Morphometric characteristics of the flood-plain are not integral variables and cannot adequately reflect features of the flood-plain morphological structure. We used the angle between the geometric axes of channel and flood-plain as a measure of the angle between the dynamic axes of the channel and flood-plain flows. It enables us to calculate the hydraulic characteristics of the channel and flood-plain flows. This morphometric parameter, however, cannot characterize the features of the floodplain morphology in sufficient details. Therefore, further research is needed to develop new parameters, which would characterize the morphology of the flood-plains not only in transverse sections but also in longitudinal ranges.

The paper discusses results of quantitative assessment of sediment redistribution within a small arable catchment during a few different time intervals. Application of several independent methods allowed more reliable determination of individual components of the local sediment budget. The results show that during approximately 130 years of traditional cultivation about 90% of sediment from eroded arable slopes reached the small valley bottom. After introduction of soil conservation measures this value decreased to less than 20%. At the same time, average annual soil loss rate for the entire catchment have decreased by more than 2 times – from 13.9–14.4 t/ha × year to 7.0 t/ha × year.

Gilgai morphology, genesis, distribution and role in the landscape are described on the base of literature data and personal investigations. Gilgai is a specific type of microrelief, formed by slow uplift and intrusion of a subsoil material due to soil heaving resulted from alternating drying and wetting. In terms of genetic classification of landforms gilgai could be classified as hydrogenic microrelief, along with cryogenic, karst and suffosion microrelief. Gilgais may be identified and distinguished from other types of microrelief by the presence of slickensides – slip planes demonstrating the direction of the vertical and lateral shearing. Gilgai are mostly presented in tropical and subtropical regions, but were also found in Russia and the former USSR. 

The distribution of the contemporary mudflows and ancient proluvium-mudflow deposits in the Far East was examined. Mudflows have restricted occurrence in the region with the exception of volcanic and formerly glaciated areas. While climate and relief are homogeneous, the conditions and character of geologic substratum play the main role in mudflows activation. In the volcanic areas of the Kuril-Kamchatka zone with high relief, abundance of unconsolidated sediments on poorly vegetated surfaces, and overmoistening the lahars and mudflows are widespread. The epochs of mudflows activation on the continent happened also during the Middle and Late Pleistocene, especially at the periods of strong climatic changes.

Multiyear satellite monitoring (1978–2009) of the north-western Caspian Sea coast revealed the impact of the recent sea level rise (up to –26.5 m, i.e. more than by 2 m) on the coastal zone development was growing with the distance from Volga delta and with the increase of foreshore slope. The main result of this influence was the extension and shifting of the whole wind-surge mudflat complex inland. Under some lowering (by 0.5 m) and subsequent stabilization (around –27.0 m) of the sea level, backside mudflat border reacts more active and shifts seaward earlier than mudflat outer edge. At the beginning, shoreline configuration was complicated, then aligned and then complicated all over again. 

Structural-geomorphologic indicators of the covered stocks in poorly exposed areas are very important for rare metal ore-bearing stocks prospecting. Orlovsko-Spokoinenski ore field in the northern sector of the outer zone of the Aginsk Late Mesozoic macrostructural form with a central-type symmetry was taken as a test site. At the first stage investigation of exogenic processes was fulfilled. Creep, sheet wash and linear erosion are the main processes in the area, especially intense during heavy rains. Cryogenic processes like solifluction and congelifluction are of some importance too.

On the base of topographic maps of 1 : 500 000 scale the regionalization of the territory was fulfilled. Three geomorphic regions were distinguished: 1 – the Vostok trench – submarine hilly plain –900 m below sea level, with several depressions and elevations; 2 – the Komsomolski mountains up to 1580 m a.s.l.; 3 – the Shmidt plain about 300 m a.s.l. and relief about 100 m. These regions are complicated with exogenic meso-landforms different in height, depth of dissection and general morphology. 

Data of lithologic and spores and pollen analysis were used for reconstruction of the history of postglacial sedimentation in the relict hollow of melt water runoff at the south watershed of the Protva river (Kaluga Region). In the end of the Middle Pleistocene when the melt water runoff dried out, weak drainage lake appeared and quickly turned into marsh (dense peat of more than 1.5 m thickness). The middle of the swamp period corresponds to optimum of Mikulino interglacial (OIS 5e). Climate snap in the Early Valday caused flooding of the hollow and sedimentation of 4.5 m of lacustrine siltstones during the interval 120-100 ka B.C. They are overlain by 2 m of Holocene peat, i.e. accumulation was absent during the most part of the Holocene. Other watershed hollows in the middle Protva basin show the same structure; hence scenario described is typical and may be considered as self-development of relief. Glacial and fluvioglacial relief of watersheds, abundant with closed depressions, was being smoothed in the end of the Moscow and in the beginning of the Valdai epochs (Mikulino optimum – interval of relief stabilisation) due to accumulation in the local depressions. As soon as the first half of the Valdai epoch they turned from the catches for deposits into transit elements along their path to lower layers of relief; the integral system of slope wash from watersheds to valley network was formed. 

The theory of geomorphology is much more stable than those of other earth sciences. There are two ways of the Earth surface presentation in geomorphology: (a) mathematical image as a two-dimensional plane with deformations in the third dimension; and (b) physical image as an intermediate layer between the lithosphere and mobile geospheres. The Earth relief includes a great deal of convergent forms. An elaboration of the origin of landforms would be of use for better understanding of the modern state and prospects for its future evolution.

Incipient river network in the mountain regions of Asian Russia arose in different geological epochs according to periods of main geologic structures formation. Main valleys and low order tributaries appeared simultaneously. During several erosion cycles, river-net possessed inherent character or underwent significant changes. Rearrangement of drainage basins were caused by volcanic activity, intrusions and other structural-tectonic changes. Intrabasin alterations depend on structural-tectonic and climatic factors combinations. 

N.N. Komedchikov (1959-2011)

To the 80th anniversaru of A.A. Nikonov.

To the 80th anniversary of A.A. Svitoch.