Vol 38, No 2 (2017)

An analysis is made of 100 years of development of specially protected natural territories of Siberia. Attention is centered on the characteristic features of territorial nature conservation which are determined by the dependence on the political, economic and managerial factors. The analysis revealed the periods of formation, decline, opposite trends and negative dynamics in the establishment of new protected natural territories. Using the history of reserve management and studies of Russia as an example, it is shown that most innovations were tested in Siberia, starting from the establishment of Russia’s first state zapovedniks and zakazniks and ending with the setting up of joint directorates of specially protected natural territories in recent years. It is pointed out that the approaches in substantiating the system of protected natural areas were characterized by fundamental differences: from the organization of “pristine benchmarks” of nature with the ideology of total non-interference, to “farm zapovedniks” for breeding valuable game animals and active maintenance of the population of rare species accompanied by measures to eliminate “harmful” species. The rivalry between the geographical and biocentric approaches is described: in the former case, the preservation of typical natural systems was dominant; in the latter case, the preservation of rare and endangered species was paramount. It is concluded that the unevenness of distribution of zapovedniks, zakazniks and national and natural parks depends on the degree of development and exploration of a relevant territory, the likelihood of a total disappearance of the most valuable areas, and on the existence of lands of indigenous ethnic groups. It is demonstrated that the process of development of the system of territorial nature conservation is governed by the administrative initiative, consideration for the characteristics of a region’s economic development and changeable institutional conditions as well as by the factors of the country’s foreign and internal policy.

We investigated the precipitation characteristics for the summer period of 2013 on the basis of analyzing the daily precipitation amounts according to observational data from the Russian and Chinese meteostations on the territory of the Amur river basin. An analysis is made of the synchronism in the fluctuations of long-term series of precipitation amounts for two summer months (July and August) by using a modified algorithm for a classification of the fields of hydrometeorological characteristics, such as cluster analysis. The study revealed a poor correlation of precipitation amounts in different parts of the basin. We analyzed the interannual fluctuations in absolute maxima of the consecutive precipitation amounts for different periods of time (from 1 to 30 days). It is shown that precipitation over the summer period of 2013 that caused a disastrous flood in the lower reaches of the Amur were extreme primarily as regards the territory encompassed and the flood duration, which was due to a combination of synoptic processes of a different genesis. It was found that the precipitation amounts for periods shorter than 19 days in 2013 were not extreme in terms of intensity. A comparison was made with the year 1984 when there also occurred a flood on the Amur but not as violent. Parameters of the probability curves for 2013 and 1984 are presented for long-term series of maximum precipitation amounts for the summation period of 7 and 30 days. It is concluded that for calculating the maximum possible precipitation amounts which are necessary for assessing the maximum possible floods, it is appropriate to consider synoptic situations with long-lasting precipitation rather than separate short-lasting storm rains.

A conjugate analysis of the processes of morphogenesis and sedimentation within small fluvial basins of Dauria revealed a rhythmic character of change of the Holocene processes which are combined into cycles of a different hierarchical level. It is shown that each cycle begins with an extreme phase of intense fluvial drift and delivery of matter from the system. The fluvial horizons comprise the lower part of deposits of the Holocene macrocycle in the Vesnyanka pad’ (a valley without a permanent watercourse). A disastrous fluvial drift was recorded repeatedly for the period 7–8.5 cal. ka and at the transition time from the Atlantic to Subboreal time. A normal zonal phase of integration of matter within the basins is exhibited by buried humus horizons of soils which give clear evidence of 1800-year cycles. A regional development in Dauria is recorded for the soils with the age of about 8, 6.4 and 4.6 as well as 1.2–1.4 cal. ka. The upper part of the deposits of each cycle is characterized by aeolian horizons of extreme arid phases. The profiles of proluvial trails are indicative of 130-year cycles. Based on results from studying buried soils, data of pollen analysis and radiocarbon dating of the deposits, we determined an enhancement in climate aridization for the last 10 ka and, in general, a decreased of the sedimentation and morphogenesis rate.

An analysis is made of the information-communication network deployment into the center–periphery systems, heterochronous formations and network areas which are derivative territorial structures with respect to the initial network. By using an example of changes in the network position of a number of administrative centers of Asian Russia for 200 years, it is shown that the partitioning of settlements into the information-communication center and the periphery is relatively stable across time. An assessment is made of the transformation of peripheral settlements having regard to the relationship of the status and topological centrality as well as infocommunication–geographical location. The study revealed homochronous, rhythmic- and arrhythmic-heterochronous networks. By analyzing, for different times, the distribution dynamics of elementary postal networks of Asian Russia between the center and the near, middle and far periphery, it was possible to determine a number of characteristic features of the deployment process. It is established that the postal-network areas of the region produce a linear territorial entity. A comparison of the regionalization schemes from different times provided a means of assessing the transformation mechanism of the territorial structure that manifests itself in an extensive, unevenly differently directed deployment of the network with a topological separation between settlements, an increase in their network inequality, and with the consolidation of the linear structure.

We examine the selection criteria for satellite images and methods of processing them in the process of mapping underwater landscapes using remotely sensed data, discuss the interpretation principles and algorithms as well as some issues related to the support of observations with field material. It is shown that a detailed landscape mapping of shallow marine waters by methods of visual and automated interpretation requires multispectral superhigh spatial resolution images. Results of investigations made on underwater profiles by using lightweight diving outfits were employed to describe seven types of underwater landscapes, and echo sounder measurements were used in constructing the digital elevation model for the bottom of Srednyaya Bay. It is established that the regions for which it was possible to carry out a reliable interpretation of data from the IKONOS-2 spacecraft are in the range of depths between 0 and 10 m and make up about three-fourths of the area of the bay bottom. Ten facies were identified and put on the map, for each of which we determined the area, the range of depths and the mean depth of propagation. Remotely sensed data were used to assess the contribution (in the spatial structure of the geosystem) of algal vegetation on the littoral; the eelgrass fields were ranked according to the degree of projective cover. As a result of a clustering according to the similarity of spectral attributes, we identified ten groups of pixels of the image analyzed. An analysis is made of the agreement between the distribution of facies identified by expert interpretation and results of an automated classification of pixels, and the contours of landscape units were updated. The conclusion is drawn regarding integration of the computer-aided and visual approaches to interpretation of remotely sensed data for shallow marine waters leading to a “hybrid” express method of mapping landscapes of shallow marine waters.

We discuss the changes in hydrological characteristics of water bodies caused by freshwater withdrawals to meet the interests of various users on the territory of the Syunik Province of the Republic of Armenia. An analysis is made of the possibilities of combining the water withdrawal for mining enterprises and for agriculture. The problems with water supply of settlements located on this territory are highlighted. The temporal dynamics of water withdrawals is presented for separate rivers as well as its relationship with the minimum and ecological flow. It is found that the anthropogenic load on water bodies is more clearly pronounced in the case of a degradation of the quality of water resources as a result of the industrial waste water diversion, and wash-out of pollutants from the territory of enterprises during floods and in the case of emergency input of wastes from tailings pools, rock spoil heaps and waste storage areas. Results of these authors’ observations, data of routine observations and material from published sources were used in analyzing the water quality in the rivers of the Syunik Province. We calculated the coefficients of ecological quality and determined the river water quality classes according to physicochemical and biological indicators. Assessments of the river water quality class were made in accordance with the methodology of Directive 2000/60/EC. We identified the main pollutants that are responsible for the water quality class, and the factors of impact on natural waters governing the ecological status of water bodies. A comprehensive analysis is made of the intensity of anthropogenic impact on surface waters. The ecological status of water bodies is determined. Spatial changes in the quality indicators of the water of the region’s main rivers are demonstrated. Special emphasis is placed on the need to implement immediate measures to improve technological processes and bring the operation of enterprises into compliance with ecological normative standards.