The availability of satellite imagery offers the opportunity to view glacier changes for remote and inaccessible regions such as the Koryak Highlands (Northeastern Russia). In this study, multi-annual fluctuations of glacier area for this region were assessed for the period 1972–2019 based on different satellite images. Since study of the glaciers in the 20th century in this region was scarce and contradictory, the character of glacier changes and its relation to climate are poorly understood. There are not enough reliable data in the USSR Glacier Inventory compiled in the end of 1960s for this region, therefore a reassessment is necessary. For this purpose, Corona images offer a valuable opportunity to map margins of the glaciers around the 1970s. The state of glaciers in 2019 was obtained based on Sentinel-2 images. As a result, over the period from 1972 to 2019, the total surface area of glaciers in the Koryak Highlands decreased by almost half: from 85.1 ± 0.9 km2 in 1972 to 38.9 ± 0.8 km2 in 2019. The mean rate of area change was 0.98 km2 yr-1 over the study period. The surface area loss of each glacier for 1972–2019 ranged from 14.3 to 81.4 %. Glaciers with an area of less than 0.2 km2 lost on average 63.7% of their area. Glaciers with an area of 0.2 to 0.5 km2 and from 0.5 to 0.1 km2 lost 58.1 % and 53.9 % of their area, respectively, over the same period. The largest glaciers (more than 1 km2) lost the least area (on average, 46.2 %). Glaciers with eastern, northeastern and southwestern aspects lost respectively 61.8 %, 60.4 % and 63.5 % of their area, while glaciers with northern, northwestern and western aspects lost respectively, 58.5 %, 56.6 % and 57.2 % of their area for 1972 to 2019. The small glaciers, which are few in number of the southern aspect showed the least area loss (on average, 47.4 %). The degree of the glaciers preservation even with significant reduction in area points at more important role of the orographic factor (relief features) compared to climatic one. Glaciers of the Koryak and Chukotka highlands demonstrate approximately the same rate of reduction in percentage for the entire period from 1972/75 to 2019. However, compared to the glaciers of the Sredinny Range on Kamchatka, glaciation in the Koryak and Chukotka Highlands decreased faster.

At present, the Arctic regions are receiving increased attention from the country's leadership because of the importance of these territories not only for ensuring Russia's geopolitical and geo-economic positions in the world, but also for its internal development [Arctika…, 2020]. The paper considers regional peculiarities of the dynamics of temporal characteristics (start and end dates, duration) of the seasons of the year under global climate change on the basis of natural seasonal climatic rhythmics established by the complex-genetic method. The analysis is based on daily surface air temperature data from the VNIIGMI-MCD database and the pogodaiklimat.ru website for the period from 1934 to 2020 for the M.V. Popov weather station (Bely Island, Arctic tundra). The annual seasonal structure of the annual cycle was determined using valid criteria and the temporal characteristics of climatic rhythms were calculated. The obtained materials, in accordance with the objectives of the study, were grouped into four periods: the first – from 1934 to 2020, the second – from 1934 to 1979, the third – from 1980 to 2020, the fourth – from 2001 to 2020. Each of the periods has its own dynamic features in the course of temperatures, reflecting their regional trends against the background of global changes. Regularities of temporal dynamics of thermal regime and climatic indicators of seasonal rhythms were studied by methods of mathematical statistics. The analysis of changes in mean monthly and annual surface air temperatures during the 86-year period showed that the climate in the Arctic zone of the West Siberian Plain (WSP) in the conditions of global change began to change towards warming starting from 1980 and especially rapidly since the beginning of the 2000s. Temperature growth led to a shift in the boundaries and duration of seasons. Thus, the summer and spring seasons began to begin earlier than in the first period (from 1934 to 1979), and the winter and spring seasons ended earlier. The winter and autumn seasons began to come later than in the first period, and the summer and autumn seasons ended later. Due to the change in the dates of the beginning and end of seasons, their duration has also changed: the proportion of the summer season of the year in the structure of the annual cycle has significantly increased, while the duration of the other three seasons (winter, spring and autumn) has decreased. Evaluation of temporal characteristics, as well as data on the percentage of seasons of the year in the structure of the annual cycle are presented in the paper in the form of tables and diagrams. The obtained quantitative information on changes in the natural seasonal rhythm of climate for this territory is new and can be useful in developing a strategy of response of various sectors of the economy and socio-economic life of the population of the North to the ongoing changes in the natural environment.

The desertification problem is very acute in currently. The intensification of aeolian processes in the north of Western Siberia was greatly influenced by human economic activity: sand mining, pipelines, road building, etc. At the same time, climatic factors (wind is the main one) and the material composition of sediments play a paramount role in this matter. The wind regime and its directional variability have a great influence on the morphology and preservation of aeolian landforms. Accurate data on sand transport rates are very difficult to obtain, so many different methods based on environmental assumptions have been proposed to match experimental data. Among them, the method developed by Fryberger is the most widely used. This method is a modification of an equation developed to describe the effect of wind energy on sand drift in a relative rather than absolute manner. This method is also a useful tool for assessing the direction and intensity of wind transport of sand and the extent of dune formation. It is widely used all over the world. In addition to arid regions, this method is used for sand blowing on the coasts of oceans and large lakes, in the Arctic and Antarctic, and even, in an adapted form, to the dune fields of Mars. Despite the widespread use of this method around the world in Russian geomorphology, it turned out to be practically unnoticed. In the proposed work we would like to provide a description of Fryberger method and an indication of the most obvious problems and errors that can affect the obtained result and lead to erroneous conclusions. The territory of the Nadym Priobye (north of Western Siberia) is considered as a model object for research. For this area, the sand drift potential index and its derivatives (RDD, RDP) were calculated. The calculation showed that the Nadym Ob area is a region with relatively low wind energy. Moreover, in warm seasons, wind energy is almost twice as powerful as in cold seasons. A predominant eastern direction of sand migration (RDD) has been identified, which is consistent with the orientation of aeolian forms on the dune massif. Almost all aeolian forms are concentrated in the southeastern part of the dune massif, where sand is moved by the northern and northwestern winds. The most active movement of the dune occurs in the summer. The directional variability (RDP/DP) was also calculated from the average wind speed, which showed a unimodal wind regimes in the region. The calculations of sand drift potential indicators made it possible to estimate the intensity of aeolian sand transport in the region. At the same time, some regional peculiarities in the application of the standard methodology were noted and possible options for correcting the errors obtained were proposed.

Soil mapping is a critical task for a variety of applications, including agriculture, ecology, and environmental management. Traditionally, soil mapping has been conducted using field surveys, which are time-consuming, labor-intensive, and expensive. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in the use of remote sensing data for digital soil mapping (DSM). DSM methods use data from satellites, aircraft, or drones to generate digital soil maps with high spatial resolution and low cost. Methods: This study proposes a predictive DSM methodology based on airborne laser scanning (ALS) and multispectral satellite imagery. The study was conducted in the Volozhinsky District of the Minsk Region of Belarus. ALS data were used to derive morphometric indicators of relief, while multispectral satellite imagery were used to derive vegetation indices. A Random Forest machine-learning model was used to predict soil types and hydromorphic classes. Results: The results of the study showed that the proposed methodology was able to generate accurate digital soil maps with high spatial resolution. The overall accuracy of the soil type map was 64%, and the overall accuracy of the hydromorphic class map was 60 %. Discussion: The results of this study confirm the effectiveness of the proposed predictive DSM methodology. The methodology is based on a combination of ALS and multispectral satellite imagery, which provides a comprehensive set of data for soil mapping. The use of a Random Forest machinelearning model also contributes to the accuracy of the methodology. Conclusion: The proposed methodology is a promising approach for DSM in a variety of settings. The methodology is relatively easy to implement and can be used to generate digital soil maps at a variety of spatial resolutions.

The results of a quantitative assessment of the European lake resources carried out according to an original method are presented. To determine the number and areas of water bodies, the automated and visual-instrumental interpretation capabilities were applied with the use of the Water Mask array based on the adjustment of the long-term data (from 2000 to 2012), as well as on the images provided by the program Google Earth. Maps of the lake area percentage were constructed based on the obtained data set of the water surface areas. The highest lake coverage values are characteristic of the territory covered by the last Quaternary glaciation. For regions located outside the Quaternary glaciation, the average lake area ratio is significantly increased in relation to the natural lake area due to the inclusion of the water surface areas of artificial reservoirs in the calculation. It has increased most in areas originally characterized by a very low lake stock. Based on the Global Surface Water Transitions dataset, a visualisation of changes in the water surface areas of European regions from the 1980s to the present was made. The schematic maps of changes in water surface density over the past four decades confirm the conclusions drawn in the article about changes in the lake stock in Europe due to the construction of reservoirs, as well as reflecting changes in the area not caused to the construction of artificial reservoirs. To assess the lake water resources of whole of Europe, as well as its parts distinguished according to the physicalgeographical principle, the reference data and regional relationships between various morphometric characteristics of lakes that take into account their genesis and orographic features of the territory were used. Moreover, the relationships between the volume of water in the lake and its area were taken into account. According to the assessment, the water surface area of all water bodies in Europe is 284,000 km2 , of which about 3/4 are natural ones. The lakes contain a total of 3285 km3 of fresh water and 88 km3 of water of increased mineralization. The main volume of waters in Europe is concentrated in the lakes of the zone of the last Quaternary glaciation distribution (85 %) and in the lakes of the Alpine zone (10%); about 2,5 % of water is concentrated in the lakes of the Balkan Peninsula. Water reserves in artificial water bodies of Europe are about 500 km3 , about half of this value is accounted for by the largest reservoirs of the European part of Russia.

The territory of the Gorny Altai includes a wide range of bedrock formations from the Ordovician period. The composition and origin of these rocks also varies widely, with both terrigenous layers (from argillite to conglomerate) and carbonate beds (limestone, dolomite and transitional forms) being known. For example, reef-forming bodies are exposed in the western and northwestern parts of the Gorny Altai, while normal-laminated limestone is recorded in large numbers in the northeastern part of the Gorny Altai. The Ordovician of the Gorny Altai has been studied for a long time, but there is very little information about calcareous algae in the literature. However, during field work, rock material was collected from several sections of the northeastern Gorny Altai ("Biya", "Lebed’", and "Bura"). Petrographic thin sections were made from this material. Their study showed a high content of calcareous algal remains in these outcrops. The detected remains were identified as Girvanella Nicholson et Etheridge, 1878, Vermiporella Stolley, 1893, Contexta Gnilovskaja, 1972 and Solenopora Dybowsky, 1878. In addition to these calcareous algal remains, invertebrate bioclasts such as trilobites, ostracods, corals, bryozoans, shell brachiopods, gastropods and echinoderm fragments were found in the studied strata. In addition to identifying calcareous algae, carbonate rock structures (as classified by R. Dunham with additions) and carbonate microfacies have been identified. It has been determined that microfacies of polybioclastic wackestones to packstones, algal-peloid packstones, polybioclastic-oolitic packstones to grainstones, trilobite-algal wackestones to packstones, and recrystallized silty limestones may be present in these sections. Good and average preservation of calcareous algae finds allowed us to perform their brief paleontological description and to establish that some Gorny Altai species are closely related to the apparent remains described in the Ordovician of China, East Kazakhstan, Norway, Scotland and other localities. Thus, the remains of the genus Solenopora were identified as Solenopora aff. spongoides Dybowski, Vermiporella was identified as Vermiporella aff. diffluens Gnilovskaja, and the preserved calcareous covers of Girvanella were identified as Girvanella problematica Nicholson et Etheridge, 1878. Upper Ordovician sedimentation is assumed to have occurred near the source of organogenic remains. However, it is possible that the source of clastic material was located distant from the deposition basin. At the same time, there is evidence that the energy of transport agents may have increased, leading to the formation of clastic packs. A model for the possible formation of these strata is proposed.

The ecological and geochemical features of the river were studied during the comprehensive monitoring of the Kiternya River conditions - the left tributary of the Ishim River in the forest-steppe zone of the Tyumen region. Samples were taken near settlements located on the coast of river. Changes in water quality may be associated with changes in climatic conditions, as well as anthropogenic activities. The construction of dams on the river, the erosion of roads, runoff from agricultural fields and livestock farms negatively affect the water quality in the river. It has led to a deterioration in the quality of water in the river over the past 30 years. From 1991 an increase in the total mineralization of water has been revealed by more than 2 times, mainly due to an increase in the content of sodium and chlorine ions. Also, there was a significant increase in the content of biogenic elements, an excess of the MAC of phosphate ions and manganese, a rare excess of the iron and copper MAC, nickel exceeded the MAC when considering the contribution of suspended matter. The study of the elements content distribution was carried out in the system "water-suspended matter-bottom sediments". Most of the pollutants migrate in suspended state, that must be taken into account when preserving samples and conducting analysis. Several methods for determining pollutants were carried out after water filtration, and some without removing suspended solids. In addition, the use of acids for the preservation of waters leads to the transition of the acid-soluble compounds parts into the aqueous phase and to a significant increase of their concentration. The determination of metals in dissolved form and in suspended matter allows us to obtain more reliable information about the forms of such elements finding and migration. In the bottom sediments, the MAC of nickel and zinc was exceeded periodically; cadmium exceeded the established norm in all samples. The cluster analysis revealed the relationship of acid-base and redox conditions in the watercourse with morphological and hydrological factors. Moreover, it was revealed the migration of heavy metals in the river mainly in the form of hardly soluble phosphates (Cu, Hg, Fe) in the composition of suspended matter, or in the form of complex compounds with hemic substances (in water) or plant residues (suspended matter and bottom sediments). Comparison of the metals determination results in the composition of sediments, suspended matter and dissolved form allowed to establish the sources of pollutants, the ways and forms of their migration and accumulation in small rivers. The places of greatest vulnerability were identified for taking measures to protect and restore water bodies.

Morphological complication of Foraminifera from Ataxophragmiida order there are relatively haight stratigraphic significance for Cretaceous deposits of Western Siberia; from them the genus Gaudryinopsis Podobina, 1975 have spread vertical the most widely. It have known from Jurassic to Eocene including. The last time new species of this genus – G. sibiricus Podobina sp. nov. have been faund. This species have offered as species – index for early Aptian deposits of the Northern palaebiographical region of Western Siberia. The other species – index G. filiformis (Berthelin) is characteristic for middle Albian this region. The boundaries of this species have been defined from Ob River to areas of Yamal Peninsula. In Senomanian stage the marine facies with species – index G. elongatus Podobina also have preserved in such limits of Northern region. The early Turonian species – index G. angustus Podobina widely spread on all territories of Western Siberia. The other species – index of the genus G. vulgaris (Kyprianova) have speed in general in early Santonian deposits. But this species shells have found in small quantaties because could not be the index – species for this part of section. The second genus Pseudoverneuilina Podobina gen. nov. is characteristic for Aptian and Albian deposits of this region. Proposed taxon – doubles differ by chemical wall content and something morphological certains. These general doubles have been offered: Gaudryina Orbigny, 1839 – Gaudryinopsis Podobina, 1975; Verneuilina Orbigny, 1839 – Pseudoverneuilina Podobina gen. nov. and other doubles such genera. The first genera from indicated doubles have origined from calcareus facies and its agglutinat wall content have such material. In opposite the second genera from doubles have kwart – siliceus wall. The spreding of these second genera limited by terrigenius clay-opoka facies. The creation of these facies are defined by Boreal transgression and these genera have known in Northern paleobiogeographical region. In this article the shot description of Pseudoverneuilina Podobina genera are cited. The studied species of two genera – Gaudryinopsis Podobina, 1975 and Pseudoverneuilina Podobina gen. nov. are given on the I–V Paleontological tables.

This study was prompted by the major Chuya earthquake, which altered the chemical composition of groundwater in many springs across the Altai Republic. Several springs within the city of Gorno-Altaysk exhibited a significant rise in groundwater temperature. At one of these springs, a long-term monitoring station was established to record groundwater quality. The paper assesses the impact of seismic events on groundwater temperature at a highly tensio-sensitive subsurface site (observation borehole at the State Reference Observation Network (SRON) station "Severnaya", 16 Severnaya St.), located within the mountainfold structures of the Altai-Sayan orogenic region. An extensive monitoring dataset was analysed, revealing a correlation between the cumulative seismic energy released by earthquakes and industrial blasts and the temperature of the groundwater. The results demonstrate that even distant earthquakes and anthropogenic seismic impacts can induce noticeable temperature variations at the observation point. Possible mechanisms governing the influence of seismic events on groundwater temperature are discussed, including the periodically reversing correlation sign – from positive to negative – between spring temperature and the seismic energy released. Seismic energy values were derived by recalculating event magnitudes using a refined Gutenberg–Richter relationship. The findings indicate a direct link between groundwater temperature at the SRON (State Reference Observation Network) "Severnaya" station and seismic events of both natural and technogenic origin within the region. The abrupt reversal of the correlation sign 50–60 days after an event is attributed to the migration of deep fluids followed by infiltration of relatively cold groundwater. The influence of industrial explosions on the spring’s parameters, despite their considerably lower energy, is explained by induced seismicity manifested as an increase in the magnitude of recorded events. This work continues a series of investigations aimed at identifying hydrogeological and hydrogeochemical precursors of hazardous geodynamic events, a task made urgent by the very low predictive accuracy of current earthquake-forecasting methods.

The paper presents the results of petrographic and lithogeochemical studies of the Nepa Formation of the inner region of the Siberian Platform, studied from the core of the VCh-3Kh well. The section of the Nepa Formation is characterized by terrigenous composition. Terrigenous rocks are characterized by a low degree of sorting and roundness of clastic material. The studied rocks of the Nepa Formation are sediments of the first sedimentation cycle. The revealed similarities in the petrographic and lithogeochemical characteristics of the studied sandstones of the Nepa Formation Subformation indicate that the sedimentation of these rocks occurred in a similar tectonic regime, with the supply of clastic material from the same supply province. The abundance of fragments of granitoids, quartzites, schists (siliceous, argillaceous-silicic, argillaceous) in the clastogenic component made it possible to establish that the terrigenous rocks of the Nepa Formation were formed mainly due to the destruction of acidic igneous and metamorphic rocks. Both Archean-Early Proterozoic rocks of the basement of the Siberian Platform and igneous and metamorphic rocks of the adjacent areas of the Central Asian fold belt are assumed to be the main suppliers of clastic material to the sedimentation basin of the Nepa Formation.