From the editor-in-chief.

Many people believe that the traditional descriptive geography has exhausted. The position dominates that the country description is not a contribution to science, whereas the regularity, which was confi rmed by quantitative measurements, has scientifi c value and importance. But the vast majority of people believe that the geography is the science about countries. Ignoring local geography and regional geography by geographers leads to neglect of opportunities of geographical science. The task of designing the national geography requires the unity of its physical and economic branches, ties them both to history and politics. Adjustments to the curriculum of geographic, touristic and humanitarian specialties of higher education institutions are required. Multi-volume regional editions of “Russia” and “Picturesque Russia” described the nature together with way of life and style of thinking of inhabitants. Similar by the goals and objectives, the editions of “Soviet Union” and “Environmental Condition and Natural resources of the USSR”, published in the 60s – early 70s, were incomplete because of the lack of attention to a human being. For any state the creating of its attractive portrait to raise its prestige is no less important than the strengthening of the military and economic power. The global role of Russia is that it is a kind of biosphere-therapeutic reserve of the globe, almost half of its spaces are not burdened by anthropogenic and technogenic load. It is geographic attributes that provide political continuity of the country. Together with the traditional division of geography on the physical and socioeconomic geography it should be emphasized and the other two main parts – a general geography and regional geography.

The article describes the method of estimation of the social development of regions. Rating was based on complex analysis of social situation in federal subjects. The method of constructing a rating is based on aggregation of different indicators that characterize the most important factors determining the social development of regions. In order to avoid distortions related to subjective assessments only formalized (numerical) indicators of offi cial statistics were used while making the rating, what makes the analysis as objective as possible.

The article analyzes rural labor markets and the present-day practices whereby those who cannot find jobs within their settlements seek sources of subsistence. Various ways of estimating the size of unemployed population are considered in detail using federal and municipal statistics, as well as the microdata of Russia’s 2010 Census. Comparison of statistics, census data, and interviews that the author collected during field studies has yielded the structure of local labor markets and all possible sources of subsistence for rural inhabitants of working age in a case study of 18 key rural settlements in Ivanovo and Kostroma oblasts. The studies show that only about 30–35% of working-age rural inhabitants are employed in traditional labor spheres (agriculture, forestry, industrial production, and the service sector) in their home settlements; more than 35% work outside their settlements, commuting daily or on a rotating scheme; about 20% live on pensions and various allowances or depend on their relatives and other persons; the remaining 10% are self-employed (i.e., they work on their commercialized subsidiary farms or have odd jobs). The proportion of identified groups in each settlement depends on many factors, including the condition of the local economy, geographic position, the density of transportation infrastructures, and so on.

The article analyzes the role of the China factor in the development of agriculture in the southern regions of the Far East of Russia. The role of Chinese migrant workers, the activities of enterprises with Chinese capital, the state of agriculture and socioeconomic development of rural areas of the Jewish Autonomous Oblast are examined in detail. The insufficiency of official statistical and accounting data has led to the widespread use in the study materials from Federal agencies, regional executive authorities, various Internet sites and information collected by the author during field surveys and interviews. It is shown that the use of Chinese labor migrants in agriculture contributes to the development and use of land, however, has a negligible effect on the economy of the region, enhances organizational problems of local agricultural producers, exacerbating environmental problems, and indirectly reduces the quality of life of the population in rural areas. A clear position of the authorities in achieving long-term performance of the agricultural sector with account of the support local agricultural producers as well as regular monitoring of activities of foreign enterprises are the basis of the stabilization of the situation in agriculture.

Parameters of blocking anticyclones (their number, duration and frequency) in the European region, calculated by NCEP/NCAR re-analysis data by seasons for 1948–2012, were analyzed. It is shown that the maximal intensity of blocking anticyclones are observed mainly in winter and spring, and the minimum intensity – in autumn. Their linear trends in 1948–2012 are characterized by positive sign in winterspring period and negative in summer. Change of parameters of blocking anticyclones and air temperature anomalies in the European region associated with two El Nino types (differentiated by spatial and temporal dynamics) are analyzed. Comparison of analyzed El Nino types shows that their manifestations are different significantly by the number of blocking events in autumn-winter, and by the sign of air temperature anomalies in spring-summer

The study shows that the zooplankton of the lake, which annually is connecting with the river, has maximum number of species, the value of the coefficient of nutrient status, abundance, and biomass. Very long period of flooding, as well as the first flooding of mesotrophic-eutrophic sites of reservoirs after several years of lack of connection with a river, cause a restructuring of zooplankton, which is observed under increasing organic income. The first flooding of hypertrophic areas of reservoirs leads to changes in the structure of zooplankton, a number of parameters of the structure of zooplankton indicates the reduction of the organic income. Recovering of mode of flooding in the second year maximally homogenizes conditions of development of zooplankton in floodplain lakes of different types.

Changes in climatic range of a dangerous pest Colorado potato beetle in the 21st century are computed and mapped on the basis of known requirements of this species to climatic conditions. Multi-model averages for two scenarios of anthropogenic impact on the Earth’s climate system (moderate RCP4.5 and extreme RCP8.5) are used as future climates. It is shown that in Russia and neighboring countries further warming will lead to northward, north-eastward and eastward expansion of the range under both scenarios. At the end of the 21st century, maximal increase in the range will take place under extreme scenario. Climatic ranges of Colorado potato beetle at the time periods when global mean air temperature exceeds the preindustrial level by 2 °С will be similar for both scenarios.

Peculiarities of variability of wind regime in the period from 1935 to 2014 are discussed. More detailed analysis of variability of meteorological condition on different scales during the last years (2010−2014) is conducted. Progressive vector diagrams are used for visualization of time series of wind vectors. Changes of prevalent winds from NE to S-E-SE (warm period waves) are reflected on a climatic progressive vector diagram from 1935 to 2014. Maximum wave amplitude on a diagram was registered in a period of 2004– 2006. In 2007–2014, a distinctive feature of the wind regime was a dominance of SE winds during warm and abnormally warm years. Major types of atmospheric processes that give rise to dominating winds are outlined. It is demonstrated that differences of the wind regime during particular years with various temperature characteristics of years and winters are caused by a variability of atmospheric synoptic processes on different scales. Using annual wind diagrams and pictures of temporal wind variability, as well as air and water monthly temperature (observation time every 3 hours), periods of prolonged wind forcing (during several months and during 1−2 decades of every month) are distinguished. Role of the winds of SE bearings with high repeatability during several months in forming of the vertical water structure of coastal zone is demonstrated. Analysis of the results of the experimental data acquired in 2010–2014 (research vessel “Ashamba”) has shown that during stable winds of SE bearings advection of cold intermediate waters from the area of their formation (central divergence zone) to the coastal zone becomes stronger.

The main evolutionary stages of formation of the faunas of small mammals of the Middle Pleistocene in Europe, belonging to the interval ~0.76−0.42 mln years, are described. Based on the analysis of the species composition of the faunas of this interval, six main phases of development of small mammals, corresponding to the main climatic events (interglacials, glaciations) during MIS 18 – MIS 12 are identified. Availability of data for some intervals of the first half of the Middle Pleistocene is not too large. Especially this applies to the cold stages of the first half of the Middle Pleistocene – the Don and Oka (or, that is the same, the Elster and Anglian) glaciations. In several cases the difference in time of the appearance of a number of taxa in Eastern and Western Europe was revealed. So, Arvicola cantianus appeared in Western Europe earlier than in Eastern Europe. This phenomenon can be explained by different rates of evolution in different parts of Europe, and, possibly, insufficient number of related data (geological, geochronological, and paleontological), which subsequently allow to determine the age of a number of localities. The analysis of correlation of the East European and West European faunas of small mammals was carried out. The biostratigraphic scheme and the map of localities of small mammals of the Middle Pleistocene during MIS 18 – MIS 12, i.e. in the first half of the Middle Pleistocene on the international scale (early Neopleistocene according to the scale RISK), were built. The obtained data allows to substantiate more accurately and to clarify the geological age of the deposits, and to reconstruct the palaeogeographical setting of the considered periods. They are also an important component in the establishment of biostratigraphic schemes of the Middle Pleistocene and the Pleistocene in general.

The article presents the results of spore-pollen and rhizopod analyses, the study of botanical composition of peat and the radiocarbon dating of peat deposits of the Cranberry (Klukva) bog (Belev district, Tula oblast) and the reconstruction of changes in vegetation and climate in the Holocene. The obtained data showed that the spread of broad-leaved forests of oak, linden and elm on the North-West of the Central Russian Upland had begun around 7800 years BP (before present), and up to the last few centuries broad-leaved forests were the dominant component of the vegetation cover. Drastic vegetation changes occurred only in historic times as a result of human activities. In period 9500–7500 years BP climatic conditions were cooler than at present, and in the interval 7500–5200 years BP they were warmer and drier. A general cooling of the climate in the second half of the Holocene had included the climatic oscillations of the second order: a series of cold spells (5000–4000, 3600–3200, 2500–2000, 1400–800 years BP) and warming (4000–3600, 2000–1400 years BP, and about 1000–700 years BP).

To carry out the assessment of water availability in regions, the landscape-basin approach is proposed. The algorithm of assessment includes the collection and analysis of hydrological, socioeconomic and water management information, creating a database and conducting analysis of the current water supply, the evaluation of efficiency of use of water resources and long-term water supply of population and economy of a region. The results of the evaluation are presented in the context of landscape provinces, separate regions and prospective zones of economic development. The approach is implemented on the case study of Omsk oblast, for which the indicators of specific water availability for population, use of water for various needs, water intensity of the gross regional product, as well as industrial and agricultural production in 10 landscape provinces were calculated. The characteristic of zones of prospective development of the oblast is given on the basis of documents of strategic planning. For the Central zone corresponding to the Western Baraba landscape province, prospective water availability was estimated for two scenarios (innovative and inertial) of socioeconomic development.

Features of dynamics of cultivated area of agricultural crops during the crisis period of 1990–2012 are identified. Factors causing differently directed changes at the local level are shown on the case study of Kursk oblast. It is found that in contrast to the interregional scale at the intraregional level the leading role is played by the following factors: location of the district on the axis of “center-periphery”, nearborder location, the presence of large developing industrial hubs.

The regional spatial-temporal analysis of the formation of the maximum flow was made on the basis of geographical and hydrological method using GIS-technologies and statistical methods. The characteristics of natural and anthropogenic prerequisites for the formation of floods were performed. Conclusion about the leading role of natural factors in the formation of floods, especially extremely high rainfall, which have become more frequent in recent decades, was made. The features of spatial-temporal variability of maximum water levels were shown. Simulation of flood zones was performed using a geographic information system and digital elevation models. Calculated water levels were set by long-term observation series and in their absence by high water marks. The extreme floods were reconstructed in some settlements, some recommendations to reduce potential damage as they pass in the future were provided.

A multiscale series of soil-landscape maps is regarded as a system of soil-landscape maps of all scales, which are adjusted in relation to geographical base and thematic content. Legends of the maps are based on a hierarchical soil-landscape classification. The methodological basis for the creation of the multiscale series of maps is the concept of “natural landscape” defined using the systems approach. Soil-landscape maps are maps of the vertical structure of landscapes and maps of properties of their elements – rocks, air, water, organisms, and soils. Technology for creating the multiscale series of maps in GIS environment includes bringing the primary maps to a basis coordinate system; conversion of paper map legends to digital form; organization of “geoinformational light tables”; manual creation of a multiscale series of integral vector layers containing adjusted and systematized information on natural landscapes; automatic derivation of the soil-landscape maps from these layers. The European part of Russia was selected as a pilot site for the development of the technology.

Георгий Николаевич Высоцкий (1865–1940) – один из выдающихся отечественных географов и лесоводов, заложивший теоретические основы степного лесоведения и лесоводства, стоявший у истоков отечественного ландшафтоведения, автор многих понятий и терминов, которыми широко пользуются современные географы, экологи и геоботаники (фото). Именно он задолго до Л.С. Берга впервые четко сформулировал идею “географических ландшафтов” [7, 8]. Характерной чертой его деятельности как ученого была необычайная широта интересов, позволившая ему оставить глубокий след во многих областях естественнонаучных знаний – географии, гидрологии, климатологии, лесоведении, почвоведении, геоботанике, экологии. Г.Н. Высоцкий, наравне с В.В. Докучаевым, считается классиком научной географической мысли, ландшафтоведения [9] и изучения и сохранения степей [10, 11]. И.В. Иванов в “Истории отечественного почвоведения” [6] выделил среди ученых, выдвигав- ших идеи, оказавшие наибольшее влияние на развитие отечественного почвоведения, В.В. Докучаева, Н.М. Сибирцева и Г.Н. Высоцкого.

Статья содержит подробный отчет о прошедшей осенью 2015 г. в Костроме XIX сессии Объеди- ненного научного совета по фундаментальным географическим проблемам при Международной ассоциации академий наук и Научного совета по фундаментальным географическим проблемам РАН на тему “Идеи конструктивной географии и развитие фундаментальных географических исследований”, посвященной 110-летию со дня рождения академика И.П. Герасимова. Кратко представлены доклады, с которыми выступили участники сессии. Приведены описания научно- познавательных экскурсий в Красносельский и Сусанинский районы Костромской области, в ходе которых большое внимание было уделено актуальным проблемам социально-экономического развития сельских территорий и районных центров, а также осмотрены интересные природные объекты, имеющие рекреационный потенциал, в частности Исуповское (Сусанинское) болото. Один из выводов сессии заключается в обоюдной продуктивности связей академических институтов, входящих в Объединенный совет, с научно-образовательными сообществами регионов, где проходят сессии.

11 ноября 2015 г. на 85 году жизни ушел из жизни выдающийся ученый-географ, создатель и бессменный заведующий лаборатории эволюционной географии Института географии РАН, член редколлегии нашего журнала, доктор географических наук, профессор, член Российской академии естественных наук, действительный член Польской академии наук и искусств, Русского географического общества, почетный член географических обществ Венгрии, Польши и Бельгии – Андрей Алексеевич Величко.