Data concerning the Khvalyn stage in the history of theCaspian Seaare analyzed and the conclusions are as follows. First, the majority of stratigraphic-paleogeographical schemes for that period of time are based on two methods, i.e. biostratigraphy and absolute geochronology. Second, application of14Cand 230TH/234U methods for dating Khvalyn sediments from terrestrial samples cut down their age. This contradicts the paleogeographical events of that stage of the Caspian Sea evolution and distorts the schemes of correlation between theCaspian Seatransgressions and the glacial periods within the northern part of the East European Plain. Third, more reliable data on the paleogography of the Khvalyn stage could be obtained by using the geomorphologic analysis based on the investigation of particular material objects, i.e. relief and sediments, with due regard to the general eographical regularities.

In the light of the concept of stadial evolution of urban agglomerations the processes taking place in the Moscow agglomeration were studied in relation to the situation in agglomerations of developed and developing countries. Data on the dynamics of population numbers and migrations within the core and suburban zones are given with particular emphasis on seasonal suburbanization and desurbanization. The processes of social and economic transformation of suburban areas are analyzed and the elements of post-urbanization are revealed. Particular stages of urbanization in theMoscowagglomeration are behind the largest agglomerations of developed countries and have some specific features. Elements of the several stages are present at the same time, thus resulting in a combination of different types and form of suburban, exurban and post-suburban areas (seasonal and permanent, urban and rural, residential, industrial, commercial, etc.). By analogy with a “layered city” notion, which includes several spatial structures forming the city as a whole while following their own ways of development, theMoscowagglomeration could be called a “layered agglomeration” which is the most adequate description of the present-day model of its development.

Changes in the hydrological parameters of the Tsimlyansk reservoir (flowage, ice and thermal regime, water mineralization, water stratification, etc.) were calculated for the most unfavorable water supply scenario (decreasing annual runoff and high water runoff values).

GPR methods were applied to sound the structure of soils and sediments of the Valdai Upland (landscapes of the edge zone of the last glacial period) and the Smolensk-Moscow Upland (secondary moraine landscapes). Application of the OKO ground penetrating radar equipped with multifrequency antenna heads (operating frequencies of 35—100, 700 and 250 MHz) made it possible to investigate the poly-scale 3D structure of soils and sediments, as well as the hydrogeological structure of the drainage basin of the Loninka River.

Technique of ground spectroradiometry using a four-channel spectrometer and a multi-channel hyperspectroradiometer is described. The factors influencing spectral signatures of plants are analyzed. The technique of measurements for the creation of terrestrial spectral libraries is suggested.

During the 20th century several groups of methods were used to study the territorial variability of political preferences in theUnited States. Descriptive methods were at the origins of this research but they are often subjective. Cartographic methods allow representing the interconnections of phenomena, but their application is rather time-consuming, particularly for the large-scale investigations. The use of mathematical methods was a breakthrough in the electoral geography making it possible to parameterize the results of research and make them more objective. At the same time these methods are highly dependent on statistical data quality and often do not reflect the whole situation. However integration of methods belonging to different groups allows creating rather clear representation of processes occurring in the electoral geography of a country or a region. Despite some limitations, the main one being the two-party system, untypical for most countries of the world, the experience of studying theUSpolitical landscape could be useful for the studies of political geography in other states.

The problems of historically formed regional disparities in the economic development ofChinaare discussed. The extent and dynamics of regional “inequality” are analyzed. The role of internal and external factors of economic development during the post-reform period, which deepen or smooth out regional disparities, is analyzed. The trend of reducing degree of regional disparities is the result of financial and economic crisis, regional policy of the PRC leaders and the growth of labor costs in the coastal provinces ofChina.

The article deals with specific features of the religious structure of population in particular regions of the world. The author suggests a modified index of confessional fractionalization to determine the degree of regional religious heterogeneity. Of particular importance is the analysis of how the level of confessional fractionalization influences the per capita value of the gross domestic product.

Regional and evolutional features of the formation of material structure of moraines are dis cussed. Schematic maps and a model demonstrating the spatial and temporal trends in the variabil ity of the amount of terrigenous, authigenic, clay minerals and carbonate content of moraines were compiled basing on the system analysis and generalization of representative analytical data. Sector dependent tendencies in the variability of moraine composition which are related to ice flows origi nating from different remote, transitional and local provinces are revealed, as well as agedependent changes in the composition of moraines. The regularities of the glacial lithogenesis are essential for paleogeographical reconstructions and also for reliable interregional correlation of glacial horizons.

Technique of elaboration of the operational models of development for the mono-functional towns inRussia(typology of towns, scenarios of development for particular types, management mechanisms for the optimal scenarios) is suggested. The technique was tested in the process of field studies in 18 mono-functional towns where the Basic Element Co is operating.

The initial hypothesis about the nodal role of the largestUSagglomerations in the spatial structure of transnational business and the core importance of just several centers (with New-York being an absolute leader) for the foreign economic cooperation of the country at the level of transnational corporations is proved by the analysis. Geography of the largest world economies represented in the global cities of theUSAis described, as well as the factors governing the location of foreign corporations. A dual model of office location is based on the combination of business interests, specific features and specialization of companies and potential, resources and prospects of a city.

The state-of-the-art and the prospects of modern shopping centers development in large Russian agglomerations are discussed. Dynamics and specific features of their development for the nearest future are analyzed. Shopping centers are classified according to their size; the types of shopping centers in urban agglomerations are identified. Four groups of agglomerations are identified according to the type of development and location of shopping centers. Possible changes of the groups and their composition by 2015 are forecasted. Totally 271 existing shopping centers and 29 ones under construction were analyzed for 13 largest agglomerations (excludingMoscowand St.-Petersburg). Methods of evaluating the location of different types of objects are discussed and the instruments for forecasting the siting of large shopping centers in a city based on mathematical and geoinformational modeling are suggested. Siting of potential commercial objects is forecasted using the iterative approach with application of the Huff model. Commercial and social efficiency of potential projects is analyzed. The results of the study could be useful for social economic investigations of cities and in urban planning. 

В.И. Кравцова, Н.С. Митькиных. Устья рек России. Атлас космических снимков / Под ред. В.Н. Михайлова. — М.: Научный мир, 2013. — 124 с. — Тираж 300 экз.