Dominant surface on Pre-Cambrian and Lower Paleozoic rocks (described as «Post-African» and in some places as «African» surface by L. King) is proved to be not Cenozoic but Mesozoic (Post-Gondwanian) planation surface. African and Post-African surfaces are widespread only within areas composed with loose Mesozoic and Cenozoic deposits. Quantity and age of planation surfaces of Africa are the same as those in Europe, Asia, Australia, which can be accounted for by dependence of planation surfaces formation on global eustatic transgressions of the Ocean.

Interpretation of «Mariner 10» images (resolution 1,2 km on the average) enabled to compose the global geologic-morghological map of Mercury at scale of 1:4000 000, regional geologic-morphological maps at scale of 2:2000 000 and to study main regularities of structure and history of evolution of its surface.

All the history of Mercury's surface can be divided into three major eras: 1 - Pre-Marine (Ante-Mare), 2-Marine (Mare) and 3-Post-Marine (Post-Mare), which in turn are divided into 9 periods as follows: Pre-Marine-Ancient, Nebularian, Trismegistian, Marine- Neptunian, Calorisian, Ligurian, Post-Marine-Antoniadian, Kuiperian, Newest.

Successive description of landforms and structures is given which were formed during these periods, particularly Mercury's major volcano having 110 km at base and 60 km die of top caldera. The volcano has been dicovered by the author as result of interpretation of photoes and stereopairs of «Mare Martis» area (coordinates of the volcano centre: 21°S, l24°W).

The lithomorphological analysis of glacial landforms is an effective approach for to estimate the glaciers' impact on landscape in mountains. Several analytical methods were applied to study marginal Moraines of Central Caucasus, and distinct diagnostic differences were obtained for superficial and basal debris. The latter ones were dominant components in glacial deposits and corresponding landforms. Our investigations pointed to the active role of glaciers in the formation of morphosculpture of high mountains. The petrological analysis of stone particles in the moraines of the Bezenghi Valley helped to establish the dynamics of maximal glacial erosion zone during the Holocene. This zone was migrating successively up the valley in relation to the reduce of glacier size and vice versa. On the base of radiocarbon dating we calculated that mean rate of glacial accumulation was about 4 millimeters per year. This indicator was very close to the rate of glacial erosion, because the sizes of glacial erosion and accumulation zones had approximately the same order.

A possibility is considered of prospecting oil-bearing under-salt structures and Late Jurassic paleorelief elements by means of recent geomorphic anomalies analysis. Areas of Urtabulak and Zevardy are taken as examples where drilling revealed a regular inter-relation between Jurassic distorted surface and the present day surface of Dengizkul Uplift.

At sand deserts of Central Asia takyrs are not subjected to sand drift under natural conditions due to peculiar aerodynamics. If the takyr surface is broken and built-up, the equilibrium is upset which results in barkihans transgressing the takyr and sand accumulation on .the lee side of obstacles. To protect the takyr surface and constructions certain measures are necessary on fixing sands at the windward side of protected objects.

Irrigation system at Sarpinskaya Lowland area (Caspian region) under rice crops alternation accounts for exogenous processes activization (including erosion, landsliding, suffusion etc.). It is difficult as yet to protect completely the irrigation system from the processes impact, nevertheless it is necessary to foresee and take into consideration their possible negative results. In order to plan protective measures the methods are to be developed which allow to forecast present-day exogenous processes activity in connection with irrigation.

For two selected sites at Moldavia radius and curvature coefficient were measured at various exogenous slope forms; diagrams of radius versus curvature coefficient were drawn. A possibility is stated to recognize statistic features of slope processes types distribution and correlation within the sites under consideration.

A technique is described of cartographic materials processing based on usage of optical-electronic devices. A considerable efficiency of the technique is shown with reference to East European Plain taking as an example maps of selected orientations and rose-diagrams of river valleys and fault lines direction. 8 main directions have been identified for river valleys and fault lines. Authors emphasize the importance of «planetary» fissures system for drainage net configuration.

Types of submarine valleys are discussed on the basis of reference and cartographic materials as well as the 'valleys distribution within separate morphostructural units of the submerged continental margin of Antarctic. When continental shelf changes into continental slope and this one to continental rise, different types of submarine valleys network change correspondingly. The submarine valleys seem to be of more importance for debris removal and distribution than the ice rafting. The most mature submerged erosional forms are near outlet glaciers of the continental ice sheet. Changes of submarine erosional systems at the morphostructures' boundaries are associated with thick aggradation formations. Such formations include sedimentary series at linear troughs at the shelf, submarine fans and continental rise near the foot of the continental slope, as well as sedimentary series within adjacent deep sea depressions.

Processes of periglacial litho- and morphogenesis were active at the plains to the West and East of the Urals during Pleistocene. Cryoeluvium, sand and loess eolian covers were formed at interfluvial surfaces. Cryogenous processes were dominating in morphogenesis such as frost cracking and polygonal microrelief formation. Slope wash and solifluction acted with considerable intensity at slopes. Rivers accumulated periglacial alluvium. Three subzones are distinguished within the periglacial hyperzone of the last Ice Age: northern (extremely cryoarid), central (cryo-semihumid) and southern (cryo-semiarid), the subzones differ both in rate and direction of litho- and morphogenetic processes.

Dynamics of the recently emerged coastal zone is considered using as an example a key site at the east Aral Sea floor where field studies (including air photoes interpretation) were carried on during 1976 to 1979 years. Geomorphological schemes compiled on the basis of the air photoes allow to trace changes in coastline position as well as emerged sea floor modeling with exogenous processes and stages of various landforms formation.

A critical consideration is given to the settled opinion on the evolution of Central Asia mountain relief on the basis of new data concerning the mountain Fergana and adjacent areas in particular, The Late Paleozoic epigeosynclinal mountain relief is shown to continue incessant evolution during the Mesozoic and Cenozoic. A methodical inadequacy has been shown of the well known concept of pre-orogenous initial planation surface», arch-block and block distortions of the surface previously were considered to form the frame of recent mountain topography of the Central Asia. The Central Asia mountain morphostructures appeared to be complicate and ancient polychromous and heterogeneous formations.

Area of junction of the Northern Apennines and the peninsular part itself of Italy can be attributed to three areal units (megablocks) according to morphostructure. Geophysical data reveal the differences in deep structures of megablocks. The zone which delimits the North Apennines and two southern rnegablocks is identified as transversal morphostructural lineament and is considered to be morphostructural boundary between the peninsula and the continent. The peninsula shifts eastward along the boundary.

On the basis of complete study of relief and geology the Moscow ice sheet has been reconstructed at the Volga left bank area (Zavoljie) near the city of Kalinin; ice divide zones of different order have been outlined as well as ice flows, ice lobes and tongues.

Nikolay Jovanovich Nikolayev-to the 75th birthday

The Earth's surface evolution under mans influence: Rathjens C. Die Formung der Erdoberfléiche unter dem Einfluss des Menschen. Stuttgart, 1979. 160 S.

Problems of age and genesis of overdeepenings and river valleys evolution at the Vth All-Union Conference on the Quaternary

Sergei Sergeevich Shultz (an obituary)