostic characters, differentiating the new species from related taxa, color plates of the most important morphological characters distinguishing P. caroli-henrici s. str. and P. invertum are presented. A map of сollection localities of P. caroli-henrici s. str. and P. invertum together with a photo of the P. invertum holotype are provided.

The Khorumnug-Taiga Range is situated on the South-East of the Tyva Republic. It is a link in the mountain chain separating the arid landscapes of Southern Tuva and Mongolia and the boreal landscapes of Southern Siberia. Such position of the range determines the contrast ecological conditions, a variety of plant communities and habitats, as well as a diversity of vascular plant species on its territory. The study of the flora of the range is of interest in the framework of the inventory and conservation of plants in the Tyva Pepublic. The flora of the Khorumnug-Taiga Range comprises 655 species of vascular plants belonging to 260 genera and 64 families. The 10 biggest families of the flora are Asteraceae (78 species), Poaceae (73), Rosaceae (42), Ranunculaceae (41), Cyperaceae (40), Caryophyllaceae (38), Fabaceae (33), Brassicaceae (24), Salicaceae (24), Lamiaceae (17). The eight largest families are the same as the eight largest families of the floras of the other mountain structures in the South Tuva: massif Mongun-Taiga, ranges Tsagan-Shibetu, Western and Eastern Tannu-Ola. By the first three largest families (Poaceae, Asteraceae, Rosaceae), the flora of the Khorumnug-Taiga Range, as well as the flora of nearly situated Eastern Tannu-Ola Range, belongs to Central-European Rosaceae-type. Nine species of the flora included into the Red Data Book of the Tyva Republic, two species - into the Red Data Book of the Russian Federation: Cypripedium calceolus L. and C. × ventricosum Sw.

Data on the new species Eritrichium jenisseense Turcz. ex A. DC. for the flora of Eastern Siberia are presented. New localities were discovered in the Irkutsk Region and Zabaikalsky Krai, significantly expanding the range of this endemic species to the east. During field studies in 2018 and 2025, populations of the endemic Severobaikal-Lena species E. baicalense Popov ex Ovczinnikova were discovered in the south of the Irkutsk region. A full characterization of the species: diagnostic characters, relationships, ecological characteristics, and range are indicated, as well as nomenclatural information and data on type specimens are provided. The cited specimens are deposited in the Smirnov Herbarium of Higher Plants of Irkutsk State University (IRKU). It is recommended that these species be included into the “Red Data Book of the Irkutsk Region”, and E. jenisseense in the “Red Data Book of the Trans-Baikal Territory” also.

The paper presents the results of a comparative morphological analysis of six quantitative and four qualitative leaf traits studied in closely related species from the Violidium (K. Koch) Juz. section of the genus Viola L.: V. irinae Zolot., V. jeniseensis Zuev, and V. prionantha Bunge. The analysis was carried out using samples from introduced populations of Viola species growing in the Altai Republic, Altai Krai, Novosibirsk, Krasnoyarsk Krai, the Republic of Khakassia, and Amur Oblast. Morphological variability was studied at the individual, intrapopulation, interpopulation, and interspecific levels. Under introduced conditions, V. irinae is characterized by an ovoid leaf with a truncated base. Seasonal variability in the shape and base of leaf blades was revealed in plants of the V. jeniseensis and V. prionantha species. Spring leaves were ovate with a truncated base, while summer and autumn leaves were oblong-ovate with a cordate, subcordate, or truncated base. Variability in leaf surface pubescence was found to be a distinctive feature of V. prionantha. In V. jeniseensis and V. prionantha, lanceolate stipules are semi-fused with the leaf, while seasonal variability in the degree of stipule fusion was noted for V. irinae . Leaf blades of all studied species had a crenate-serrate margin and an acute apex. Among the studied characteristics, the greatest variability was found for petiole and stipule length. Blade length and total leaf length showed a moderate degree of variability. Allometric traits of leaf index and blade index were found to be characterized by low to moderate levels of variation, but did not differ significantly across species. During introduction, quantitative leaf parameters of the species under study were influenced by weather conditions. The qualitative and quantitative traits studied varied, making them inappropriate for diagnostic use. To determine the taxonomic status of V. irinae, V. jeniseensis, and V. prionantha, it is necessary to evaluate their genetic variability in addition to morphological variability.

The morpho-anatomical features of germination of the tropical terrestrial orchid Eulophia streptopetala Lindl. were studied under conditions of asymbiotic in vitro cultivation. Seed germination was recorded 7 weeks after sowing. At the protocorm stage, early activity of the apical meristem, formation of rhizoids and appearance of stomata were observed, indicating early functional differentiation of the epidermis. A sequential development of the vascular system was established, progressing from isolated conductive elements to numerous scattered vascular bundles, along with the presence of idioblasts containing raphides. Under the experimental conditions, a tendency toward vegetative proliferation was observed, manifested by the formation of secondary protocorm-like structures. Formation of the first leaves and gradual reduction of the basal part of the seedling reflect the transition from heterotrophy to autotrophy. Endogenous root initiation was recorded at weeks 52-56 of cultivation; mature roots exhibited a multilayered velamen and a polyarch stele organization. The results confirm the high potential of E. streptopetala for mass propagation and ex situ conservation.

The article presents the results of the study of Tulipa kolpakowskiana Regel (Liliaceae) under the conditions of introduction of the Central Siberian Botanical Garden SB RAS. T. kolpakowskiana plants emerge in the late first and early second ten-day period of April, immediately after the snow melts. The decorative flowering period most often occurs in the first two ten-day periods of May. A clear distinction between the above-zero temperature sums confirms the dependence of the onset of phenophases on this parameter. Precipitation influences the duration of flowering. Morphometric features of T. kolpakowskiana plants are characterized by variability, which is confirmed by the indicators of normal variation. Adaptive changes are weak, which is confirmed in comparison with plants in situ. Unlike other studied species, T. kolpakowskiana plants do not have a significant correlation dependence of morphometric features on environmental factors. The percentage of seminification, seed germination in open ground have low values, reproduction by daughter bulbs is absent. Low variation rates indicate the homogeneity of seeds, and the correlation coefficient additionally indicates the independence of embryo size from the amount of endosperm during seed maturation. The success rate of introduction at this stage does not allow recommending this species for landscaping. It is necessary, in order to preserve biodiversity, to introduce the species in botanical gardens.

This article introduces and tests the “metric profiles” method, a novel approach to the classic syntaxonomic problem of objectively delineating plant communities within a continuum. The method quantitatively diagnoses syntaxa by calculating a set of specially selected metrics for each geobotanical relevé, thereby formalizing the classification process revision and minimizing expert subjectivity. It was tested on a challenging classification subject: the foothill xeric meadows and meadow steppes of Western Siberia, characterized by polydominance and smooth gradients. Applying this method to a dataset of 1033 relevés (preliminarily classified as xeric meadows or meadow steppes) enabled a syntaxonomic revision. The revision revealed that 10 previously described associations could be statistically justifiedly reduced to 5 syntaxa, significantly simplifying the classification system. Two new associations are described here for the first time: Vicio amoenae-Phleetum pratensis(fallow meadows) and Peucedano morissonii-Brachypodietum pinnati (primary forest xeric meadows). Multivariate analysis (NMDS, indicator species analysis IndVal, Kruskal-Wallis test) confirmed the statistical significance of differences between the revised associations. The analysis further confirmed that these associations differ significantly in key metrics, such as the proportion of cover of eco-coenotic species groups and the number of diagnostic species. Beyond providing objective syntaxon delineation, the method allowed clear determination of their successional status and degree of anthropogenic disturbance. These results demonstrate the efficacy of the “metric profiles” method for syntaxonomic research and for monitoring the state and dynamics of vulnerable meadow and steppe ecosystems. As a quantitative and practical tool, it establishes a base for a new, objective approach to analyzing plant communities under continuum conditions.