While paleo-seismology is progressing rapidly; a considerable diversity still exists in terminology and classification of seismogenic disturbances. The author puts forward a new understanding of the terms «seismo-deformations» and «seismo-dislocations» for discussion. A classification is outlined of earthquake-induced disturbances, several new groups being identified and explained.

Geometry of acute-angled wedge-like morphostructures (AWM) of the Central Asian mountain belt is discussed, systems of AWM are identified and analyzed, including those arranged in pairs (mountains - basins), triangular and quadrangular in shape, and discontinuous. Three morphological types of AWM are distinguished: mountains - plains, mountains - mountains and plains - plains. The authors suggest that AWM are formed in the compression field of colliding Eurasian and Indostan lithospheric plates due to active lateral thrusts. In their opinion, the studies of orographic pattern of the Central Asian mountains may contribute considerably to development of dynamic model of the region's morphostructure.

The fluvial process essence is that it proceeds in reciprocate manner, not in two, but in three dimensions. Alluviation follows erosion and completes every individual stage, while the stages repeat themselves continuously. The valley deepening into solid rocks (when considered in integral form) proceeds, in a way, through the bedload layer.

Long-term stationary observations of bed-forming sediments dynamics in point bars of mountain rivers revealed a pattern in the granulometric differentiation along the river and at various elements of the point bar topography; the differentiation appeared to depend on the flow regime, which gives an insight into the processes of the channel load transport and permits to estimate rates of erosion and alluviation.

Mountain karst massifs have some special features which determine passing of seismic waves. Paleoseismic information may be obtained from a number of karst features, such as breaks and displacements of the cave passages, distorted limestone blocks, corrosion-gravitation landforms, debaris resulting from collapse and chemogenic sediments precipitates from water solutions in the karst cavities.

An influence of tectonic thresholds on drainage network restructuring in tectonic basins of the Lower Amur region

Contrasts in tectonic movement’s rate within the basin - outlet threshold» system form prerequisites to accelerated alluviation and changes in the drainage network pattern. In case of low degree of differentiation in the tectonic movements, river may successfully deal with uplifts at antecedent reaches of valleys, while erosion increases in rate on alluvial plains. The Lower Amur stopped flowing into the Ekaterina Bay in the Early Pleistocene due to uplift of the outlet barrier and down warping of the Orel' depression. A morphostructure north of the Evoron-Chukchagir depression shows recent elevation at a rate of 1 mm per year. Trends in the outlet barriers development indicate a possibility of lake basin formation here in a not so distant future (from the geological point of view). The Nimelen River would join then the Tugur system.

Paleogeomorphology of bedrock near streams confluence and ore distribution were studied with special reference to three metal placers regions. Regular features are discerned in the structure of junctions of streams of different order; placer formation mechanism is clarified taking into account channel characteristics in the confluence zone. The data obtained are used as a basis for classification of stream confluences and related placers. The classification may be used when planning geological works.

At the northern coast of the Sambian Peninsula longshore sediment drift proceeds in the form of short( up to 3--4 km) oppositely directed flows; zones of their divergence are located at the coastal protrusions(cusps), while the convergence takes place in heads of bights. Several stable lithodynamic cells have been identified; exchange of energy and sediments between them is hampered. The sediment transport within each cell is effected by longshore energetic currents, rip currents developing within convergence zones of the energetic cureents, and by longshore gradient currents resulting from the water surface denivelations due to wave transformations over the sea floor elevations.

The paper discusses influence of the alluvium granulometry and thickness, valley slope and bank-forming sediments of the development of various morphodynamic types of channel. An empirical equation is suggested to assess the factors influence, the channel formation belt width is taken as an indicator of the degree of lateral channel deformations.

The paper considers two points of view on the origin of the Pleistocene sand deposits infilling valley systems in the Western Transbaikalian region: 1) alluviation caused by the Baikal level rise due to increase in rainfall; 2) alluviation resulted from tectonic damming. Facts are supplied which contradict to the first opinion. A possible mechanism is suggested for alluviation in the Selenga drainage basin due to water ingression as a result of tectonic uplift of the ridges west of the Baikal depression. The author rejects the idea of paragenetic relation between the sand accumulation and mountain glaciation of the Baikal region.

At the neotectonic stage the Kura depression evolution proceeded along the same trends as before, against the background of general differentiated downwarping; the leading factor were changes in the regional base level due to the Caspian regressions and transgressions. No drastic changes in topography ha.ve been recorded, though a progressive complication in chronological and spatial pattern can be traced. The relief reaches maximum complicity in the Holocene and at the recent stages. Most important stages in the paleogeomorphic evolution of the Kula depression and adjacent areas of the Caucasus are as follows; the Early Pliocene (the age of the productive member formation); the Late Pliocene (Akchagylian); the end of the Eopleistocene (Apsheronian); the Holocene, when principal features of topography were modeled.

A new book on the Mediterranean Sea floor structure

Erosion, debris flows and environment in mountains

New pages in the theoretical geomorphology

International conference in Sudetes

Aleksandr Vasilievich Zhivago ( to the 80th birthday)

Vsevolod Pavlovich Zenkovich (1910- 1994)

Nina Viktorovna Bashenina ( 1913- 1994)