Main tectonic stages of the Earth's topography evolution are discussed, including Pre-Riphean, Riphean-Paleozoic and Meso-Cenozoic ones. The author concludes on the relief's evolution proceeding regularly and as a whole irreversibly during the stages under discussion. The presen-day topography of the Earth's surface reflects the leading geomorphic processes of all the three stages.

Soil erosion is an active geomorphic process and requires a close attention of geomorphologists who investigate into present-day relief-forming processes and into the history of the relief's evolution. Spatial differences and changes in time can be traces in the erosion and deposition on slopes both unchanged and changed by the man's activity. Morphological structure of the slope's surface, form, quantity and character of elementary units the slope consists of are also of importance. Soil erosion brings about the deposition of deluvium. Studies of the deluvium of the past epochs require knowledge of erosion processes, especially that of soil erosion types, rates and factors. Under natural conditions the slope wash and associated deposition are restricted to dry steppes and semideserts. Human activity enlarged the scope of the process which became now azonal. In the course of the Pleistocene there were some epochs of active soil erosion and deluvial deposition similar to the present-man-induced-conditions in the processes rate and spatial scope.

The ocean floor spreading and the subsidence of cooling oceanic plate, the transport and settling down of terrigenous sediments, the transport along the continental slope, consolidation and isostatic subsidence of sedimentary layers are considered. Profiles of the ocean floor and the structure of sedimentary mantle at the successive moments of geological time are obtained by means of mathematical modelling. The role of progressive motions proved to be leading in the evolution of the largest forms of the ocean bottom relief. There are three types of motions, namely vertical (subsidence) at mid-oceanic ridges, horizontal (moving apart) at continental terraces and diagonal motions (down and apart from the ridge axis) within abyssal plains. Progressive motions combine with expansion of landforms.

Erosion processes (sheet and rill wash) are discussed which are widely distributed over slopes of earthen roads at the northern Caucasus. The author suggests to use a method of natural analogues (along with methods of computation) to estimate local stability of slopes, the method suggested has some points in its favour. Detailed investigations of the erosion process at some characteristic sites should be carried out using the technique of statitonary observations.

While investigating into general mechanism of the lithodynamic processes a close attention should be paid to studies of the dynamics of coastal placers themselves. Quantitative ratio of mobile heavy minerals reserves to stable ones should be ascertained even before the prospecting stage. A number of numerical coefficients are recommended to characterize the dynamics of the shelf and coast zone and the heavy concentrate aureole, the process of marine placers formation being thus elucidated and search for minerals more efficient.

A method is introduced which permits to code structural relations within a drainage basin and to construct a structural-digital model of topography. The model consists of a structurally ordered file of 4-numbered groups, representing spatial (3 numbers) and structural (1 number) position (significance) of characteristic points of the relief.

Existing methods of fluvial terraces tracing along valleys are discussed with reference to the Central Asia Mountains, the origin of various terrace levels and alluvial horizons being considered. Representative, non-representative and intermediate types of levels and horizons are distinguished, having in mind a possibility to use them in the structural and morphostructural analysis.

The author suggests a scheme aimed at indentifing man-induced disturbances in the development of mature marine coastal zone. The first stage involves studies of structural transformations of the man-influenced coastal zone as well as temporal and spatial variabilities of sediment budget constituents. At the second stage the equilibrium coastal landforms development is controlled, at the third -point deviations of coastal parameters from the equilibrium ratios are estimated.

The city of Kabul occupies two intermountain basins within the limits of the Kabul tectonic block which is an Early Alpine 'geoanticlinal uplift. Principal topographic elements of the region are bordering mountain ridges, Late Pleistocene and Holocene alluvial-lacustrine plains, Pliocene-Pleistocene piedmont plains and Pliocene-Pleistocene inselbergs. Three main tectonic-climatic stages are distinguished in the basins' topography evolution which began at the Miocene.

Mud flows impact on the mountain rivers channel processes is discussed, the processes features proved to be different within the zones of mudflows formation, transit and deposition, the channel morphology depends on the form of the mudflow deposits. After mudflow flood creates a primary channel in the mudflow deposits, later the channel undergoes a slow transformation by the stream which results in sequential changes of channel types according to changes in the stream slope and discharge. No correlation has been found between alluvium size and channel slope in mudflows while the correlation is qiute close in the channel transformed by water course. Mudflows account also for the lack of correlation between dimensions of the pavement on one hand and the fluvial layer on the other.

On the basis of geoacoustic profiling data three generations have been distinguished within the deep-sea Ian of the Danube River (older than Middle Pleistocene, Middle Pleistocene, Late Pleistocene - Holocene ones). Schematic maps of the sediments thickness are compiled for the two younger generations. The principal Ian structure includes accessory `lenses of sediments, formed by the material sliding along the fan's slopes. The position of the axial trough and levees of the present-day Danube Ian appeared to be inconsisten with those of older fans due to migi ation of the Danube's mouth.

When mapping the erosion processes in small scale the topographic erosional potential (TEP) should be analysed on the basis of general geomorphological subdivision. In most of geomorphological regions the curves of areas distribution according to the TEP values are characterized by a left-hand asymmetry, most pronounced within flat lowlands. A selectivity of agricultural development of lands smooths down differences in TEP of arable lands between lowlands and eroded elevated regions.

Regional structures reactivated by neotectonics are manifested in morphological and genetic features of mostly large topographic elements. Local deformations do not condition the general topographic types, being reflected in various geomorphic particularities. All the structures influence the dynamics of the present-day relief-forming processes.

The exogenous geomorphic processes are discussed with reference to the Carpathian fold mountains and Transcarpathian trough. Spatial distribution of exogenous processes over the region is considered and various factors of their development are estimated. Methods of the exogenous processes monitoring are described.

Первая Бсесоюзная конференция «Проблемы инженерной географии» проходила в г. Владимире с 21 по 24 сентября 1987 г. В ее работе приняли участие около 100 специалистов из институтов Академии наук СССР, академий наук союзных республик, Минвузов СССР и РСФСР, Мингео СССР. Было заслушано около 80 докладов и сообщений. Конференция была организована по инициативе Московского филиала Географического общества СССР. В ее организации приняли участие также Геоморфологическая комиссия АН СССР и Владимирский отдел Географического общества.

Новая книга о рельефообразовании в тропиках - Селиверстов Ю. П. Проблемы гипергенной геоморфологии (Л.: Изд-во ЛГУ, 1986. 276 с.)

Важный этап в изучении береговой зоны моря - монография - Шуйского Ю. Д. Проблемы исследования баланса наносов в береговой зоне морей (Л.: Гидрометеоиздат, 1986. 240 с.)

Исследование процессов формирования и строения речных дельт - монография В. Н. Михайлова, М. М. Рогова, А. А. Чистякова Речные дельты. Гидролого-морфологические процессы (Л.: Гидрометеоиздат, 1986. 250 с.)

Многие десятилетия ученые были вынуждены обращаться к зарубежным работам в поисках данных о рельефе Корейского полуострова. В 1985 г. Издательство АН КНДР опубликовало монографию «Геоморфология Кореи» на корейском языке. Она состоит из введения и 11 глав, имеет объем 430 с.