Retrospective analysis of channels development of Russian large lowland rivers was a basis for discussing the principal lines of their morphodynamic types transformation through the historical time (i.e. during the period of observations on hydrological stations and channel mapping which recorded their configuration at different times). The transformations are related to natural changes of river flow (its increase), sediment flow increase, interchanges of high-water and low-water periods, overgrowth of vegetation on channel bars since the last quarter of the 20th century and human impact both on the causes of channel processes (water reservoirs construction) and on channels themselves (in-channel dredging on the navigable rivers) becoming more intensive and increasing since 1960s. It is demonstrated that the larger is a river (its water flow, width and the width-depth ratio), the lower is the response of channel processes to these changes and impacts: they are absent in the lower reaches of Lena, Enisej and Ob’rivers. The principal schemes of meandering, braided and relatively straight channels development are revealed on the basis of voluminous factual data.

The intensity and dynamics of soil contamination with Cd, Pb, Cu, Zn, As, Sn, Hg, Sb, Mo, Cr, Co, Ni, V, Ti, Mn, Sr and Fe in 98 cities of Russia was evaluated through the analysis of a database compiled by the authors using the annual reports of soil contamination by toxicants of industrial origin in Russia. Over the last few decades due to the reduction of industrial and vehicular emissions mean concentrations of Hg, Zn, Sn, Mn in the soils of Russian cities decreased 3 to 5 times and the amounts of other heavy metals and metalloids (HMM) decreased 1.5 to 3 times. Besides, the geochemical anomality of Pb, Cu, Mo, As, Co, Cd increased 2 to 5 times simultaneously due to more contrasting technogenic geochemical anomalies near industrial enterprises, roads and railways. The direct connection between the population, area or density of the population in cities and soil contamination with HMM was not found. Extremely dangerous ecological situation is typical for Revda, Rezh, Kirovgrad (Sverdlovsk Oblast) and Vladikavkaz. A very dangerous situation was recorded in the Rudnaya Pristan (Primorsky Krai) and Belebei (Bashkortostan). A dangerous ecological situation is typical for the cities of Pervouralsk, Polevskoy, Verkhnyaya Pyshma, Sukhoy Log, Alapaevsk, Nizhniye Sergi, Nevyansk (Sverdlovsk Oblast), Baymak, Sibai, Davlekanovo (Bashkortostan). Mainly polyelement geochemical anomalies were formed in the soils of the majority of cities, with predominance of Cd and high content of Pb, Zn, Cu. Low-contrast mono-, bi- and, less often, three-element geochemical anomalies are common for soils of the cities with non-hazardous ecological situation. To make the analysis of soil contamination by HMM in Russian cities more complete it is necessary to widen the list of controlled pollutants, adding Sb, As and some other elements, as well as to increase the number of studied settlements, especially by including the large cities and industrial centers, which are absent in the annual reports.

The transformation of green infrastructure during 1986–2016 was analyzed for four Latin American cities, i.e. La Paz, Lima, Buenos Aires and Rio De Janeiro. The green infrastructure (GI) is a set of unsealed urban spaces that perform different ecosystem functions. Original approach to the taxonomy of the objects of green infrastructure and criteria for the assessment of their state are suggested. It was revealed that despite favorable landscape and climatic conditions, the least satisfactory state of GI according to the specified criteria is typical of Buenos Aires. The best values of indicators are in Rio de Janeiro, where, unlike other cities, there are the largest areas of green infrastructure represented by closed natural vegetation, the proportion of which has increased over the past thirty years.

Natural and climate conditions of Russia were analyzed using the zoning of the RF territory by natural living conditions which is based on the influence of principal natural factors, i.e. cold, heat, moisture, altitude, nature hazards. The map Regionalization of Russia in terms of the natural living conditions was updated for climatic conditions in the second part of the 20th century – the beginning of the 21st century. Possible changes of natural living conditions in the middle of the 21st century are estimated using the results of numerical experiments on the global climate model of the RAS Institute of Numerical Mathematics (INM). The most variable climatic factors, such as heat, cold and wind, were analyzed. In the end of the century – the beginning of the 21st century the areas with absolutely unfavorable conditions decreased, mainly due to the expansion of very unfavorable territories. At the end of the 20th century the most pronounced changes were recorded for the Far East and Southern Siberia, whereas at the beginning of the 21st century changes are the most typical for the European part of Russia. The results of calculations using the INMCM 4.0 climate model demonstrate probable improvement of living conditions in the middle of the 21st century (by 2046–2055). The RCP4.5 scenario shows the situation which is little different from the current state (2001–2010), whereas the RCP8.5 scenario predicts the reduction of areas with unfavorable conditions by 2–4%, as compared to the current situation. The greatest changes are expected in the Far East and the European part of Russia.

Profile distribution and seasonal dynamics of hydrocarbon gases (methane, ethylene, propane, nbutane and ethane) in soil air within the Istra morphostructure node and beyond the geodynamically active territory were analyzed. It was revealed that under probable inflow of hydrocarbons from the underlying geological strata the properties of hydrocarbon gaseous profile of the soils within the node are different from those of the background area. It is concluded that emanation and biogeochemical hydrocarbon status of soils could be indicated basing on their gaseous profiles.

The paper presents the results of applying the method of contour mapping for the assessment of the current state of forest plantations on the Sarpinsky Island (Volgograd oblast) with the use of geoinformation analysis techniques. The materials of Landsat-8 space observations were used and a fine-tuned combination of channels was selected for the interpretation of characteristic land use types in the Volga–Akhtuba floodplain area by means of the ISODATA algorithm. As a source of data about model areas we propose to combine topographic maps and remote sensing data. A contour map and a raster model of the coefficient of forest coverage are the result of grid mapping. An appropriate algorithm of computing and mapping was elaborated for ArcGIS software.

Evolution scheme of the natural environment of the Kerch Strait for recent 25,000 years has been proposed basing on the results of paleogeographic investigation (lithology-facial, malacofaunistic, radiocarbon analyzes) of the cores of four boreholes drilled on the Tuzla spit (island) during engineering and exploration work for the construction of the Crimean bridge. The principal stages are as follows: 1 – the New Euxinian regression, which corresponded to the Late Valdaj glacial period. The Azov Sea was lowland, the Don River estuary was situated within the modern Black Sea shelf zone and freshwater fauna inhabited the Kerch Strait; 2 – the New Euxinian transgression, which corresponded to the beginning of degradation of the Late Valdaj glaciation. The Kerch Strait was a lagoon-type basin with freshwater and slightly brackish-water mollusks indicating the discharge of the Caspian Sea (Khvalynian) waters into the New Euxinian basin. The lagoon-type basin in the area of the modern Kerch Strait existed about 10,110±330 years ago; 3 – the New Euxinian basin level decrease as a result of discharge of its water to the Mediterranean Sea when it reached the Bosphorus threshold. The extension of the Don River delta and the dispersal of freshwater mollusks; 4 – The Black Sea transgression characterized by the access and dispersal of the Mediterranean species, from euryhaline to moderately euryhaline and moderately stenohaline. Unstable sea level with various fluctuations at the initial sub-stage of the Black Sea transgression. The New Black Sea sub-stage with a sea level 2 m above the present-day one, increased salinity and rich biodiversity of Mediterranean species is dated between 6020±140 and 5530±120 years ago; 5 – the Phanagorian regression with insignificant desalination of the Kerch Strait due to increased influence of the Don River water. The age of the event is 2570±140 years; 6 – the modern stage characterized by the dispersal of Mediterranean euryhaline and moderately stenohaline species.

The research provides rationales for relevance of the concept of emergent effects that arise as a result of interaction between landscape units under agricultural planning. We test the hypothesis that proportion of dominant and subdominant landscape units within a model area controls the productivity of grain crops and its interannual dynamics. For two areas in the moderately dry steppes of Northern Kazakhstan we studied effects of synergetic interactions between units of flat surfaces, depressions and narrow gullies which result in a groundwater level ensuring abundant, optimum or insufficient humidity on fields. Correlation coefficients between productivity and share of each subdominant unit type were calculated. Dependence of productivity and its temporal variability on the classes of landscape pattern was revealed. Occurrence of depressions on flat surfaces ensures water accumulation and its expansion to adjacent units. This favors productivity increase in dry years but can result in its decrease in wet years. High occurrence of narrow gullies on gentle slopes causes water and nutrients output in spring resulting in the productivity decrease in dry years. Mosaic landscape pattern at fields with a higher share of depressions or low gullies favors the increasing variability of productivity.

It was demonstrated that since the 1990-s (the period of crisis and reforms) the characteristic spatialfactor matrix of cropland dynamics in Russia is much the same as in the second half of the 19th century. The regional bioclimatic potential (BCP) and the numbers of rural population are major factors defining the type of cropland area changes in a particular region. Three types of cropland area dynamics have formed in the regions of Russia during 1990–2015, i.e. «sustainable decrease», «decrease then stabilization», and «decrease then growth». The models show that changes in regional soil emission of CO2 as a result of the plowing of fallow lands can be significant (1–5%) and comparable with the contribution of climate change during the same period. For the areas where fallow lands are not cultivated the contribution of climate to CO2 soil emission is greater than in the areas with active plowing of young fallows where the land use is more important factor.

Studying of the cores of two boreholes (40 and 42 m in depth) from the central part of the Manych depression by the complex of methods (granulometric, faunistic, sporous and pollen analyses, radiocarbon and optic-luminescent dating) contributed to the solution of aproblem of existence of the Hyrcanian passage during the late Pleistocene. The beginning of the period (interglacial epoch, MIS 5e) was characterized by deep penetration of an ingressive gulf of the Black Sea Karangatian transgression into the Manych depression. Its waters were rather saline (not less than 18–20‰), thus supporting a rich Black Sea complex of mollusks. The transitional stage to the glacial epoch (MIS 5d) led to a gradual retreat of the Karangatian gulf waters from the Manych depression to the Black Sea one. The stage is dated by OSL method as 119±7 thousand years and it ended with the development of the Hyrcanian passage of the Caspian Sea. The passage had brackish Caspian waters (8–7‰). Its faunistic profile was dominated by mollusks D. cristata, D. hyrcana, D. subcatillus, Monodacna caspia, Dreissena polymorpha. The bottom of the passage in the central part of the Manych depression had absolute elevations of –13 to –9 m. Sedimentation in the passage was smooth, obviously due to its considerable width in the central part of depression. Landscapes of the central part of the Manych depression were in line with the interstadial climatic conditions (rather cool, with smaller seasonal contrasts and higher moistening than today). OSL dating received for the first time for the Hyrcanian deposits (middle part of the stratum) is 107±7 thousand years, thus relating the existence of the passage to MIS 5c-a epoch. The marine period of development of the central part of the depression was followed by a long-term lacustrine phase (the Burtass lake) in the second half of the Late Pleistocene.

The analysis of social media is rapidly developing in the Western recreational geography. The interest is related to statistical data, which are difficult to obtain in the studies using the classical methods. The authors’ method of analyzing tourism activities with the help of photos geotagging is discussed. A database was compiled which includes 147 308 geotagged tourist photos for the territory of the Caucasian Mineral Waters and the city of Stavropol with the adjacent municipal districts. The space-time distribution of geotagged photos was analyzed at four spatial levels. The age and sex structure of the tourist flow was also determined, as well as the most visited tourist and recreation centers, areas and facilities of the study area. The seasonality of tourist flow was analyzed for the Central Park of Stavropol and the Kislovodsk National Park. It is found out that park specialization influences the number of tourist visits during the year. The tourist and recreational areas and facilities were classified and specific types of tourism destinations were identified for the Stavropol Kraj.

Film industry as a creative industry influences the socio-economic development of territories both directly and indirectly. Cinema-induced tourism inspired by popular movies is an example of such informational effect of the industry. It was studied basing on 410 Russian movies released from 2000 to mid-2017 which were selected from the Kinopoisk and IMDb lists. Thematic tours was organized after the movies «Vysotsky: Thank God I’m alive», «The geographer drank his globe away» and «Piter FM». Scenery constructed for the movies «Zapiski ekspeditora Taynoy kancelyarii» and «The Horde» became tourist objects. The rise of tourist interest and place recognition of the corresponding regions was caused by the films «Fortress of War», «Leviathan» and «Territory».