Vegetation cover changes are analyzed using data on differences in reflected solar radiation in spectral channels in two scenes of Landsat for March 1986 and March 2010, showing the balance between destruction and restoration of vegetation cover. Slight imbalance occurs as the result of the activity of beavers, leading to deforestation of floodplains of streams and small rivers. The differences in the rate of recovery of the forest clearings and the emergence of quasi-stable communities of small-leaved forests on previously cultivated lands, as well as the destruction of pine forests on bogs and forests adjacent to the bogs with an increase in the area of the bogs are shown.

This article discusses the process of forming of the modern network of correctional institutions of the Federal Penitentiary Service on the territory of the Russian Federation and the territorial organization of the modern penal system. The analysis of the network of correctional institutions in the settlement system of Russia is given, showing the distribution of correctional colonies and prisons by settlements of varying population size and the influence of the location of the correctional institutions on the specialization of their production activities. Special attention is paid to the position of correctional institutions in the “city – village” system and the role of correctional institutions in the life of poorly developed areas with low population density. In addition to materials on the history of Russia’s prison sources for this work were the Internet pages of the regional offices of the Federal Penitentiary Service, websites of individual correctional institutions.

Article examines the regional settlement systems of modern India. Analyzed in detail the configuration and features of the formation of super-agglomerational structures are analyzed. Particular attention is paid to identifying trends in the development of the territorial structure of the country

Landscape evolution of the Kuril Islands is reconstructed under countervailing Holocene climatic changes. On the Kuril Islands these changes appeared less contrast compared to the continental coast and the major islands. The shift of warm and cold ocean currents had played big role in the development of vegetation, increasing or mitigating the effect of climate change. Landscape evolution of the Southern Kuril Islands was largely determined by break-up of land bridge into separate smaller islands ended in middle Holocene. Break-up of natural habitats and difficulty of settling from neighboring islands influenced the subsequent development of the biotic components.

Development of landscapes of long-isolated Central and Northern Kuriles followed the path of change in the ratio of areas occupied by plant groups represented in modern landscapes. The most significant shift of boundaries of vegetation zones to the north occurred in the Optimum of Holocene (about 6000 14C yr ago). Climate change on the islands were not synchronous and were not equally expressed even on near islands. A special role was played by volcanism, which violated development trends of vegetation communities. Refugias are of especial Importance in the development of the biotic components of the landscape on the islands: some of the relict vegetation communities have preserved since cold periods of the late Pleistocene, others are relics of warm periods of the Holocene.

On the base of various studies and calculations obtained over the last ten years after the enormous Karmadon disaster, we demonstrate that the event did not have a “pure glacial” nature as was previously expected. Its primary cause was the activation of tectonic and volcanic processes in the Kazbek massif. Rising temperature and gas pressure in the interior under the Kolka Glacier induced accumulation of ultimate stresses, and their relaxation led to glacier outburst from its bed and origin of the giant icewater-rock flow.

In Pobeda cave two types of carbonate mineralization associated with the multi-year frazil are formed. The first (cryogenical) type is formed during rapid freezing of solutions. The second type of mineralization is associated with defrosting and collective recrystallization of thawed cryogenic material. Discovery of new type of cave “pearls”, not known in the caves of Russia, highlights the uniqueness of the Pobeda cave and the need for its preservation for research.

The nature of landscape wildfires, their occurrence and spread in Central Siberian landscapes are considered. The natural fire conditions of landscapes are given in context of large wildfires. Methods of extreme fire danger forecast are offered based on the data on sum of radiant temperature of surface received by satellite remote sensing.

The article deals with use of geoinformation technologies in development of land-use planning schemes of federal subjects of Russia. Several case studies of GIS use for land-use planning are considered, including creation of thematic maps “Geotechnical and geomorphologic conditions”, “Mineral resources”, “Problematic ecological situations” and “Basic environmental principles of functional zoning”. The role of geoinformation technologies in development of environmental layers of land-use planning schemes and city construction restrictions was determined

Foreign Policy of Catherine II and topographical survey of the Caspian Sea coasts

In memory of Sergei Artobolevsky