The transformation of land use and land cover that results from increasing anthropogenic pressure is a most important factor of global environmental change. Numerous studies have been carried out on global, continental, country scale, as well as for individual regions and cities. Much less frequently, the dynamics of land cover and the associated processes are studied within the boundaries of natural landscapes. Meanwhile, it is this approach that allows us to determine the zonal specifics of geoecological processes caused by land use and land cover changes. Therefore the purpose of the article is to determine significant directions of the global land cover transformation within the boundaries of ecological zones over a thirty-year period (1992–2020). Geospatial data from the European Space Agency’s Climate Change Initiative ESA CCI LC were used as a source. The study included several stages: 1) inventory and mapping of the areas of land cover change and types of transitions between different land cover classes during 1992–2020 for 20 ecological zones (the database includes 11 thousand areas characterized by 7 parameters, namely transition type, process coding, initial and final land cover class, number of cells, number of areas, area of changes); 2) grouping of the identified 867 types of transitions according to the transformation processes and analysis of the manifestation of processes in each ecological zone; 3) assessment of the direction of identified changes and their possible geoecological consequences. As a result, the main geoecological processes of land cover transformation were determined, and their zonal specificity was identified, including differences in their manifestation in forest and treeless zones, and within the mountain systems of various belts. It has been found that about 17% of territories with land cover changes are characterized by a decrease or loss of biological productivity, which are a consequence of desertification and deforestation of lands. 21% of such territories have underwent the expansion of the area of anthropogenically modified and technogenic landscapes. About a third of all changes are characterized by the processes of eco-rehabilitation and restoration of the ecological potential of lands. The identified areas of changes could be considered as stages of dynamic transformation of natural-anthropogenic systems and modification of their ecosystem functions, which require more detailed study.

The article provides a comprehensive analysis of the factors governing the dynamics of motor vehicles emissions into the atmosphere of Moscow during 2014–2023. It has been found that in the 2000s, against the background of increased motorization, pollution was reduced by improving the quality of the vehicle fleet and fuel. In the 2010s, changes in the density and topology of the transport network, and actively developing public transport as a result of the effective urban transport policy, became the main factors governing the dynamics of emissions and their territorial proportions. Before the period under study, the planning structure of the city dictated low network connectivity, excessive mileage and increased pollution in certain areas of the city under the rapidly changing vehicle fleet of the capital. The study showed that in recent years, on the contrary, the number of cars and the structure of the fleet have become a conservative factor, and the city’s development strategies have focused on the construction and reconstruction of roads, thus strengthening the network connectivity. The calculation of emissions from individual sections of the road network in the Ochakovo-Matveevskoye municipal area based on data on the intensity and structure of traffic flows for the 2014–2023 period showed that emissions became lower only for light trucks with gasoline and heavy trucks with diesel. The main trend in recent years was an increasing uniformity of pollution from motor vehicles. New housing construction programs and large-scale projects for the transformation of Moscow’s districts lead to the increasing connectivity of the city and at the same time the equalizing density of traffic pollution. The balance of these factors changes over time (the inherited factors were the main ones at the beginning of the post-Soviet period, while in recent years the positive transformation factors have become predominant) and in space (industrial zones have been preserved only on the periphery of the city, and railway stations are being moved there; the changing network topology has not only increased connectivity, but also created a vacuum effect in the center)

Using the example of the Kaliningrad Region, the article examines the structure and causes of population outmigration after 2022 using data from a survey conducted in the spring of 2024. The residents of the region were questioned on individual migration experience and on the migration experience of their immediate surroundings. It was revealed that the high migration mobility of the local population, as well as a significant proportion of new settlers, in particular, determined the high frequency of outmigration among the adult population: every fifth adult resident has at least one family among their acquaintances that left the region in 2022–2023. Transit migration through the region’s territory probably also takes place. The emigration of Kaliningrad residents was mainly due to security factors, political motives, but also the desire to improve    economic living conditions (when moving to non-CIS countries). Social migration ties played a crucial role. The motivation for moving to another region of Russia is primarily the search for a high-paying job and better opportunities for self-realization, improving financial well-being. The emigration processes mainly involved residents aged 25–44 with higher education, employed in the field of information technology, construction and industry, trade and services, including those working as entrepreneurs and self-employed. Another region of Russia was chosen by representatives of different age groups, including 45–55 years old and 18–24 years old, with specialized secondary or higher education, employed in the public sector, trade and services, construction, industry, as well as students. The study showed that the activation of migration potential in the Kaliningrad region in crisis situations occurs through migration links and due to the accumulated experience of mobility and lower resilience of the region because of the high import dependence of its economy (which exacerbates the gap in the level of socio economic development with other territories), which is relevant for both internal and international migration.

Renewable energy is a significant topic of the contemporary discourse. Despite the numerous challenges, there has been an increase in the share and the overall electricity generation from renewable sources in numerous countries and regions worldwide. The Russian Federation does not currently have strong performance in this energy sector, particularly in terms of wind and solar power generation. However, renewable energy could play a significant role in achieving the energy security in Russia. The Far East of Russia faces a particularly pressing issue in terms of energy supply. There are growing concerns about the energy deficit in the region, which could cause problems with domestic consumption and impact the export component. Also, the Far East accounts for over 60% of the total emissions of pollutants from thermal power plants in the country. The issue of renewable energy development has been regularly raised within the energy security framework, for instance, plans to utilize renewable energy for the future production of “green” hydrogen. These plans are reflected in the  “Concept for the Development of Hydrogen Energy in the Russian Federation”, which in turn states the creation of at least three clusters for “green” hydrogen production, an Eastern one among them. Given the current geopolitical landscape, as well as the gradual reorientation of Russia’s trade towards the countries in the Asia-Pacific Region, it is the Eastern Cluster that could play a crucial role in ensuring the future energy security of the country. The paper aims to evaluate the potential of the territories within the Far Eastern Federal District of the Russian Federation for solar energy development, by identifying possible locations for implementing the appropriate technological solutions. The study utilizes a method of Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), combined with the application of Fuzzy and Boolean logic techniques. Relevant evaluation criteria were identified, and a pairwise comparison matrix was constructed. The absolute spatial values for the criteria were converted into relative values using fuzzy logic tools. Certain restrictive factors were also taken into consideration. A statistical analysis was conducted to identify administrative-territorial units with the highest scores based on the applied methodology. An assessment was made of the area suitable for implementing the relevant technologies.

The article presents a historical review of studies of the topography and geological composition of the Greater Moscow territory and gives an assessment of the current level of knowledge of the region. We identified the stages of the studies, which correlate with the stages of growth of the capital’s area. At the same time, each stage of the study represents not only the expansion of the territory of geological and geomorphologic   research, but also the use of new technologies to study an increasingly wide range of issues related to the structure and the history of landforms. In the last two decades, during the development of the territory of New Moscow, the teams from Laboratory of Geomorphology (Institute of Geography, Russian Academy of Sciences) and Department of Geomorphology and Paleogeography (Faculty of Geography, Lomonosov Moscow State University) have contributed a lot to the study of topography and geomorphologic processes.

The eco-geographical differentiation and dynamics of autumn migration of passerines of the Putorana Plateau are analyzed. Eight points in the western and central-axial parts of the region were surveyed using the route census method. All registered species (n = 42) fly along a narrow coastal-edge strip along the banks of   large rivers or lakes in the southern, southwestern and western directions. The population density of birds is 239 to 643, on average (n = 8) – 440 individuals/km². It is maximum in the south of the area, less in the middle   part of the region, and minimum in the north of the plateau. During the most intensive flight, the population density at the points of multi-day observations was 420 to 796, on average (n = 2) – 608 individuals/km². For most species, the average duration of the entire autumn flight is 20 to 26 days, with the main one lasting for 7 to 12 days. The autumn migration configuration is a combination of four waves with four well-defined maxima. The most pronounced rises in migration activity are associated with a decrease in air temperature. The majority of individuals of different species of the same genus or family usually fly on different days. The population is dominated numerically by the Arctic Warbler, the Common Redpoll, and the Little Bunting.

The article considers the characteristics of ice accretions in the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation (AZRF), obtained from the main 3-hour observations at 109 meteorological stations for the period from 1966 to 2022. It is shown that soft rime is most often observed in the AZRF. The highest frequency of glaze ice is observed on the coasts of the northern and Far Eastern seas. Wet snow is most often observed in the European part of the AZRF. Generally the AZRF shows a negative trend in the number of days with weather phenomena potentially leading to hazardous ice accretions. The lowest trend is in the Atlantic climate region of the Arctic zone (–3,51 days per 10 years), the highest in the Atlantic-Arctic climate region of the Polar zone (0,68 days per 10 years). The longest average annual duration of the period with ice accretions formation is for wet snow and soft rime (149 and 172 days, respectively). In the Intra-Arctic climate region, the average duration of the period with glaze ice is 86 days per year, and the maximum is 248 days. During 1966 to 2022, there was a significant tendency to shorten the period with the formation of glaze ice and soft rime, in some climatic regions by more than 20 days per 10 years. The average annual duration of the period with the formation of hard rime increased    throughout the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation, on average by 9 days per 10 years.

Based on the results of complex geological and geophysical works carried out during the 38th, 52nd and 56th cruises of the R/V “Akademik Nikolaj Strakhov” and the 51st cruise of the R/V “Akademik Boris Petrov”, the fluidogenic relief was studied in detail at five key polygons in the southern and northeastern parts of the Barents Sea shelf. Digital elevation models of sea bottom obtained as a result of multibeam bathymetric survey allowed identifying of 2218 pockmarks. Their diameter varies from the first dozens of meters to 250 m, and the depth from 0,2 to 7,8 m. The morphometric analysis of these landforms provided for studying the relationship between the area, depth and shape of the pockmarks cross-sectional profile and physical geographic conditions (tectonic structure, lithology of Quaternary sediments, background topography, hydrological conditions). The distribution of pockmarks and other manifestations of degassing is traceable associated with the fault network. It acts as a pathway for fluid uplift from the gas-saturated sediments of predominantly Mesozoic age to the surface, which proves the deep origin of fluids. The tectonic structure of the area is also reflected in the mutual location of pockmarks within the polygons: the areas of increased density of landforms are near fault zones and in depressions, which are probably of tectonic origin. It was found that the morphology of pockmarks is primarily determined by the lithology of the Quaternary sediments. Large landforms with a more gentle profile are more common in the areas with sandy loams and sands. Small landforms with a V-shaped cross-sectional profile are within the areas with denser clay sediments. It was suggested that the deepest pockmarks occur in the areas covered by glaciers in the recent past. It may be related to active degassing of sediments after removal of the glacial load. Modern exogenous subaquatic processes have a significant influence on the change of pockmark morphology. The slope processes make the cross-sectional profile of pockmarks more complex, i. e. asymmetric and micro-stepping, while the influence of bottom currents leads to landforms elongation.

High level of centralization of passenger transportation in the Moscow Aviation Hub is typical for Russia. It concentrates transit flows between regional airports. Unloading of the Russia’s main air hub is possible through the development of regional air hubs. The hypertrophy of the Moscow Aviation Hub is also due to the collapse of a unified aviation network of the USSR, the rudiment of which is the aviation network of the Russian Federation. Disconnection meant that the air hub system have lost the state of balance, i.e. the capability of a system to maintain its parameters through self-regulation. Now there is a restoration of balance within new state borders. It is advisable to develop air hubs based on the largest airports, which, by their stable position in the hierarchy of air hubs, ensure the balance of the entire system.  The balance in the system of air hubs is described by the “rank–size” rule. To check the compliance of a hypertrophied system of air hubs in Russia with the rule the Yu.V. Medvedkov mathematical model is used. It makes it possible to estimate the proportionality of the Moscow Aviation Hub to the entire system (primacy co    efficient), measure of contrasts between air hubs and determine the degree of deviation from their distribution in accordance with the “rank–size” rule. According to the methodology applied the rule was tested for the first time using the example of the largest airports hierarchy. The study is based on the data on passenger turnover of 30 largest airports of Russia for each year from 2013 to 2023 and on passenger departures from 30 largest airports of the USSR for each year from 1960 to 1981. The analysis shows that in 2013–2023 the Russian air hub system is close to the distribution in accordance with the “rank–size” rule – there is a tendency towards decreasing primacy coefficient of the Moscow Aviation Hub and decentralization. The changes occur mainly due to the growth of passenger turnover of the hubs in the upper segment of the hierarchy. The key factors of air hubs stability in the hierarchy are the territorial specialization and the transport and geographical position. In 1960–1981 the air hub system of the USSR was more polycentric and less contrasting. The similarity of the primacy coefficient values for the Moscow Aviation Hub in 2020–2023 and in the Soviet period, as well as a comparison of trends in the development of air hub systems suggest that the weakening of Moscow’s external ties contributed to the strengthening of ties between the next air hubs in the hierarchy. Thus, the formation of regional air hubs based on the largest airports in Russia aligns with the trends in the air transport system development.

The aim of the article is to identify the dynamics of territorial mobility among the permanent population of a small town and rural areas in the Kashin district of the Tver oblast (the Non-Black Earth Zone) over the   past two decades. Territorial mobility is understood as an intensity of return movements of people in various directions. The study is based on large-scale surveys among permanent residents of the Kashin district in 2001 and 2024 (each survey sample represented more than 1% of the district’s total adult population). Over the two decades, the population of the district has become more mobile, which is typical for the Russian society. In 2001, the relative majority of residents was not engaged in return migrations to the regional center or Moscow, whereas two decades later, residents most frequently visit the regional center every few months and Moscow less than once a year. The variety of trips in terms of purposes and directions has increased significantly, with recreational trips becoming several times more common. The gap in territorial mobility between urban and rural dwellers has widened regarding trips to Moscow and other regions of Russia, with urban residents becoming more mobile compared to the rurals. Factors influencing the territorial mobility include gender, age, income level, and place of birth. Men are more mobile than women, and young working-age individuals (18–34 years) are the most mobile age group. In general the territorial mobility correlates positively with self-assessed income levels. Newcomers are more mobile than native residents of the district. The article hypothesizes that despite the growing mobility, the social ties between rural areas and large cities in the Non-Black Earth Zone, as expressed through the long-term return migrations, are gradually weakening.

The article discusses the urbanization level of small territories. Level of urbanization is understood as a degree of urbanization process development achieved within particular territory by a certain moment. The territory of 16 non-capital regions of Central Russia, which includes the Central and Central Black Earth economic regions, is considered. The units of research are municipalities of the first level – municipal districts, referred   to as primary districts in the paper. The total number of these districts is 383. A methodology for assessing the   urbanization level is proposed, based on the combination of three parameters, namely the size (population) of the center of a primary district, the accessibility of key service centers, and the concentration of the population. The reduced (conditional) radius of the district territory is proposed as an indicator to measure the accessibility of centers. Concentration is characterized by the density of rural population. Based on the combination of these indicators, 7 classes of primary districts with varying levels of urbanization are identified. The distribution of different classes of primary districts and their representation in the regions of Central Russia are analyzed. A combination of parameters was also considered. In accordance with the governing factors four types of urbanization of primary districts are distinguished, i. e. complex, “from the center”, “from the district” and undefined.

First data on the fluorine content in the Barents Sea waters were obtained. According to the results of direct potentiometric measurements, the fluorine concentration is in the range of 1,14–1,29 mg/kg, increasing with growing chlorinity (salinity). The average F/Cl mass ratio is equal to (6,58 ± 0,02)  10⁻⁵ for surface desalinated   layer with chlorinity 19‰ and to (6,63 ± 0,04)  10⁻⁵ for the main water column with chlorinity >19‰. The value of the F/Cl ratio in the Barents Sea waters closely corresponds to that of the World Ocean, including the North Atlantic.