Housing construction inMoscowagglomeration is a key mechanism stimulating migration inflow because it forms a downward pressure on housing prices, which are the most important barrier for migration. Positive feedback between extensive way of development of theMoscowagglomeration and migration inflow into the capital region stimulates hyperconcentration of the population and economic activity. Theoretical analysis shows that there is equilibrium between housing construction and migration inflow to theMoscowregion. According to our estimates, in the 2000-s the relation of migration inflow to housing construction volume (capability of theMoscowagglomeration to accumulate migration) has halved in comparison to the 1990s. Mathematical modeling and empirical data show that this shift was determined by the increase in natural rent distributed inRussiaand in agglomeration economies in other major cities of the country. Especially favorable for migration inflow is oil-spot-style extensive way of development of the agglomeration due to the dominance of largegreenfieldprojects of affordable housing in the 30-km zone outside the Moscow Ring Road in housing construction. It is shown that the development of this zone is a key regulator of the migration balance at the national level. Extensive way of development is subsidized by the government through multiple channels, primarily investments in transport infrastructure, what contradicts official goals of the regional policy and the government efforts to mitigate interregional inequality through the fiscal redistribution.
The causal mechanisms of the known geographical phenomenon of insular extratropical Neo-Pacific, i.e., the general descent of the boundaries of altitudinal bioclimatic zones and the southward shift of natural zones on islands compared to the neighboring continents, are discussed. The phenomenal feature of bioclimatic system at the stage of insular landscape formation is the direct subordination of phytobiota to vertical hydrothermal gradients. All the above is conditioned by the domination of transpiration part in thermal balance and ensures the survival of insular ecosystems of the boreal Neo-Pacific under unfavorable conditions of cold oceanicity. It is shown that new types of ecological systems of South Kuril Islands arose in the early Pleistocene, when the cover of the wet taiga forests with ancient (Eopleistocene) well-developed soil had been formed that allows us to consider this period the beginning of the evolutionary processes in the vegetation of these islands.
The theoretical issues of territorial organization of local self-government are considered, a definition of this category is proposed. It is stated that the territorial organization of local self-government in general should correspond to the hierarchy of the prevailing settlement systems and local communities. Factors, intermediate results and processes of transformation of territorial organization of local self-government in Russia’s regions in 2009–2016 are considered in details (after the finishing of the transition period of local self-government reform). The main source of information is the Rosstat data. Forms of transformation of municipalities of the first and second territorial levels are identified. The growing practice of transforming municipal districts in urban districts and minimizing the number of settlements composed municipal districts is criticized. Examples of new forms of territorial organization of local government in Russia’s regions are given. The conclusion of the inevitable variety of regional forms of territorial organization of local self-government in modern Russia is made.
Humanities appears now in the “endowed” human being significant and meaningful knowledge as the appropriate meaning of the content of reality. The embodiment of the world picture occurs in multivalued association of signs, symbols, representations and images, where the geography are the only “embedded” in this kind of quickly current processes. Nature was never to humans, it always exists “in itself” and “for itself”, and the man validly “read” and convey its meaning turns out to be possible discourse, while its understanding borders their own limitations of knowledge. In this paper the author’s position are considering via appropriate mapping and interpretation of the opposing “semantic poles” – a wilderness and cultural landscape. In contrast, dichotomous theoretical manifestation of this kind concluded the transcendental meaning of sensory associations (imagery) and rational (logical) cognitive styles of geographical thinking. The concept of the existence the wilderness continuum demonstrates the existing still areas of traditional nature use of indigenous peoples of the Asian part of Russia and those, which modified by anthropogenic development within territory of Siberia.
The authors compiled and analyzed experimental data on the distribution of methane content in the soils of the lower Don steppe province (the south of Rostov oblast) and the subzone of typical (average) taiga (Karelia), forest-bog landscapes of Arkhangelsk, Pskov and Moscow oblasts. The data from the literature were also involved. Investigations revealed relatively low concentrations of methane (average of 0.18 µg/g of sample) in drained soils of tundra, taiga forest and steppe zones, and transition zones between forest and steppe, with a trend of increasing its amount from steppe zone to taiga with increasing soil moisture. Higher concentrations of methane (1–2 orders of magnitude higher) are typical for soils of waterlogged sites and peat deposits of bogs. The distribution along the vertical profile of methane in dry and temporarily flooded soils is characterized by a reduction of its concentrations from the surface to the lower horizons, while in peat deposits of bogs, the concentration of gas, by contrast, increases significantly with depth.
Four long-established environmental and cultural phenomena and a new one are characterized in the article. These phenomena represent some recurring patterns of activity or behavior of people, significantly altering the course of natural processes. They are generated by stable combinations of environmental conflicts inherent certain forms of nature management and economic activities such as land use, forest use, water use, waste management and others. Their transformative eff on the landscapes of theUnzhaRivervalley is shown on concrete examples. They illustrate the consequences of the barbaric forest use, reckless industrialization and decline of agriculture. The effect of these phenomena is extended to many territories of the Near North. It is typical for the nature management inRussiafor many years. The most longstanding phenomenon is a predatory forest use and its corollary, the shallowing of rivers. Phenomenon of antienvironmental industrialization acts also for a long time. The main conflicts that shape these phenomena are contradictions between the increase in material well-being of people and the violation of their health as a result of deterioration of the ecological situation. More youthful phenomenon of the destruction and running wild of the traditional rural landscape is conditioned by not so much environmental, how socioeconomic conflicts. A new phenomenon is formed as a consequence of the explicit conflict of environmental and cultural interests of two groups of population – decreasing indigenous peasant population and increasing dachas.
By the fact of own spatial existence, the each object (process, phenomenon) forms a multilevel system, promoting differentiation and concentration. The necessity to study the territorial projection of international economic relations of various sizes is emphasized. The geography of foreign economic relations at three spatial levels is studied: 1) macrolevel (international trade), 2) mesolevel (foreign economic relations of Russia), 3) microlevel (foreign economic relations of the federal subject – the Republic of Bashkortostan). Combining these results allows us to establish interrelations, interdependencies between geographical levels that most fully reveal the basis of the functioning of the international division of labor. The application of territorial approach to studying foreign economic relations of countries and regions allows us to disclose the regularities of geographical division of labor, to reveal the cause-and-effect relationships of the functioning of international trade, the foreign trade of countries and individual administrative units of states, uniting them into a single system. Understanding the mechanisms of formation of this system gives rise to prospects to effectively manage it.
Considerable transformation of functions of industrial zones took place during the last decades inMoscow. Nowadays the main trends of reorganization for the industrial zones ofMoscoware science, trade, car selling and service, business and housing construction. The author’s methodology for assessment of ecological intensity of using of industrial zones based on potential environmental dangerous of their functions is presented. In case of it the functional zoning of each industrial zone is done. According to the methodology changes of impact level on the environment and trends of changing of the types of the industrial zones are revealed. The comparison of the results of the methodic and the changes of volumes of air pollution is done. Air pollution is the most changeable parameter of the anthropogenic influence. The most ecological directions of functional transformation of industrial zones and the territorial distribution of enterprises of different specialization are found. The key projects of the next renovation of industrial zones inMoscoware considered. The geographical specifics of the projects is studied. The vulnerable aspects of the projects are noticed
Multiple reported data on plankton, benthos, and chemical composition of surface waters and geology ofKareliaare summarized in order to reveal regional peculiarities of the formation of aquatic communities’ structure and biological productivity. A basic scheme for the biological productivity formation of water bodies inKareliais proposed. The main features of the humid climate ofKareliaare the low average annual air temperature and excessive humidification. The geographical features determine the specific physico-chemical properties of the aquatic environment, including low temperature, short vegetation period, low total dissolved solids (TDS), pH and phosphorus concentrations. Low water temperature and phosphorus concentration limit the development of highly productive forms of biota. Increased color of water diminishes the area of phytoplankton distribution. Low TDS concentration of water restricts the growth of diatom frustule and shell-bearing mollusks, which can limit the total biomass of plankton and benthos. Acid reaction of the environment can have toxic effects on aquatic animals. The proposed scheme was tested on seven lakes ofKarelia, located in different landscapes and differed in the degree of swampiness and density of the river network in the catchment area, in flowage, TDS concentration, color, pH, phosphorus concentration. The performed principle component analysis has statistically confirmed the regularities identified due to the generalization of reported information.
Yuri Medvedkov was one of the most glittering figures in the Soviet geography of 1960–1970. He was one of the standard-bearers of the quantitative and theoretical revolution. He brought in the geography not only the extremely valuable results and methods of modeling, but much more strict way of thinking, which is peculiar to the exact sciences. The level of theoretical thinking in geography has decreased significantly over the last half century and we are sorely behind the level of the Dr. Sci. thesis of Yu. Medvedkov. Medvedkov has created in1974 intheInstituteofGeographythe Laboratory of human ecology, which became for several years one of the most vibrant centers of geographical thought in our country. In 1972, Medvedkov was deprived by the arbitrary of power to return toGeneva, where he headed the Laboratory of ecology of WHO. After this he was deprived of the opportunity to travel abroad. Such a problem finally forced him to submit in 1981 the statement on emigration. He was excluded from the scientific community until his emigration in 1986.
The paper concerns changes in air transport connectivity of Russia’s territory for the period of 1990–2015 by aggregating of adjacent airports and air hubs in 20 air clusters. The dynamics of air passenger traffic between large cities is considered as an indicator of changes in the territorial structure of the economy and population distribution in the country. Analysis has shown that disintegration of a complex, polycentric, and well-developed system of neighboring air links has taken place in post-Soviet Russia. Structure of this system has become much simpler, with pronounced overcentralization of Moscow (instead of the previous centralization) and reduction of the power of attraction of secondand third-order interregional centers. Divisional fragmentation and shrinkage of the socioeconomic space in not only the Asian but also the European part of the country have occurred. Current Russian airline system is characterized by weak neighborhood connectivity. A slow disintegration process between the western and eastern parts of the country is going.
The article presents the results of the pollen analysis of the marine sediments of the Azov Sea. Conducted research of subrecent pollen spectra of surface sediment layer is allowed to form an idea of the character of vegetation cover of the coast. The composition and ratio of the main spectrum components agree well with the structure of the surrounding steppe communities, which indicates the prospectivity of the method for regional paleoreconstructions. According to the obtained radiocarbon data, the studied marine sediments were formed during the last 6500 calendar years BP. In the pollen spectra of most columns, there is a high content of pollen of herbaceous plants (80% on average). The group of grasses is dominated by pollen of Chenopodiaceae, Artemisia and Poaceae, in addition, there is a permanent presence of pollen grains of indicative species of dry steppe communities (Ephedra, Plumbaginaceae). However, vegetation cover and climate did not remain constant. A set of phases had been revealed for the last 6500 calendar years BP, namely, 6200–5700, 5500–4000, 3200–2500, 1800–1500, and 650–150 calendar years ago BP, characterized by a significant increase in the amount of pollen of tree species (up to 40%). During these phases, probably, there was the expansion of the area occupied by the forest vegetation in valleys of large rivers under more humid climatic conditions.
The article is devoted to problems of accounting of natural component of the total costs of economic activities in the Arctic in comparison with other Russian regions. The analysis is based on the allocation two deltas from total costs, in addition to the average sectoral costs, namely, the costs associated with the dynamics of natural systems and the costs associated with natural disasters (irreparable costs or damages). Special attention is paid to the possibilities of the implementation of representative calculations with limited information base. The testing showed the validity of the proposed approach to optimize the distribution of productive forces in the Arctic zone of Russia in the conditions of global changes in nature and society. It is established that all regions of the Arctic, regardless of their economic structure, have an average twice higher share of fuel and energy costs in the real sector than in the southern federal subjects. The proposed methodological approach allows further identifying other geographical cost factors (the cost of overcoming the space, the cost of resources, etc.).
The changes in the quantity, intensity and duration of cold waves in Russia in winter (December– February) for different periods from 1961 to 2010 were estimated. To determine the cold waves, the threshold values corresponding to 5 percentiles of the minimum daily temperature distribution are considered. It is established that in the winter period since 1990s on the most part of the territory of Russia there was a decrease in the number of cold waves and an increase in minimum temperatures. It was found that since 1990s in winter most of Russia’s territory was experienced a decrease in cold waves and an increase in minimum temperatures. But at the beginning of the 21st century these tendencies are weakening, and in the south of Western and Eastern Siberia a vast area appears where an increase in cold waves and a decrease in the minimum temperature are observed. Analysis of cold waves with temperatures below –30 °C showed the disappearance in the beginning of the 21st century the area with absolutely unfavorable climatic conditions in north of Yakutia, the improvement of the conditions up to favorable practically in the entire European territory of Russia and in south of the Far East.
Changes in taxonomic, morphological and substrate specificity of distribution of clavarioid fungi were studied at the Oman-Ural longitudinal transect covered over 6300 km from 20° to 80° northern latitude, along 58° eastern longitude. The works were carried out in two scales. First of scale is cells by 100000 km2 inside 12 latitudinal zones, each by 5° latitude, from the tropical deserts of Arabic Peninsula to the Arctic deserts of Novaya Zemlya Islands. Second scale is 50 localities, by 100 km2 area, situated inside 12 latitudinal cells (as in previous scale). For both scales peaks of species richness of fungi in the close ranges of latitudes, from 50 to 60° N latitude for cells in taiga and south-taiga forests, and 50–65° N latitude, are established. The number of species is reduced to almost zero with decreasing latitude. Such results indicate that the distribution of clavarioid fungi from North to South does not correspond to the “classical” latitudinal gradient of diversity. The number of species in the cells of the Arctic and tropical deserts is similar, and the mean number of species in the localities situated in the tropical deserts is lower than in the Arctic counterparts. The richest localities correspond to cells with average annual temperatures from +1.1 to +4.5 °C. The share of species with small and unbranched fruitbodies positively correlated with latitude, as well as the share of species of saprotrofic grassinhabited taxons. The negative correlation is established for leaves-inhabited taxons, and the share of ground species is relatively constant throughout the entire transect. The share of widespread species, for both scales, is maximal at the desert “ends” of transect, whereas is minimal in the middle latitudes, characterized by the highest number of species. This distribution of the microbiota reflects the bioclimatic specificity of transect: a wide spreading of cryo- and arid deserts, and steppes, in which there are no specific species. The distribution of fungi in a greater degree demonstrates no pattern of changes in diversity with latitude, but the rule of limiting under extreme conditions, which is characterized by a decrease in species richness with increasing pessimal conditions.
This paper represents definitions of extreme and specific manifestations of channel processes and reviews relationships between themselves and connections with extreme or extraordinary hydrological situations. The main sign for referring channel processes as extreme is the anomaly of their manifestation, which is reflected in extremely high rates and duration of development (significantly exceeding the mean maximum values), unexpectedness of occurrence and difficulties or impossibility of forecasting. Specific channel processes occur in conditions of channel formation, which differ from typical for a river or rivers in the region and have limited distribution. Criteria provided to characterize the extremality or specificity of the manifestations of channel processes, their qualitative and quantitative assessments, as well as the analysis of hydrological, geological, geomorphological and anthropogenic factors of their origin and development are given. The spatial scale of manifestations, their frequency, negative social and economic consequences and the possibility of prevention are considered. An approach to the classification of extreme and specific channel processes and the evaluation of their risk to economic activity is proposed. Typical examples of extreme and specific manifestations of channel processes in various temporal and spatial scales and natural zones are shown.
