The free interpretation of the «elements of the Earth's surface» notion which was characteristic of the traditional geomorphology is hardly admissible within the frame of the system approach; it should be eliminated in the course of the organization of the geomorphological knowledge. Elements of a static quasi-integral morphological system are formal points, linear and areal elements which can be identified unambiguously from their morphology and cannot be divided into smaller units; they are connected by definite spatial interrelations and represent adequately ingredients of the Earth's surface. Points and structural lines correspond to those parts of the surface where its main parameters (such as absolute heights or depths as a function of planar coordinates, first and second derivatives of the function, horizontal curvature) undergo essential qualitative and extreme quantitative changes. Areal elements are characterized by morphological homogeneity which results from and, in turn, causes the genetic and dynamic homogeneity. The elements of the Earth's surface can be identified on analytic maps at any scale.

The continents hypsometry is discussed in the light of the new results obtained on the basis of two automated banks of topographic data recently formed in the USA - Rand Corporation (Santa Monica, California) and Aerospace Center of Cartographic Survey, the USA Department of Defense (Saint Louis, Missouri). Essential discrepancies are found between the results obtained from the two sources, and the conclusion is drawn that the data from the Aerospace Center are more reliable and should be used instead of obsolete data by E. Kossina (1933).

Hypsographic curves based on the Aerospace Center data (average heights of 1^o by 1o latitude-longitude quadrangles) can be subdivided into 3 groups, the first one includes curves of northern continents, and the 2nd and 3rd groups include curves of southern continents, Arabia, lndostan and Madagascar. The subdivision corresponds to relative areas of high mountains, arid lands and largest drainage basins. An analytical exprefision is introduced to approximate total hypsographic curve of continents and the «normal» component of the curve of those continents where the topography is mostly controlled by large drainage basins.

The paper presents results of integrated local morphometric analysis as applied to paleogeomorphological tasks. Proceeding from the actualistic principles the author argues that some morphometric ratios of the surface topography can be used for construction and analysis of maps of buried topography and paleorelief.

An experience in the present-day relief analysis is described aimed for kimberlee bodies location, with special reference to a kimberlee field in Yakoutia. A morphometric technique of isolong has been used; the results obtained having been compared with geological and geophysical data. A correlation has been established between the kimberlee bodies location and tectonic structure of the area, which permits to select most promising places for search for kimberlites. It is especially important that the morphometric methods can be used at earliest stages of the kimberlee field studies.

Any morphometric anomaly originates in disturbances of mass equilibrium near the land surface which stimulate surficial lithodynamic flows and formation of rnorphostru-ctures of various orders. The mass equilibrium restoration proceeds not only during the tectonic movements but also after the cessation of the tectonic activity. The surface structure changes along with changes in the conditions (formation of various morphosculptures and lithosculptures). The drainage network pattern depends on spatial distribution of bedrock and morphostructures anomalies. Inambiguous interpretation of the data on the surface's structure in terms of geological structure requires analyzing topographic elements of a certain order according to the task under consideration.

Characteristics of the channel process within the lower reaches of the Irtysh Rive are described, some new regularities of the meanders development being revealed. A technique is worked out which permits to check the meanders' theoretical approximations (and therefore the hypotheses on meandering causes and mechanism) against empirical morphometric correlations. The dynamic equilibrium notion is specified for free meandering channels, a new method of meander deformations calculation is outlined based on the assumption of balanced redeposition of load; formulae are derived for approximate estimation of mean and maximum rates of banks displacement within the deformations zone. Angular velocities of planar deformations appeared to bear a relationship to the meanders maturity. An expression is found connecting the channel maximum depth and the degree of the meander's development.

The mechanism and rate are considered of the process of loess fragments fall on the gullies' slopes in the Western Tien-Shan low mountains. Seasonal and diurnal cycles of the fall's rate changes are studied under natural conditions using stationary observations data, a correlation has been traced between the falling and erosional processes, the fall rate being established to depend on meteorological factors.

For the first time numerical relashionships have been introduced which can be used for calculations of gullies catchments configuration. The cartographic data processing by means of statistics produced formulae which connected gully catchment area with length of slopes prone to linear erosion. The analysis fulfilled is of regional and of regional significance for the determination of drainage catchments characteristics within the southern Non-Chernozemic zone. The methodical approach can be recommended for similar researches in other regions.

The paper contains the analysis of geomorphology and the Quaternary hystory of the Terek valley. The recent channel morphology and its changes are proved to depend on geological and geomorphological factors, such as tectonic movements, banks lithology, valley floor slope, alluvium composition etc.

The Chorokhi river yearly brings about 15 mln tons of alluvium to the sea coast. Main part of the load gets into the submarine canyon, the head of which is at 10 meters depth. About 10% of the load is included into longshore drift and moves northward towards the Batumsky Promontory.

During the period from 1982 to 1985 2,5 mln m3 of beach-forming sediments had been excavated near the river mouth, which averages 18% of total beach-forming load input and exceeded 30% in 1984. Results of 15 bathymetric surveys in 1976 to 1985 years indicate the offshore zone near the river mouth to be dynamically stable and the excavation volume to be compensated.

Slope rock glaciers consist of coarse debris and ice, the cryogenous structure being of basic type. The structure, spatial distribution, formation and evolution of the rock glaciers depend on climatic and geocryological conditions, rocks lithology, slope angle and profile, as well as on the slope processes rate. The slope rock glaciers formation and evolution are conditioned by an action of a number of cryogenic processes and by plasticviscous characteristics of the rock glaciers material.

Extensive glaciations developed within the middle Kolyma drainage Basin during the Early and Middle Pleistocene. The glaciers type and extension are extablished on the basis of glacial and periglacial deposits distribution, position of glacial troughs and eroded glacial cirques and privation-solifluction hollows. The former glaciers developed under conditions of low' mountain and hilly topography.

Certain relief types similar in morphological features to tectonic intermountain depressions are likely to result from filling Neogene river valleys with glacial deposits. This process was favoured by lower rates of tectonic movements and also by progressive changes in Pleistocene paleoclimates.

Стало традицией каждые 4-5 лет проводить в МГУ всесоюзные конференции «Закономерности проявления эрозионных и русловых процессов в различных природных условиях». Организатор этих форумов ученых и практических работников - Проблемная лаборатория эрозии почв и русловых процессов Географического факультета МГУ. Очередная ІV конференция проходила 24-26 декабря 1987 г. В ее работе приняли участие около 450 человек- представителей более 150 учреждений - институтов Академии наук СССР и академий наук союзных республик, высших учебных заведений, отраслевых научно-исследовательских институтов, институтов ВАСХНИЛ, производственных и ряда других организаций. Тезисы докладов опубликованы в специальном сборнике «Закономерности проявления эрозионных и русловых процессов в различных природных условиях», М.: Изд-во МГУ, 1987. 470 с.

Два взгляда на старую проблему пенеплена: Тащи С. М.; Тимофеев Д. А. По монографии Никонова Р.И. «Проблема пенеплена в геоморфологии (новый аспект)» (М.: Наука, 1986. 136 с.)