From the editor-in-chief

The article describes the approach to the structuring of geographical space, based on its representation in the form of a plurality of geographical structures of various types and levels. Identifi cation of these structures in the geographical space is possible on the basis of the following axes of measurement: the component and spatial characteristics, inter-component links, boundaries and borders. To single out the primarily and generalized territorials socio-economic, as well as integral geographic systems, the use of different reference points is offered, ranging from individual geographically compact enterprises to the economic centers and urban settlements.

Landscape planning procedures adopted in different countries show a close relationship with the national landscape models. The article attempts to analyze the Russian theories of landscape as a basis for the formation of the Russian version of landscape planning procedure. It is shown that none of the interpretations of the landscape by different Russian scientifi c schools may serve as the basis for developing a rigorous algorithm for constructing landscape maps. Open issues of landscape science is largely predetermined by initial postulates that refl ected the idea of integrating structure, which should logically combine components of the geographical envelope. This hypothesis has not passed the necessary verifi cation of by fi eld data, but has developed into a theory in which properties of the cultural landscape (borders and overall taxonomy) have been attributed to natural ecosystems. As a result, there have been mixing and substitution of concepts that do not allow developing recognized taxonomy of the landscape as a natural and cultural phenomenon. It does not allow including legally landscape planning in urban planning legally, agricultural land management and forest planning.

The article presents innovation waves of informatization. Factors of spatial differentiation in ICT diffusion are shown. Stages of the global expansion of Internet are characterized, and changes in its geography over the fi rst decade of the 21st century are analyzed. Competition and complementarity of new and old ICT are considered on the case study of mobile and fi xed telephones. The structure of global traffi c fl ows and specifi cs of their self-organization are analyzed.

The article describes the structural changes in the industry of the CIS countries, caused by the economic crisis and the compensatory growth in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Some factors that have infl uenced the dynamics of the sectoral structure of GDP are analyzed. Attention is paid to the disproportions in the productive sectors, including the proportions between mining and manufacturing. The changes in the territorial and sectoral structure of the industry of CIS countries under the conditions of economic transition are analyzed.

The dynamics of the population of cities situated on the banks of the Volga River from 1897 to 2010, and the causes of this dynamics are analyzed. Typology of cities by the dynamics of the population in 1897– 2010 and in 1989–2010 is compiled. The peak of population was reached in the 1980s in connection with economic development. Cities were ranked by population size for census date. It is shown that during the 20th century there was a signifi cant redistribution of the ranks of cities. Regional centers, as well as the new industrial cities, were growing faster. Since the 1990s, many cities began to decrease the population. Further processes of depopulation and stagnation will lead to the degradation of the framework of urban settlement patternof Volga area.

The regularities of droughts and desertifi cation dynamics in sub-boreal landscapes of Russia in the context of global warming are presented. Period of 1931–1940 was remarkable for almost yearly strong and vast droughts and minimal average humidifi cation. Subsequently trend on humidifi cation growth became apparent. This trend affects, specifi cally, arid lands desertifi cation in the late 20th century. Under such conditions, the role of droughts, as part of climate aridization, decreased. The author’s opinion on the issue of climate-driven dynamics of drought and desertifi cation is presented.

The great magnitude and rapidity of climatic warming that characterizes the pleistocene-holocene transition resulted in the activation of thermokarst processes, formation of lakes and bogs in areas of ice-wedge polygons, and widespread peat accumulation in north-Eastern Siberia. The article summarizes the results of the fi rst studies of early holocene peat deposits of north-East of Siberia from arctic regions southward to the northern coast of the Okhotsk Sea. These investigations indicate that peat accumulation in the early holocene occurred under conditions that were more favorable than contemporary ones.

The article describes the late-Valdai lacustrine clays, confi ned to the table-like island surface with an altitude of 150–160 m, located in the Center of Yaroslavl Volga area (north-facing slopes of the Borisoglebsk uplands). It is shown that the clays have a similarity with loess and moraine clays, as well as distinctive features.

The long-range atmospheric transport of air masses and anthropogenic pollutants to the central part of Karelia (to Kostomuksha Nature Reserve and to the White Sea Biological Station of Moscow State University) has been analyzed for the period of 2001–2010. The arrays of everyday air transport trajectories to these places were calculated with the help of the NCEP/NCAR data for January, April, July, and October. The contribution of surrounding industrial complexes and regions (Murmansk, Arkhangelsk, Leningrad oblasts, Saint-Petersburg, and Kostomuksha) in environmental pollution at the places under investigation were calculated. The mean pollutants (Cu, Ni, Fe, Al, and soot) concentrations in air and precipitations, as well as their mean fl ows onto the surface were estimated for different seasons and annually.

On the basis of geochemical surveys of 2008–2010, differentiated assessment of heavy metal contamination (As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sr, V and Zn) of snow cover, soil and woody plants by functional zones of Ulan Bator is given. Regional specialization of depositing sources and their technogenic geochemical transformation in the city are measured. The factors that control the accumulation of pollutants in the landscape are singled out. The spatial distribution of heavy metals in soils and leaves of poplar is analyzed. On the basis of ecological and geochemical evaluation of the snow cover, soil and trees, the pollution of urban landscape as a whole is characterized as weak. Contamination of functional zones decreases from industrial to transportation, residential and recreational zone.

According to the literature and the results of fi eld observations of Southern Research Institute of Marine Fisheries and Oceanography and Institute of Geography RAS, lithofacies types of bottom sediments and their size distribution in 1975–1976, 1986, 1990 and 2008 are investigated. The dynamics of these indicators is analyzed. The silting of separate sea-bed areas in the last 35 years are marked, as well as degradation of biocenoses of common species of bivalves (suspension feeders), and their replacement by community of polychaetes (detritophags) Melinnapalmate. Anthropogenic causes of geological transformations in the Strait, namely, dumping of dredge spoil, are investigated. Recommendations for further study of other anthropogenic (pollution of precipitation) and natural (the invasion of predatory Rapana shellfi sh) mechanisms of degradation of populations of macrozoobenthos of the Kerch Strait are given.

Identifi cation of areas of dangerous exogenous processes is an urgent problem to be solved due to the development of natural resources and climate change in the Arctic. This task is solved using various methods, including the widespread use of remote sensing. Indicative decoding, including phytoindication, plays signifi cant role. Cryogenic fl ow slides are one of the leading exogenous processes in the tundra of Yamal, infl uencing the structure and dynamics of vegetation. The article presents the results of the phytoindication study of landslide violations of typical tundra of Central Yamal. The set of methods is proposed for creating eco-correlation (phytoindication) maps necessary for control, monitoring and management of ecosystems of peninsula.

Профессор Николай Андреевич Гвоздецкий (15 декабря 1913 г. – 10 октября 1994 г.) принадлежит к плеяде выдающихся физико-географов второй половины XX века. Его творческая деятельность проходила на географическом факультете Московского государственного университета им. М.В.Ломоносова, где он многие годы заведовал кафедрой физической географии СССР. Николай Андреевич внес большой вклад в развитие многих разделов современной географической науки. Его основными направлениями научной деятельности являлись изучение горных ландшафтов, карста, проблема физико-географического районирования, ландшафтное картографирование, история отечественных географических исследований и открытий.

In connection with the 130th anniversary of two outstanding scientists in the fi eld of geological and geographical sciences in November 2013 (geographer Andrey A. Grigoriev, geochemist and mineralogist Alexander E. Fersman) a brief comparison of some aspects of their work is held. The organizational and scientifi c work of A.Ye. Fersman in geography, always attracting his interest, is described on the basis of literature and archival materials.

The article describes unique photo exhibition, held in autumn 2012 in the town of Gus-Khrustalny, demonstrating the versatility and talent of A.I. Solzhenitsyn. In photo sketches made by a writer on numerous travels and home environment, his keen view of the world, as well as the ability to convey the essence of the moment through details and to highlight image-forming feature, is refl ected. Photographs allow enthusiasts of the local literature studies practicing geographic decoding and interpretation, as well match literature and everyday life.