Geologic and geomorphological works on gravitational processes and landforms in mountains mostly deal with movements of slope mantle due to gravitation and more seldom - with gravitation impact on solid rocks near slope surface. It has been established however that the gravitational processes are manifested practically within the whole mass of the ridge. The authors delimit zones of prevalence of different types of gravitational processes; their mechanism is considered and illustrated with cases from the best studied regions (Central Asia and Crimea mountains).

Morphostructural interrelations and spatial-temporal characteristics of recent geodynamics of the Alpine orogens of Europe are discussed using data of repeated levelling and mareographic measurements. Recent movement’s fields reveal block differentiation of morphostructures as well as conjugation of contrasting blocks along faultlines and lineaments. Lateral displacement rates usually exceed considerably those of vertical movements, which conform to the plate tectonics concept. Recent geodynamics is of oscillatory-wave nature, the movement’s rate and direction changing within short time intervals. A general map is compiled showing recent vertical movements within the Alpine orogenous belt of the southern Europe, the map is based on regional materials.

The polysemy of the concept of «morphostructure» as the main object of «structural» geomorphology is accounted for first of all by differently understanding the geological term «structure». Taking structure as a fundamental scientific concept will lead us to morphostructure belonging to two related but different geological and geomorphological objects, Therefore there are all grounds to divide structural geomorphology into two disciplines-tectonic geomorphology dealing with landforms of tectonic nature (morphostructures) and morphotectonics dealing with land surface forms of geological bodies (morphotectures). The term «structural geomorphology» is advisable to retain for the part of geomorphology studying land surface relief, the shape, structure and symmetry of its constituents of any rank, complexity and origin as static systems, i. e. from structural and geometrical point of view.

The aim of the geomorphological systems modelling is to understand their evolution under conditions of joint action of exogenous and endogenous relief-forming factors. Computer simulation methods of river valley as a geomorphological system are discussed. The models reveal both well known features of river valleys evolution and effects due to river valley belonging to the class of open non-equilibrium systems. Changes in spatial and temporal regimes of valley-forming factors under consideration account for the model -development and terminal state, which can be applied to the relief history reconstruction using computer simulation models.

The notion of «polarization» is introduced which reflects the trend to harmony in erosional topography structure (certain orientation of topographic facets with respect to main water divides, equality of size of topographic elements of the same order and their rhythmical pattern, symmetry and other regular characteristics). The polarization degree reflects the state of the order-forming system as totality of stable functional relations, the strength of the latter depending on the uplift potential energy. A conclusion is drawn from the Tuva mountain studies that the system's topographic pattern is more complicated than previously thought. Logical rules are developed for orders and complexes determination, the rules allow to compile a slope profile formula for subdivision of the relief into homogenous units. The order-forming system analysis will contribute to better understanding of the present-day mountain topography.

The Peter the First Ridge is young mountain structure which came into being during the Pleistocene due to an intermontane trough inversion within the frontal zone of interaction of the Indostan and Eurasian plates. The primary tectonic topography of the ridge's northern flank is reworked mainly within large foci of recent erosion, so-called erosional cirques. Specialists from the Institute of Geography (Academy of ciences of the USSR) carried out a series of repeated surface stereogrammetric surveys in two erosional cirques. Comparison of the survey material of different years permits to estimate the changes both qualitatively and quantitatively, reveals impulse character of mass movement at slopes and shows the cirques evolution. The data obtained formed the basis of the concept of the second wave of the backward erosion to be the main mechanism of the exogenous remodelling of the primary topography at the Peter the First Ridge northern flank, a scheme of the erosional dissection is outlined.

178 tectonic mountains are known from the axial area of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge between 58°30'N and 40°N (1300 miles along the axis, 822 000 km); the mountain area composes about 53% of the whole area, the rest surface presenting the rift valley floor and other longitudinal and transversal valleys. Only rare mountains are found at the ridge's flanks.

Four types of tectonic mountains are distinguished, differing in their base area: l – less than 1000 km², 2 – 1000 to 3000 km², 3 – 3000 to 6000 km², 4 – more than 6000 km². The axial zone is subdivided into 5 morphological regions according to the mountains types frequency.

Morphologic and morphometric studies together with the deposits analysis of small flat-bottom valleys within the Seim drainage basin confirmed the probability of multivariate character of the linear erosion landforms evolution; the latter may begin from a gully as well as may leave the gully stage out. Radiocarbon dating the soils at the valleys bottoms and terraces reveals the stages of erosion activation to be connected with the stages of cultivation of the area.

Four techniques of the kurums' dating are discussed, i.e. calculation, radiocarbon, lichenometric and based on proxy data, all but the last one define the minimum age of aurums. To increase the accuracy the several methods application is advisable. The recent Fkurums at the Far East of the USSR are demonstrated to be smaller and less important for the relief-formation as compared with the Late Pleistocene ones.

Echo-sounding profiles more than 1350 km long have been done within a test area in the eastern part of the Brazil Basin during the 31th cruise of r/v «Dmitry Mendeleev». A morphostructural scheme was compiled basing on the sounding data. A very rough, topography was found at the studied area of the basin floor between the Ascension and Saint Helena transform faults. Large ridges and corresponding valleys appeared to be of longitudinal direction as well as morphostructures of lower order. Sedimentation processes are probably of small importance in the region which accounts for absence of considerable areas of sub-horizontal sea floor.

Recent vertical earthcrust movements has been studied in their relation to neotectonics, basement topography, the earth-crust thickness and age, age boundaries density, mantle-crustal blocks density and geothermal regime, gravitational, isostatic and magnetic anomalies and space-geological ring structures, various generalization radii being used.

Correlation analysis revealed a considerable changeability of the recent movements correlation with all the fields studied, all the relations being simpler when the generalization radius increased. At the macroregional level of the recent movements development, they appeared to correlate with mantle-crustal blocks density and geothermal regime, at mesoregional level--with the crust thickness, basement surface topography and neotectonics, at regional level they are related practically to all the fields mentioned, the correlation form and closeness being however variable.

Field experiments and survey were carried out at the northern coast of the Kaliningrad Peninsula and the Kursh spit together with bathymetric measurements and sediments analysis at the offshore zone in order to study the coastal morpho- and lithodynamics. Contrary to general opinion the Kursh spit appeared to be not a spit, created by longshore drift, but a coastal bar due to deposits transversal movement (from the sea floor). The conclusion is drawn of primary importance for the coast protection measures planning and realisation.