Preserved oriented samples from the reference Campanian–Maastrichtian section near Levashi village (Dagestan), sampled in 1990 by the staff of the SSU Research Institute of Geology, were studied in terms of rock magnetism and paleomagnetism. Benthic foraminiferal assemblages and calcareous microproblematica (gilianelles) were identified in selected samples, and layers with fauna were distinguished. Thin sections were made from a number of samples for microscopic examination of rocks. The presence of a camouflaged pyroclastic material in the upper-chamfered part of the incision was found. The analysis of the obtained paleomagnetic and micropaleontological data indicates a Late Campanian–Early Maastrichtian age for the studied deposits and suggests the presence of an interval in the section corresponding to the Campanian–Maastrichtian biotic event.
The fouling of skeletons and shells of benthic organisms and the formation of multi-tiered skeletal formations are characteristic of carbonate-producing Porifera, which participated in the structure of reef communities during the Phanerozoic. The accretion of flint sponges, Hexactinellidas, to the solid elements of the substrate is a little-known phenomenon, since many representatives of this group were fixed on the sediment surface by rhizoid outgrowths. Specimens of skeletons of Late Cretaceous Hexactinellids with attachment elements to bivalves and fragments of skeletons of dead sponges have been identified. The preservation of the imprints of the outer surface of the inoceramide flaps made it possible to determine the taxonomic affiliation of these fossils to the level of the genus and species. Adaptation to attachment to rigid substrate elements can be traced among representatives of the genera Plocoscyphia (Lychniscosa) and Labyrintholites (Hexactinosa). The skeletons of dead sponges and their fragments became solid and non-permeable elements of the substrate, on which new generations of sponges, Hexactinellida and Demospongia also settled.
The article addresses the pressing issue of assessing and ensuring the spatial viability of municipalities in the extreme environment of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). The research aims to develop an original methodological framework for a comprehensive assessment of spatial viability, tailored to the specifics of northern and Arctic territories. The work analyzes theoretical and conceptual foundations, factors, types, and contemporary methods for assessing territorial viability. The scientific novelty lies in the synthesis of classical socio-economic geography approaches and modern spatial analysis methods (GIS, spatial statistics) to create an integrated assessment toolkit. The developed framework operationalizes classical geographical theories for the tasks of municipal-level management in an extreme environment, transforming them from an explanatory into an evaluative and instrumental model. The practical significance of the study is that the proposed methodology can be used by regional and municipal authorities for problem diagnosis, sustainability monitoring, justification of strategic decisions, and targeted regional policy aimed at preserving and developing settlements in the dispersed space of Yakutia.
In Belgorod, the nature of environmental pollution sources and associated geochemical flows obeys general patterns. However, the city also has specific natural and climatic characteristics, which determine the scientific relevance of studying soil and ground pollution, as well as its practical significance for Belgorod. To identify patterns in the distribution of pollutants across the city, a pairwise comparison (correlation analysis) of macro- and microelement parameters of soil and ground samples was conducted. Additionally, a correlation analysis was carried out for a sample of observation points that retained a natural (quasi-natural) soil layer (10 out of 20 surveyed points). The conducted study of the geochemical conditions of Belgorod revealed a complex, mosaic pattern of chemical element distribution in soils and grounds, which is typical for urbanized areas. The main factors determining this pattern are the lithogenic base (sandy, loamy, and carbonate rocks) and intensive anthropogenic transformation of the soil cover. The main sources of pollution are motor vehicles and economic activities leading to physical disturbance of the soil.
The aim of the study is to identify relationships between the agrochemical indicators of the arable layer (humus content, mobile phosphorus, exchangeable potassium, and pH values of exchangeable acidity), field moisture, and spectral characteristics of soils in order to assess the degree of erosion under the conditions of the Chuvash Republic. The studies were carried out at five test sites (14 sampling points) on sod-podzolic soils, gray forest soils, leached chernozems, and their eroded varieties. Agrochemical parameters were determined according to GOST 26213-91, mobile phosphorus and potassium according to GOST R 54650-2011, and the pH of exchangeable acidity according to GOST 26483-85; spectrograms were recorded with a portable FieldSpec Hand Held 2 spectroradiometer on an open, ploughed surface. Correlation and regression analyses were used to assess the reliability of the results. It was shown that humus content and pH(KCl) values decrease with increasing degree of soil erosion. Two stable maxima are distinguished in the spectrograms; their ratio R1/R2 is statistically significantly related to humus and exchangeable acidity pH(KCl) and can be considered a rapid indicator of erosional transformations when interpreted jointly with the brightness of R2 and the position in the relief. The obtained relationships need to be verified on an extended sample.
The offering work covers the history of the Aptian stage stratigraphy and ammonites studies of the central part of the Northern Caucasus. Its first part, devoted to the history of the mid-19th century to the mid-20th century, was published earlier. In this paper the fourth (1970– 1989) and fifth (1990 – present) stages are reviewed. The fourth was marked by the acceptance of tripartite division of the Aptian, including the Clansayesian as the upper substage into it, at the end of this stage some summary works were published. The fifth stage is characterized by an abrupt decline in publication activity in the beginning and a gradual revival thereafter, at this time new different biostratigraphic schemes of the Aptian of the region were proposed, new methods in the study of stratigraphy of the sediments under consideration began to be used.
This study analyzes the distribution and status of feather grass (Stipa pennata L.) in the Belgorod region, based on literary and archival sources, as well as a special selective field survey of its habitats conducted in 2023. The survey included 20 key sites across 7 administrative districts and additional locations where the species was found. The results demonstrate a manifold increase in the number of recorded growth sites over the past 100 years. A combination of field and desk studies enabled the collection and analysis of data on the species’ occurrence, abundance within cenopopulations, its role in plant communities, and the species composition of these cenopopulations, including records of species listed in the Red Data Book of the Belgorod region. An assessment of the ecological parameters of the habitats was conducted, revealing the degree of anthropogenic impact on the cenopopulations. New findings on the species’ distribution and abundance in the region were obtained. It was established that the species is colonizing new habitats, including anthropogenic ones, significantly increasing its population size, expanding its range, and is characterized by high vitality rates and self-recovery indices. The spatial dynamics of its abundance shows a positive gradient towards the east and south-east.
The article examines the nature of changes in the pressure field at the Earth’s surface around the globe during two natural climatic periods ofthe Earth’s climate system –the stabilization period andthe secondwave of globalwarming in July. The pressure fieldwas approximated by the geopotential field of the surface H0. In the northern hemisphere, no differences in the structure of the geopotential field of the H0 surface were found in the two natural climatic periods. In the southern hemisphere, there are noticeable differences related to the localization of foci of high and low values of the geopotential height of the surface H0. Therefore, it can be concluded that the identified foci emphasize the peculiarity of global warming – its seasonality, namely, the increase in temperatures in the cold part of the year. Itis noted that the identified foci of elevated and lowered geopotential heights may indicate the presence of some kind of oscillatory structure in the southern hemisphere.
The genetic approach to the analysis of the formation of the territorial production system of the region can give interesting results. The initial stages of the industrial development of the region are characterized by flexibility in relation to the factors of the economic and geographical location of the production centers. Its analysis provides a deeper understanding of the question why individual cities have been actively developing, while others have experienced only a short-term rise. Based on statistical data mainly from 1880–1900, economic development (primarily factory development) of Saratov province is considered. The disadvantages of the statistical data collected during this period are discussed. The analysis of the sectoral and territorial structure of the nascent and growing industry in the last quarter of the 19th – early 20th century is carried out. The results are visualized in the form of economic maps. In order to identify advanced industries, a comparison of labor productivity in them for 1884 and 1908 is given. The development of industry in the period 1884–1908 was industry-related due to the diversification of production in the cities and counties of the province, as well as the transition from handicraft industry to small-sized factories, but really large plants appeared only in Saratov and Tsaritsyn. Geographically, during the period under study, the development of the western industrial centers of the province (mainly lying on Khoper river), as well as the southern ones (Sarepta and Tsaritsyn) was noticeable, while maintaining the importance of the Volga cities and areas in the north of the province. Compared with the northwestern and central provinces of European Russia, the emergence of avant-garde technological industries, primarily mechanical engineering and metalworking, as well as the chemical industry, has been delayed. Special attention is paid to comparing the development of Saratov and Tsaritsyn (modern Volgograd) as industrial centers, and the differences are largely related to the transport and geographical location of the cities.
The offering paper covers the history of the Aptian stage stratigraphy and ammonites studies of the central part of the Northern Caucasus, which was subdivided by the author into five stages. The first (mid-to-late 19th century), second (1901–1951) and third (1952–1969) stages are reviewed. The first is associated with the beginning of research in the region, at this time the attempts of the stage and substage dividing were made. The second stage is associated with the activities of the Geological Committee, atthis periodthe first zonal schemes were elaborated. During the third stage the works of the Lower Cretaceous squad of the integrated Crimean-Caucasian Expedition made the main contribution, during this time numerous Aptian ammonoids were described and a lot of biostratigraphic schemes were elaborated.
The description of the representatives of the genus Labyrintholites is presented. The type species of the genus was published I. F. Sinzov in 1879. The considerable amount of the fossil material from the Santonian rocks found in the Saratov Volga Region has made it possible to substantiate the diagnosis of this genus within the order Hexactinosa and to present its taxonomic diversity within eight species. Among the Hexactinellids, the Labyrintholites are distinguished for their attachment to the substrate solid immobile elements.
The article examines the formation features of the demographic and economic space in the Saratov region during the first half of the Soviet period (1917–1960). Thespatial and temporal vectors of development and their determining factors are analised. The resultsshow that, in thecontext of large-scale material, technical, andsocialchanges associatedwith the revolution, Sovietization, the CivilWar,War Communism, the New Economic Polic, the Great Soviet Reforms, and other events, there was an intensive transformation of the economic space in the region. This led to the formation of a modern external contour and a new hierarchized framework for the region that was characteristic of the Soviet period.
The final, late Campanian – early Maastrichtian stage of development of echinoids Micraster and Isomicraster, was studied based on extensive material from the Upper Cretaceous sediments of the North Caucasus, Mangyshlak, Kopetdag, Volga and Transvolga regions. The changes in the complex of morphological characters in the youngest species, which are predominantly connected with variability in the structure of the oral surface of the test, considered in detail. It is shown that similar morphological changes occurred in different representatives of these genera at approximately the same time in different territories. The stratigraphic significance of Micraster brongniarti Hebert and M. grimmensis Nietsch was assessed. Conclusions about possible paths of distribution of M. grimmensis Nietsch in the Campanian – Maastrichtian water areas of the European, Mediterranean and Central Asian palaeobiogeographical areas were drawn. In total material from three collections of 110 specimens was studied.
The Late Cretaceous andthe Paleocenerepresentatives ofthe Aphrocallistesfromthe East European Province are known from the scanty skeletal fragments. The fragmentary preservation state of the fossils has brought about some contradictory characteristics of the genus and the idea of thosesponges diversity. Colonial Aphrocallistes are regarded as the typical representatives of the Maastrichtian spongiofauna from the west of the European region.
The problem of delimiting agglomerations is an integral part ofthe broader issue of economiczoning inthesocio-economicspace.Given its significance for development, it is important to make a methodology for identifying the influence zone of agglomerations as a specific area in spatial planning.To addressthis issue,this paper proposes amethodologyfor determiningtheterritorial accessibility ofcities based on population size, which combines the use of open data from OpenStreetMap, modern geospatial techniques, and visualization tools. The delimitation of agglomerations within the seven Volga regions has enabled the identification of metropolitan areas that, according to the authors, constitute key microdistricts for the spatial planning of the entire country. The factors influencing the changes in the grid of socio-geographical areas within the Ural-Volga region of the country are being clarified. This work will strengthen the continuous approach to analyzing the socio-economic space of this macroregion.
Introduction. The article presents the current socio-political situation and its impact on the market of geoinformation technologies. The requirements of the legislation of the Russian Federation for software purchased for government needs are given. The problem of transition to domestic geoinformation technologies is formulated. Conditions that determine the possibility of solving the problem. The main conditions that need to be created to resolve the problem as soon as possible and their interrelationship have been identified. Comparative analysis of modern GIScapabilities. The possibilities of the most common domestic and foreign GIS systems, their main advantages and disadvantages over each other are considered. Based on the analysis of their capabilities, two options for import substitution of geoinformation technologies in universities are proposed. The problem of financing. A general comparison of the functionality of the paid and free versions of the software is carried out. The cost of some GIS components of domestic and foreign development is given. Creating a system of incentives in universities. The influence of software import substitution on the change in the volume of methodological activities of the teaching staff is considered. Measures are proposed to increase the interest of the teaching staff in solving this problem as soon as possible. Conclusion. The conclusion is made about the relevance of the task and the reality of its implementation. Measures to solve it are proposed.
The history of studying the granulometric composition of the detrital material of the beaches of Sevastopol in scientific publications from the middle of the twentiethcentury to the present isconsidered. The granulometriccharacteristics (quartiles, median diameter, and sorting coefficient) ofsediments from natural unofficial beaches of Sevastopol located in the bays of Sevastopolskaya, Karantinnaya, and Kazachaya have been calculated. Cumulative curves and diagrams of the granulometric composition of beach sediments have been compiled. The analysis of the general features of the granulometric composition of beach sediments in the bays and their distribution according to the profile of the studied beaches is carried out. Differences in the size and degree of sediment sorting on beaches located in different parts of Sevastopol bays have been revealed. The factors determining the main granulometric characteristics of the detrital material of modern beaches of Sevastopol are identified. Beaches are typified according to the size composition of the dominant fractions.
Lung cancer in the Saratov region and Saratov is a very common pathology, ranking second in men and fourth or fifth in women in terms of incidence among other cancer localities. The article provides data on the incidence of lung cancer in Saratov for 2020–2023. Based on a comparison of city’s air basin pollution maps and types of housing development an attempt has been made to determine possible dependencies on the prevalence of the disease. The article also discusses demopopulation indicators of lung cancer patients: their age, gender, and stage of the disease. Six oncogeographic maps are presented: a map of the prevalence of lung cancer in Saratov (2020–2023); a map of the density of traffic flow on the streets of different urban landscape districts of Saratov (2014–2024); a map of the estimated level of carbon monoxide concentration from vehicle exhaust gases on the streets of Saratov within the monitoring sites (2014–2024); a map of surface contamination air quality in different administrative districts of Saratov according to observations for 1992–2024.; a map of the number of floors of residential buildings, localization and relative proportion of men and women with lung cancer in 2020–2023 in Saratov; a map of the locations of lung cancer patients at different stages of the disease and the relative proportion of different stages of the disease in Saratov in 2020–2023. The analysis of urban-ecological and oncogeographic maps revealed the obvious prevalence of the disease in areas of very high and high pollution of thesurface layer of urban air, the independence of the disease from living on different floors of residential buildings. There was an overwhelming predominance among men (almost 72%), the elderly (the age cohort of 60–70 years dominates) and patients with advanced lung cancer (63% of patients with stages III and IV of the disease).
The article examines demographic processes in the transboundary regions (the Russian-Kazakh border area) of Russia and Kazakhstan, which, despite their strategic importance, often remain on the periphery of national policy. The methodological framework is based on a proposed three-level approach (national, regional, local), enabling the identification of both macro-demographic trends and intraregional differentiation. The analysis of statistical data for the period 1989–2021 reveals that the key challenges for the borderlands include natural population decline, persistent migration outflow, and increasing spatial polarization. A significant asymmetry in demographic development has been identified: Kazakh regions exhibit more pronounced depopulation, while the Russian border areas maintain relative stability, retaining their migration attractiveness. At the local level, a general centripetal trend is confirmed – concentration of population in regional centers and depopulation of rural peripheries. The study’s results underscore the need for developing a coordinated bilateral policy aimed at stimulating economic development, improving the quality of life in border regions, and supporting nodal cities and agglomerations capable of becoming centers of demographic and economic attraction.
Introduction. In the modern conditions of development of the tourism industry, the creation of high-quality cartographic support for routes, which helps to increase their attractiveness and information content, is of particular importance. Retrospective analysis of the study area. The city of Saratov, awarded the title of “City of Labor Valor”, has a rich historical and cultural heritage associated with the labor exploits of its residents during the Great Patriotic War. Data and methods. The development of a specialized tourist route using modern geoinformation technologies and artificial intelligence allows not only to visualize thematic objects, but also to optimize the process of planning, navigation and personalization of the tourist route. The issues of cartographic support for tourism activities are widely covered in the works of domestic and foreign researchers. However, the use of artificial intelligence to create dynamic maps, adaptive routes and intelligent navigation systems in the context of historical and patriotic tourism remains a poorly studied area. This determined the choice of the research direction. The research resulted in the development of the “Saratov–City of Labor Valor” tourist route, as well as its analog and digital cartographic support.
