3-d cinematic model demonstrates different landforms evolution under the action of slope processes. Different types of morphological control on slope degradation rate were analyzed. Including three morphological characteristics into model - gradient, vertical curvature, and horizontal one - enables to describe different types of relief development and elucidate some peculiarities of landforms morphology. Horizontal curvature may effect notably the shape of developing landforms. Its influence consists in graduation of surface ribs, flattening of summits, pedimentation at the foot of salient hemianticline shaped parts of landforms. The role of horizontal curvature in graduation of planar ribs of relief is analogue to that of vertical curvature in destruction of profile steps. Some features of pedimentation were simulated: joint of pediments having different base levels, "concave" relief formation, convergence of forms during slopes regression.

The present-day suspended sediment yield into the Ocean is estimated at 14.3 · 109 t/year or 147 t/km2 · year, which consists 1.3 times of its natural value. Average river water turbidity amounts to 327 g/m3. The maximum of suspended sediment yield sites in the Southeast of Asia; the minimum - in the plains of Eurasia and North America adjoining the Arctic Ocean. Oceanic sediment accumulation equals to 40 t/km2 · year. Decrease of land height averages 1 m in 19 400 years and rise of oceanic bottom - 1 m in 40 300 years. The greatest possible value of suspended sediment yield may reach 44-45 · 109 t/year under the condition of complete agricultural land conversion.

Classical trough valleys in the main ridges of the eastern part of the Baikal-Stanovoe highland, which underwent numerous glaciations in Neopleistocene, do not have multiage components corresponding to several stages of glaciation. Examples of trough valleys of the last (Sartan - Q⁴_III) glaciation with complex cross-section formed due to characteristics of glacial dynamics are given. Rare occurrences of multiage enclosed trough valleys formation were caused by mouth glacial lockup, having different height during different glaciations and providing the changes in the exaration basis heights up to 400-500 m.

Formation conditions of different type river channels were revealed by analysis of QI diagrams (water discharge versus valley bottom slope). Rivers of the Amur basin show differentiation of points according to channel type. This differentiation is specifi c for the region and differs from that obtained earlier by the other researchers. Complex ramifi cations are characteristic only for the largest rivers, in particular at maximum discharge on the Amur. The small rivers have simple ramifi cations under the impact of regional conditions (river confl uence, backwater over the valley narrowing). The analysis of QI diagrams has enabled to determine the formation conditions of various meanders (constrained; sharp and loop-shaped; easy, developed and ruptured) and furcations (single and one-sided; conjugate and fl oodplain-channel).

Eolian sand dunes are widespread in the Upper Volga basin on the 1st and 2d terraces of the Volga River and its tributaries. Dunes directions indicate that they were formed by western, northwestern, and, more seldom, by southwestern winds. Their sections show distinct contact between eolian and underlying deposits, though there is no fossil soil in between. Hence one may suggest that dunes formation was preceded by period with strong winds, which prevented sand accumulation and eroded the surface that was not protected by vegetation. The velocity of wind during the dunes formation was much higher than present-day one - not less than 5.2-6.5 m/s. An age of dune massives can be estimated by 14C datings of archeological sites on their surface: 9-8 kyr B.P. Therefore dunes development had stopped by that time and they were covered by vegetation.

There are numerous fragments of planation surfaces in the Southern Africa; some of them had been buried and then exhumed. Decrepit old age of watersheds contrasts with young incisions, which break their integrity. Erosion is most intensive along the margins of the young risings, where buried planation surfaces are predominantly disclosed. Within the largest areas of planation surfaces planation processes continue and the destruction of remnants is taking place under strong physical and chemical weathering, desquamation, corrosion, gravitational processes, and defl ation. The uppermost parts of the surfaces (>3000 m above sea level) undergo nivation. Within the accumulative parts of the surfaces eolian processes are predominant under arid conditions, swamp development - due to overmoistening.

The Priolkhonie area is neotectonically neutral block of the Baikal basin. Under the conditions of semiarid climate karst-denudation processes play the important role in its development. Relief structure of Ozersky and Tazheransky areas is thoroughly described. It is conformed completely to the Early Paleozoic substrate structure, but is complicated by three levels of karst-denudation surfaces: low - with absolute heights 600-620 m, middle - 650-680 m, and high - 680-710 m. In Tazheransky area two upper levels merge in the result of recent denudation processes. Stepped relief of the Priolkhonie correlates well with regional patterns of the whole range and basin system of the Pribaikalie.

Relief of Israel and Jordan is very young one; it was formed in the Late Cenozoic in the result of folding and block movements on the Cr-Pg shelf plain and its erosion dissection. Neotectonic activation of the territory began in the second half of the Late Cretaceous (in the post-Turonian time). Folding preceded block movements. Neotectonic activation of the Levant is but weak refl ection of the colossal collision events at the boundary of the Eurasian and African plates.

Systems of hollows were detected on satellite images in the north-eastern Stavropol Upland. Their density is several times greater than that of the recent erosion network. Spatial pattern of the systems evidence their fl uvial origin. A case study of one of the hollows in the Aigurka River catchment included fi eld investigation of its morphology and geological composition and laboratory study of the hollow sedimentary infi ll. We have concluded that the hollow systems represent upper reaches of an ancient erosion network, which were fi lled with deluvial and solifl uction deposits during the Valdai (Vistulian) cold epoch in the Late Pleistocene.

The results of radiocarbon dating of catastrophic gravitational processes in Khibiny Mts (Kola peninsular) and Timansky Ridge are represented. Huge seismogenic collapse in the Khibiny Mts caused mudflow, which changed the configuration of the channel in the valley. It happened 3940-3630 B.C. In the Chut River valley (Timansky Ridge) two layers of turf overlaid by colluvium were dated about 1500 and 1600 A.D. These overlays supposed to be the tracers of seismic events in 1474 and in 1596. Absolute dating of catastrophic events requires correct geomorphologic analysis and calibration of dates.

To the 100th anniversary of Glafira Vital’evna Obedientova

Present paper states review on book "Atlas of the Lover Volga channel morphodynamics"

Geographical regularities of the recent channels and flood-plains formation in the rivers of the Northern Eurasia

Irkutsk geomorphological seminar 2010: theory of geomorphology and its application in regional and global studies