A particular class of channel landforms is described. It is represented by sculptured-erosion forms, created by channel flow cutting into bedrock of mountain and semi-mountain rivers. The main types of this landform class, their changes along the valley, and their dependence on channel type and lithology are considered.

The spatial differentiation and intensity of the landslide deformation were investigated by large-scale tachymetry on the model test site. The data obtained were processed by means of GIS-technologies. The application of the MAP-algebra and mathematics-cartographic simulation has allowed to distinguish segments of the landslide with different direction and velocity of movements and to calculate their volumes and areas.

The paper deals with the results of paleogeographical study of marine and deltaic sediments of the Black Sea’s shoreline of Taman’ peninsular, aimed to reconstruction of the local variation of the sea level changes and coast development in the Late Holocene. On the basis of litho-facial, palaeontological, geochronological and submarine archaeological studies an estimation of local neotectonic impact on the sea level changes for the last 5.0 ka was obtained and the time frame of recent coastal feature’s generation was determined.

According to detailed litho-facial analysis of jurassic continental deposits in the northern part of the Don-Medveditsa folds the structure of Bajocian river valley appears to be more complicated than has been earlier supposed. The data obtained are indicative of the transition of river valley into the delta in the northern part of Volgograd region at the latitude of Kamyshin; the Late Bajocian marine deposites are reliably traced there. The river valley was initiated in the crush zone of the West Zhirnovsky fault.

On the base of long-term observation of suspended sediment yield in the river basins of Eastern Europe the seasonal irregularity of erosion having zonal features has been revealed. It grows along with aridity of climate, i.e. from forest zone to semidesert. The human impact complexifies this tendency: irregularities of erosion and suspended sediment yield increase with growth of land reclamation within the river basins. This influence is more distinct in the forest zone. The annual changes of suspended sediment yield are less intensive in the big basins.

Seven different principles of geomorphic processes classification are discussed. These principles are the following: by genesis, by environmental conditions, by place of action, by spacial distribution, by the type of lithodinamic flows, by chronological criteria, by morphological results. The multiplicity of principles does not perplex the developing of partial classifications designed for concrete research aims.

The paper is devoted to the possibilities of geotopological approach to the landscape analysis aimed at the formation of the ecological framework of a territory. Topological structure - a model of the landscape composition - is considered as a basis for ecological framework projecting at the separate countryside (farm or household) level.

The structure of hazardous morphogenetic processes in the Irkutsk region and in its ecological districts has been revealed and analyzed. The districts were divided into four classes of hazard; main, accompanying, and secondary processes were distinguished. I class (low hazard) - Angara-Tungusky and Kansk-Lensky districts, II class (moderate) - Lena-Angarsky and Primorsky, III class (high) - Prisayansky and Baikalo-Patomsky, IV class (extremely high) -East-Sayansky, Khamar-Dabansky, North-Baikalian, and Transbaikalian. Within the whole territory of Irkutsk region hazardous processes were subdivided into four groups according to their input into general hazard: I - cryogenic processes (15%) and erosion (15%); II - rockfalls and taluses (9%), earthquakes (9%), tectonic creep (8%), landslides (8%); III - karst (7%), mudflows (6%), suffosion (6%); IV - gully formation (5%), sedimentation (5%), abrasion (3%), waterlogging (3%), other processes (1%).

About N.I. Makkaveyev