The chemical composition of atmospheric precipitation for the Meteorological Observatory of Moscow University is analyzed basing on the monitoring of every event of wet atmospheric fallout for 1982 to 2017 period. The whole number of observations can be grouped into three periods, which are characterized by different acidity of precipitation, changes in mineralization and the predominance of certain ions. The 1980-1998 period is characterized by the most polluted atmospheric precipitation with high acidity; the 1999-2004 period - by almost complete absence of acid deposition and decrease in mineralization of precipitation. The latest period (2005-2017) is characterized by increasing frequency of acid fallouts, while the mineralization shows no changes despite a significant increase of chlorides in precipitation in recent years. The possible reasons for these trends are discussed. The average long-term pH value was 4,90±0,03 and the mineralization value was 17,1±1,0 mg/l.

We investigated soils of southern Primorye, which are affected by wildfires of different frequency. Comparing post-fire soils with background ones we found out specific features of their morphological, physical, chemical and physico-chemical properties. Due to fire-induced changes of plant communities (from forest to meadow) the organic matter content has increased from 5% to 7% and the humus horizon thickness from 8 to 14 cm. The organic matter stocks in 0-20 cm layer of post-fire soils are 3-4 times higher than in the background ones. After wildfires the pattern of magnetic susceptibility changes along the soil profile with the increase in subsurface layers. The pH values are 1-2 points higher in subsurface horizons of all investigated post-fire soils. As a result the upper layers become the least acid along the whole soil profile. Pyrogenic horizons contain less oxalate-soluble iron than the underlying ones. The postfire soils have higher PAHs concentrations but the composition of PAH changes just slightly. Light polyarene structures are prevalent in all investigated soils with predominance of the phenanthren-diphenil-naftaline association which proves the natural rather than technogenic origin of PAHs.

Lateral fractionation of Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sr and Zn compounds (recovered by acetate ammonium buffer (AAc), ЛЛс+1% EDTA and 1n HNO₃) in soils of loamy catenas was studied within three small catchments in the southern taiga, subboreal forests, and forest-steppe of Western Siberia. The total concentrations of Mn (mean value and standard deviation in the A-horizon of soils within the three catchments is 2442±3359 mg/kg), Sr (179±71), Co (20±10), Cu (42±18), Ni (48±35) and Pb (41±51) correspond to their background levels in soils of Western Siberia, while those of Fe (3,7±0,9%), Cr (170±34 mg/kg) and Zn (154±141 mg/kg) are higher because of their higher concentrations in parent material. The average content of exchangeable compounds of Fe, Cu, Pb, Co, Zn, Cr, Mn, Ni and Sr in top-soil and sub-soil horizons increases from taiga Luvisols and Gleysols to Phaeozems, Planosols and Chernozems of subboreal forests and forest-steppe. In the A-horizon of this series the content of complexed Cu, Co, Ni, Pb and Fe increases due to higher concentration of organic matter and that of Mn decreases, because it is intensively accumulated by tree vegetation. Specific zonal features of sorbed Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb, Sr, and Zn were not found.

The mobility of Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sr, and Zn in O-layer decreases 2 to 3 times from Luvisols to Gleysols withinn taiga catenas in proportion to the amount of complexed compounds. In subboreal forest catenas with Phaeozems, it decreases with depth for Ni (40 to 15%), Pb (45-40), Cu (2415), Co (15-11), and Fe (5-2); slightly varies for Mn and Zn (60 to 50% and 10 to 9%, respectively) and increases for Sr (10 to 14%) and Cr (5 to 7%). In Planosols, these tendencies are valid for Co, Cu, Fe, and Ni. In forest-steppe catenae with Chernozems, the mobility decreases with depth for Co, Mn (95-56%), Ni and Pb (60-25%) and increases for Sr (37-46%), varying slightly for Cu (40-50), Zn (10-13), Fe (7-8), and Cr (4). In Planosols, these trends are valid for Co, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Cr. The total frequency of lateral fractionation coefficient values corresponding to contrast accumulation and contrast scattering of elements in subordinate landscapes decreases from 35±14% in the taiga catchment to 15±4% and 13±7% in the subbpreal forest and forest-steppe catchments respectively.

The paper evaluates the methods of landscape water regime indication within the forest steppe zone. Thick humus layer and carbonates in the middle and lower parts of the profile hinder the morphologic diagnostics of surface and ground overmoistening of chernozemic soils, thus requiring the application of analytical criteria. Under stagnant-percolative water regime the forming of gley causes the active outflow of most metals. Consequently, the share of IInd humus acids fraction which is associated with calcium decreases in relation to that of Ist humus acids fraction extracted by alkali without decalcification. To calculate the hydromorphism degree coefficient for soils of the northern part of the Tambov plain L.V Stepantsova used the optical densities correlation of I^st and II^nd humic acids extracted from fine grained material of the arable layer (K_I–II).

The diagnostic potential of KI_–II was studied for the Vorona and Tsna rivers interfluve of the Volga Upland in relation to both the increasing degree of soil hydromorphism and the topographic factors differentiating the surface runoff. The experimental values of K_I–II show a statistically significant increase along the range of soils with increasing moistening resulting from both atmospheric and mixed water input. Under homogenous soil forming rocks the intra-landscape differentiation of surface runoff is described by a multiple regression model using four morphometric characteristics: the depth of closed depressions, topographic wetness index, topographic factor of runoff erosion activity and the absolute height. The model explains 87% of K_I–IIspatial variability and was used to compile the prognostic map of index values for three key plots on the Vorona and Tsna rivers interfluve, which are characterized by contrasting moistening conditions. Basing of the K_I–II prognostic map the areas of soils with increasing duration of arable layer overmoistening were identified. The soils with the longest seasonal overmoistening, i.e. 2 months and more, cover no more than 2% of the total area. However, they contribute to high contrasts of soil cover within non-drained and slowly drained interfluves in the forest steppe zone.

The International system of soil classification known as WRB (World reference base for soil resources) was initiated at the turn of centuries, and acquires high importance in many countries among soil scientists, ecologists, geographers. It originated of the FAO legend to the Soil map of the world, and strongly differs of the traditional systems accepted in our country by its principles (priority of soil properties), although it has common features with the new Russian system of 2004/2008. The upper level in the WRB system includes 32 reference soil groups, which are entities with unique sets of features implemented in diagnostic horizons, properties, and materials. The global pattern of reference soil groups hardly coincides with the zonal sequences of soils. The second WRB level contains voluminous information on various soil characteristics, including the human-induced and rock-dependent ones, as well as those indicating soilforming processes, hydrothermal regimes, texture and consistence, and some particular features. This information may be interpreted for many purposes: forecasts in cases of global climate change or human impacts, and assessments of soil/landscape vulnerability, or behavior of chemical elements and their cycles, in particular.

In addressing the controversial issues of the Late Pleistocene paleogeography of the Caspian Sea basin, the results of spore-pollen analysis are of particular importance, as well as the following reconstructions of climate and vegetation changes of the Northern Caspian region during the Early Khvalynian transgression.

The paper presents the main results of the palynological study of deposits (chocolate clays and overlying and underlying layers from the Srednyay Akhtuba section) of the maximum stage of Early Khvalynian transgression. The materials are illustrated by pollen diagram with the data of spore-pollen analysis and the detailed list of palynoflora, and complemented with photographs of pollen belonging to the principal autochtonous taxa and, for comparison, to some redeposited Quaternary palynomorphs. Palynological materials indicate subaqual (brackish marine and freshwater) sedimentation of studied deposits in periglacial landscapes and, for the most part, under very harsh climatic conditions. The performed climate-stratigraphic reconstructions are in line with the data of absolute dating, i.e. the accumulation of the studied deposits during the Late Valdai (Ostashkov) Late Glacial period. During the time interval plant communities of glacial climate - tundra-steppe, periglacial forest-steppe, periglacial steppe, periglacial parklands and forests - were developed within the study area. Widespread occurrence of microthermal willow formations ofBetula nana and shrub communities of Betula fruticosa, B. nana, Alnaster fruticosus, Juniperus, etc. in the composition of periglacial vegetation cover of the studied region suggests the severe climatic conditions and, possibly, the existence of sporadic permafrost during the cold stages (stadials) of the Ostashkov Late Glacial period.

Benthic foraminiferal assemblages were investigated in the sediment core AI-3321 (30°56.85’ S, 38°02.45’ W, 2969 m water depth, 293 cm length), retrieved from the western slope of the Rio Grande Rise in the western South Atlantic. Six intervals reflecting the changes in relative abundance of indicative species during the last three glacial-interglacial cycles are defined based on cluster analysis. Intervals VI and I are characterized by the dominance of Globocassidulina subglobosa, which indicates well-aerated conditions and enhanced hydrodynamic activity of the deep water bathing the seafloor. The high relative abundance of Epistominella exigua points to stressful conditions for benthic foraminiferal faunas with variable (pulsed) food supply to the bottom during Intervals V and III. Slight enhancement of sea surface bioproductivity is proposed for Intervals IV and II based on the high percentages of Alabaminella weddellensis.

The relicts of large palaeochannels (macromeanders) are widespread on the floodplains in river valleys of the Don River basin. These macromeanders indicate river runoff several times above the modern one. Such macromeanders were found in the Upper Don River valley. To reconstruct the Late Pleistocene evolution of river valleys the study near Epifan town was organized. It included mechanical coring and radiocarbon and OSL dating of alluvium. Basing on the data we reconstructed the main stages of the Don River valley evolution in the end of the Late Pleistocene and identified the epochs of high runoff and macromeanders formation and the intermediate epochs of low runoff and accumulation in the valley. The river incision below the present-day level due to climate changes and higher river runoff dated back to about 30-35 ka BP. During the LGM time (20-23 ka BP) the river runoff decreased as a result of climate aridization and the incision gave way to accumulation in the river valley. After the LGM the high runoff epoch started, dating about 13-19 ka BP. During that time large meandering palaeochannels (macromeanders) formed a wide valley bottom. Two periods of their development, about 17-19 ka BP and 13-15 ka BP, were separated by a low runoff period (~16—15 ka BP). During the Holocene the river runoff was lower than in the Late Pleistocene.

The article deals with the assessment of wind power development potential at the regional level. Such assessment makes it possible to define a strategy of wind power development for administrative units of a country. The study is of current importance for Brazil and the Rio Grande do Norte state, in particular, in view of the active development of the industry and the long-term prospects of the governmental support. Different factors influencing the potential of industry development, including wind power potential, land use, accessibility of power lines etc., were analyzed. It has been established that the current state of wind energy development in the region cannot be considered optimal.

The established nature of the relationship between the spatial pattern of linear elements of the relief and the Precambrian faults of the Ladoga Lake basin suggests that the direct reflection of faults in the relief may be related to the neotectonic activation of disjunctive structures. According to the data of computer and analogue tectonophysical modeling we concluded, that this process occurs in the NE stretching environment and can be considered as a significant relief formation factor along with glacier activity, hydroisostatic movements and other processes.

Matua is a typical small volcanic island in the Central Kuril Isles. Most of it is occupied by telescoped stratovolcanoes, the youngest of them is the active Late-Holocene Sarychev Peak. Periodical large-scale input of pyroclastics and lava is a background for the Matua island coast evolution. The latest catastrophic eruption which changed the coastline of the island occurred in 2009, but the original volcanic coasts are almost absent. Different types of abrasion coasts are most common for the stratovolcanoes area. Accumulative coasts, occasionally abraded by tsunami, are more characteristic of the terraced plain within the south-eastern part of the island. Most coasts are very stable. The rate of cliff retreat is minor, except of the coast formed in recent pyroclactics, where it can reach 30-60 m/year. Unambigious tracks of the south-eastward alongshore sediment flow were detected at northern and southern coasts of island.

The parcel structure of forest biogeocenoses of the watershed of the Kozlovka and the Strugnica rivers in the south of the Arkhangelsk region was studied in detail. Statistical relationships between the parameters of soils and vegetation have been revealed by the indirect ordination and correlation analysis. It was shown that the diversity of plant component of parcels in the middle taiga forests of 50-70 years of age is higher than that of soils. Different plant communities can be formed on the same soil subtypes, and the potential of indication is small. The closest connections between the parameters of soils and vegetation are characteristic of the tree and shrub layers and the upper horizons of soils (litter, humus and eluvial horizons). Differences in the composition of the ground cover of phytocenoses do not reflect the features of the soil profile structure, but are significantly associated with several chemical and physical-chemical soil characteristics.