Relief is considered a necessary element of the Earth's surface energy balance being a kind of a secondary storage of the energy. In terms of energy the author examines the assumption that the solid Earth surf ace elevations within the limits of continents are distributed accordingly to the «normal» law. The distribution however is proved to be normal only in the area of highest elevations, while at most part of continents (about 96% of the area) the elevations distribution corresponds to the inverse hyperbolic sine, which means that the topographic masses posess the least quantity of the total potential energy relative to an average level. The energy approach considered to be promising for the development of the unified theory of the Earth's relief evolution.

Main f actors which influenced topography shaping in Angola are geological structures and tectonic movements. The Creat Escarpment of South Africa (at least within Angola) is a tectonic feature belonging to the transitional zone between the African continent and the Atlantic ocean. Pediplanation is the.most characteristic process of landscape model ling. Like other kinds of denudation it operates on the basis of selectivity. The territory of Angola consists of two provinces - Western Angola and Eastern Angola. Western Angola occupies the Angolian and Mayor be shields and has block structure. The erosion-denudational topography prevails there. Eastern Angola (Congo and Okovango basins) is a vast alluvial plain made up of sandy sediments of Neogene age. As in South Africa several planation epochs can be distingueshed in Angola. However relics of corresponding planation surf aces hardly can be identified in modern topography under the present state of knowledge.

Two types of platform plains- mobile and relatively stable are distinguished within the limits of the USSR according to the rate of neotectonic geomorphic processes and position of endogenous sources of energy. Mobile areas are vast marginal parts `of platforms up to hundreds kilometers wide which are distinguished by elevated neotectonic activity induced from adjacent orogenes. The rate of neotectonic and geomorphic processes progressively increases towards mountains and nearly reaches values typical for the erogenous regions. Stable areas of platform are far from mountains and outside of the limits of the orogenes' influence. Neotectonics and morphogenesis proceed slowly; the regions seem to receive energy from autonomous local sources, which are relatively weak. Mobile regions of platforms are transitional from erogenous to stable areas, and the author suggests to call them «peri-orogenes».

A. N. Lastochkin developed a technique of the relief's studies which permits to construct model of any area of the land surf ace. The elements which display the Earth's surf ace structure are well chosen and sufficient. Some limitations of the technique are noted, the author is recommended to continue work on more rigirous formalization and on creation of an automatic system of morphological mapping.

Studies of spatial distribution of river and gullies revealed a certain tectonic control over the drainage network. River valleys of higher order are proved to be associated with subsided elements of the basement, with fault-lines of zones of contact between structures and blocks, sources of low order rivers are situated at neotectonic uplifts. Gullies formation is also typical for positive structures. An examination of fluvial erosion and debris transport directions permits to outline about 50 positive and negative blocks which undergo uplift or subsidence.

Определение и картографирование общего расчленения рельефа

Three subzones of different age are distinguished within the zone of neotectonic deformations at the Southern Khibini on the basis of space photos and geological-geomorphological data. The zone as a whole is associated with the large regional lineament which has been reactivated at the neotectonic stage, it delimits the Imandra - Varzuga structural-f acres zone. The zone's morphology clearly displays traces of paleoseismic deformations dated from the Late Pleistocene and the Holocene.

The author argues for two epochs of weathering crusts formation within the mountain regions south of the West Siberian Plain that are Late Cretaceous- Eocene and Oligocene - Miocene. On that assumption a model is suggested of the development of planation surfaces and associated crusts of weathering.

The efficient use of the natural resources of coasts essentially depends on how correct are the notions on the long-term evolution of the coastal zone. The concept that the SE Baltic coast evolution is controlled by a single East Baltic debris flow is proved to be inconsistent. A new, non-traditional concept is introduced and substantiated, which considers the Holocene evolution of the SE Baltic coast proceeding by step-by-step development of relatively independent lithodynamic systems. The concept chould be taken as a starting point for coast protection measures and rational land use planning in the region.

The Pliocene - Quaternary evolution of slopes of the Armenian Highland is considered against the background of climatic changes and block tectonics. Most of the present-day slopes date back to the Late Pliocene or Early Pleistocene. During the Quaternary new slopes were formed at the highland due to volcanic processes, erosion of antecedent valleys and river piracy, glacial processes (slopes of cirques, troughs and moraine hills).

Climatic changes controlled the type and rate of slope processes, the defluction prevailed at early stages (Late Miocene- Pliocene) and became less intense later (in the Pleistocene and during historic time in par ticular) because of the increase in aridity. The differentiated movements of the block character created step~like slopes of the highest order. The continued increase in the height contrast of the Armenian Highland contributed to steepness of slopes and activates the soil displacement even in spite of their relative aridity

The paper discusses the geomorphology of the continental slope near the central Great Kuril Ridge. Individual bathygraphic systems of submarine canyons are outlined and their morphology is described. A model of formation of tectonic disjunctive dislocations (faults and thrusts) is developed on the basis of the submarine canyons profile analysis.

Automated geomorphological mapping is based on an automatic transfer of scanner space photoes data to a corresponding base map along with the absolute geographic fixation of the results. The cartographic image for a geomorphological map of the SW European par t of the USSR has been obtained using the automated cartographic system ACS - MGU.

Geologic and topographic features of the Maritime territory control the loose material volume which comes from slopes to valleys floor as well as conditions of channel deformations development and floodplain-forming processes. Three types and eleven sub-types of curves of the channel-forming discharges are distinguished according to geologic and geomorphic conditions of the drainage basins and order of streams. The data obtained permit to approach prognosis of changes in rivers channel-forming activity by way of model ling of changes in conditions of channel deformations and floodplain-forming processes while the drainage basins topography assumed to be invariable.

Observations from the manned apparatus «Sever-2» revealed ancient landforms due to marine erosion and subaerial processes in the Whale Ridge at the depth of 220 to 895 m. The landforms are thought to be formed in the Miocene during the planetary ocean regression resulting from the glaciation in Antarctic.

С 13 по 16 октября 1988 г. в Ташкенте в Ин-те сейсмологии АН УзССР состоялся очередной (десятый) семинар по использованию космической информации в геологии. В работе семинара, на этот раз посвященного роли космической информации при решении сейсмологических задач, участвовало около 80 специалистов из Академии наук СССР, академий наук Армянской ССР, Киргизской ССР, Таджикской ССР, Туркменской ССР, Узбекской ССР, Дальневосточного отделения и Якутского филиала СО АН СССР, Гособразования СССР, Мингео СССР, ГУГК при СМ СССР. Было заслушано 30 докладов, рассмотревших как конкретные результаты применения космической информации при решении тех или `иных сейсмологических задач, так и отдельные теоретические и методические вопросы интерпретации космической информации.

В сентябре 1988 г. в Одессе состоялось рабочее совещание на тему «Моделирование в геоморфологии». Оно было организовано Геоморфологической комиссией АН СССР и Одесским государственным университетом. На совещание собрались 42 специалиста из научных и научно-производственных организаций 1З городов страны. Было заслушано и обсуждено І8 докладов и ряд сообщений по актуальным проблемам моделирования в теоретической и прикладной геоморфологии.

Новые книги о геоморфологии океанического дна:

• Ананьев Г. С., Леонтьев О. К. Геоморфология материков и океанов. Изд-во МГУ, 1987.
• Литвин В. М. Морфоструктура дна океанов. Л.: Недра, 1987. 275 с.
• Удинцев Г. Б. Рельеф и строение дна океанов. М.: Недра, 1987. 239 с.

Динамическая геоморфология в учебной литературе - учебник Костенко Н. П. "Геоморфология" (М.: Изд-во МГУ, 1985. 309 с.

8 ноября 1988 г. на 84-м году жизни скончалась Наталья Владимировна Думитрашко - известный советский геоморфолог, более 50 лет проработавшая в Институте географии АН СССР, почетный член географических обществ СССР и Азербайджана, одна из первых советских женщин, получивших ученую степень доктора географических наук, автор около 300 научных работ.

13 декабря 1988 г. скоропостижно скончался замечательный географ и геоморфолог, заслуженный деятель науки РСФСР, профессор кафедры геоморфологии и палеогеографии географического факультета МГУ Олег Константинович Леонтьев.