The actual state and the progress of climate modelling allow considering this technique as full alternative to traditional data sources about environment, ecosystems, their dynamics, etc. The rash development of meteorology and climatology, computational technologies and understanding of physical processes in soil and vegetation cover made it possible to include the detailed description of mechanisms of heat, moisture and greenhouse gases exchange, as well as interactions between the atmospheric boundary layer, surface, soil and plant communities into modern climate models. The article deals with the problem of obtaining highly-detailed data on meteorological parameters, as well as heat and moisture exchange with the atmosphere. We consider the methodological bases of climate modeling, giving the examples of applications of the results for solution of a wide range of eco-geographical tasks.

The article discusses the possibilities of improving the cadastral real estate assessment and suggests solving the identified problems by applying a new methodology based on evaluation zoning which implements geo-information technologies based on mathematical models of decentralized and protected registry of large arrays of cartographic data. The cadastral evaluation of real estate in Russia is a significant social phenomenon that has a large negative resonance in society, rather than just an economic tax collection tool, because it affects the interests of the entire population of the country and all enterprises in the real sector of economy. Negative perception and resulting great social tension among citizens, business and local administrations is related to the lack of transparency, unclear calculation methods, and unreasonable cadastral value indicators, which in some cases are too high compared to the market and exceed all reasonable limits, and in other cases are too low, thus undermining the economic basis of the existence of municipalities. The situation with the decision of the problems of cadastral valuation is in a deadlock now. The solution of the problem is proposed through changing the model of cadastral valuation and transition to the evaluation zoning, when the cadastral values are determined for the evaluation zones formed by modern geo-information methods using blockchain technology. The article describes the example of such approach application in Germany to establish «approximate» values.

Any catastrophic flooding leads to numerous social consequences. A content analysis of publications on five major events in different countries (Pakistan (2010); Thailand (2011); Australia (2011); Russia (2012); the USA (2013)) allowed identifying the degree of actualization of these consequences in scientific publications. It was shown that the most discussed social consequences were the human losses, social solidarity and management problems. The problems of psychological state of the population, horizontal and vertical mobility were of the intermediate interest. The problems of social conflict, adaptation, health losses were the least discussed. Social consequences could be negative (human and sanitary losses, deterioration of social and psychological state, etc.) and positive (activation of social adaptation processes, growth of social solidarity and improvement of crisis management tools of the community). The range of the problems is determined by specific features of a particular flood. For example, in the case of Krymsk flood (Russia, 2012), the most frequently discussed topics were the human losses (26,2%), changes in the level of social solidarity (26,2%), and management decisions of authorities in crisis situation (19,1%).

Basing on 2010–2016 measurements in the Black Sea possible approximations of the vertical distribution of hydrogen sulfide concentrations by an analytic function are analyzed for further use in the calculation of the components of marine carbonate system, in particular for the estimation of the hydrosulfide component of total alkalinity. Approximation of the hydrogen sulfide profile was carried out with the account of its dependence on various density anomaly representations – sigma-t density (σ_t), sigma-theta or potential density (σ_θ) and sigma density (σ_s,_t,_p). An exponential function is used to approximate the hydrogen sulfide profile as a function of density σ_t and density σ_θ. A logistic function is used when the hydrogen sulfide profile was represented as a function of density σ_s,_t,_p. In the deep-sea layer, an ambiguous correspondence between the concentration of hydrogen sulfide and the value of sigma-t density was revealed because of the inversion in s_t vertical profile in the near-bottom quasi-homogeneous layer. This ambiguity results in higher approximation errors and errors in the calculation of hydrosulfide component of total alkalinity. Approximations of the vertical distribution of hydrogen sulfide concentration as a function of density σ_s,_t,_p  using the logistic curve and as a function of density σ_θ using the exponential curve have the smallest errors, and to the fullest extent possible satisfy the required accuracy for the calculation of hydrosulfide component of total alkalinity.

The article deals with forecasting of the ephemeral gully network on cultivated slopes of interfluves within the Central Russian Plain. Digital elevation models of two key areas in the basins of the Medveditsa River (Saratov region) and Veduga River (Voronezh region) were created using the 1988 topographic maps at the scale of 1:10 000 and the thalwegs of linear depressions existing at the time were identified. Basing on this information, a number of morphometric characteristics were calculated for key sites and a morphometric classification of the relief was elaborated. The probability of development of ephemeral gullies in a linear depressions network is calculated for particular classes using the Bayes theorem. Probability values of less than 10% are background, values of 10–20% correspond to the sites of potential erosion development, and probability values of more than 30% correlate with initial thalwegs of linear depressions. The applicability of propablistic method is limited by geomorphological structure of the studied territory – the higher the density of horizontal dissection, the lower the predictive ability. According to the location of thalwegs in 1988 and in the late 2010s no significant increase in linear erosion over the past 30 years took place.

The article deals with a synthetic understanding of theoretical and applied aspects of the tourist regionalization method. The study focuses on streamlining the application process as an important precondition for effective planning and management of tourism. It summarizes theoretical and practical experience of selecting the criteria (principles and signs) for identification of tourist regions. The importance of both traditional and innovative signs (such as the image of the territory) that define the nature of tourism regionalization is emphasized. According to the structural characteristics of a territory the regularities were revealed for designing the number, configuration, specialization, name and boundaries of potential tourist regions. Basing on the regularities an original methodological approach to the tourist regionalization is suggested, which reduces typical shortcomings in the course of its application.

By synthesizing country studies and world economy approaches the conditions, factors and prerequisites for the rise of China in the international community and its transformation into a «world factory» during the second global integration cycle are analyzed. Changes in the country’s positioning in key geo-economic structures and flows are assessed. The «Chinese factor» has an increasingly significant impact on the development of both global markets and modern world political processes through a widespread application of «soft power» tools. It is expected that the implementation of a new strategy of China, which is tested on the basis of the «One belt and one road» global project will lead to a fundamental transformation of the world order architecture and the third global integration cycle may become called Pax Sinica.

The paper considers specific features of dacha settlement in the Moscow region as a model region for the Russian Federation. The analysis of state legal regulation made it possible to reveal changes in the prevalent functions of near-Moscow dachas since the end of the 19^th century till present. Post-war food policy of the Soviet government which provided large numbers of garden plots for individual agriculture led to the formation of numerous mainly seasonally inhabited settlements of second homes in addition to traditional rural and urban settlements. The transitional period of the 1990s predetermined the legal heterogeneity of seasonal settlements. Changes in the present-day legislation aimed at the solution of disputes related to dacha plots are discussed. Principal factors limiting dacha settlement in the Moscow region and the most favorable areas were revealed basing on the official statistical sources (2006 and 2016 All-Russian Agricultural Censuses, Register of dacha residents of the Moscow region, data of sociological questionings).

A significant landscape-geochemical diversity of Matua Island is shown, which is determined by active volcanic activity, ocean influence and the intensity of modern exogenous processes. The biogeochemical heterogeneity of catenas is increasing due to the complexity of vegetation cover and the proximity of elementary landscapes with different types of biological cycle. The phytomass of the grass layer and the stock of ash elements in it, as well as the ability of plants to absorb microelements, were chosen as indicators of the bioproduction process. It has been revealed that the production of phytomass is higher in large-grass and fern alders than in reed grass and barley meadows. With a general tendency to the accumulation of cationic elements (Mn, Cu, Zn), the biogeochemical activity of alder, large grass and ferns is higher compared to boreal shrubs, grasses and sedges. Along with the species specialization of plants, the involvement of elements into the biological cycle is corrected by the ecological and geochemical characteristics of the habitats.

The territory of Central Kazakhstan region is a white spot on the map of dendrochronological studies. For the first time about 140 samples of the Kulunda pine (Pinus sylvestris ssp. kulundensis) were analyzed on six test plots for two key areas – Karkaraly and Kent massifs. The tree is highly sensitive, which is essential for building tree-ring chronologies and comparison with climatic parameters. The resulting tree-ring width chronology covers the last 376 years (from 1639 to 2015). The absolute age of each sample is determined. The correlation of tree growth features and climatic factors has been revealed: the growth of wood is most influenced by the amount of precipitation during the warm phase of the year; the climate response to temperatures during the same months is negative. For the reliable part of the tree-ring chronology (since 1803), the most arid years, i.e. 1997, 1984, 1954, 1910, 1899, 1836, 1798, and periods, i.e. from 1973 to 1976, from 1875 to 1879 and from 1806 to 1808, are identified. The comparison of Central Kazakhstan tree-ring width chronology with a reference Altai dendrochronological scale reveals common climatic trends since the second half of the 19th century. The study proves the reasonability of using the dendrochronological method for the in-depth investigation of climate fluctuations in the arid regions.

The article analyzes the factors of localization of migrants from the Far North in the Belgorod region. The Belgorod region differs from other regions of Central Russia by high number of migrants, which is difficult to explain only by economic factors. The field materials on which the article is based (expert surveys and questionnaires of students of Belgorod universities – migrants from other regions) show that the migration phenomenon of Belgorod is a result of a number of factors, including the proximity of Ukraine for Northern migrants with relatives in that country, high level of urban improvement in the city itself, the programs of subsidized house-buying, etc. A combination of various methods (statistical analysis, questionnaires, and qualitative research methods) was applied for the study.

The morphological structure of dark-humus soils (Haplic Phaeozems) was studied in old-growth oakdominated forests in the Southern area of the Kaluzhskie Zaseki Nature Reserve (the Kaluga region). Darkhumus soils are mainly confined to areas with ravine relief, both on the flat surfaces (placors) and on the slopes. They form small patches within vast areas of sod-podzolic and grey soils (Luvisols). The structure of three trenches from 2.5 to 5 meters long was analyzed and the radiocarbon age of 15 soil samples was determined. Profiles of the studied dark-humus soils have the structure AU-C, where AU is a dark-humus horizon and C is a bedrock (clay loam). The proportion of organic carbon at the depth of 0–10 cm is from 4.4 to 8%, with depth its content in AU varies from 1 to 3%. Two main morphological levels can be distinguished in the profiles: (1) a background horizon up to 40–60 cm thick and (2) ancient pits (cauldrons) resulting from rotational treefalls up to 120–130 cm thick with the dark-humus material. Humus profiles of the studied soils in the Kaluzhskie Zaseki reserve are the deepest among the described noncarbonate soils with darkhumus horizons within the Russian Plain. The age of dark humus soils in the Kaluzhskie Zaseki reserve in general corresponds to the age of other forest-steppe soils of the Russian Plain. The humus age in the upper part of the AU horizon varies from 230±150 to 2690±110 cal. years BP; in the lower part it is about 6000 cal. years BP. Age of humus in the ancient pits varies from 4320±130 to 8170±140 cal. years BP; in most cases it exceeds the age of humus in the lower part of the background AU horizon. We assume that the initial depth of pits caused by treefalls did not exceed 60 cm; deeper pits (up to 150 cm deep) are younger. This hypothesis is supported by (i) the results of analysis of the structural features of the profiles including the crack network in the C (BC) horizon; (ii) the age of humus formed on the material of Сturb after treefalls and (iii) the difference in ages of humus «buried» in the pits and the «background» humus. The estimated age of treefalls ranges from 700 to 2700 cal. years BP (the late Holocene). post-graduate The studied soils in the Kaluzhskie Zaseki reserve are the example of continuous formation of forest soils, with resulting deep dark-humus profile. At the same time, no traditional features of the chernozem «steppe» and podzolic «forest» stages of soil formation during the Holocene were found in these soils.