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The purpose of the article is to identify major problems connected with studying the historical experience of development of the Russian Arctic and Northern Sea Route. According to the authors, the research objectives should be set taking into account the primary goal of showing within a wide chronological framework the processes associated with the Russian state’s presence in the Arctic territories and water areas. For this purpose it is necessary to determine to what extent the Russian state policy in the Arctic along with the practice of development of Northern territories were affected by the objective and subjective factors, natural constants, changing social and political, technical and economic opportunities. Studying the continuity of the Russian state policy in the Arctic as a territory of major importance for the efficient national development can be viewed as one of the major aspects of research. The authors suggest that the study should focus on the events of the Soviet period when the Arctic strategy was provided with clear prospects for significant capital investments necessary for modernization of the socioeconomic and socio-cultural spheres of the Russian North. In the opinion of the authors, for the benefit of the Russian Arctic Zone the studies should be carried out with interdisciplinary methods and approaches aiming at fundamental analysis of problems connected with historical substantiation of the Russian state’s presence in the Arctic region from ancient times up to the present. The key challenge is to prove the fact that for centuries the Arctic region has been viewed in the Russian state policy as a strategically important territory with great resource and economic potential, while the history of development of the high latitude regions of Russia has been an integral part of tremendous process of Russian advance into Eurasia, formation of the largest state in the world.

The article is devoted to one of the key challenges facing the Russian government from the very beginning of the development of Siberia - the food supply of hard-to-reach Northern territories of the region. It is shown how the state tried to solve this problem drawing on administrative resources and mobilizing private capital. While in the first half of the XVII century the bulk of the grain was delivered to Siberia from behind the Urals, later, with the increasing number of population, Siberia experienced progressively the shortage of bread. For its elimination the local agricultural areas were established whose products were supplied to the local population including the inhabitants of the North with its non-arable marginal lands. At the same time, the authorities made numerous but unsuccessful attempts to spread agriculture in such harsh places as Kamchatka, Yakutia, Turukhansk region and Berezov uyezd. Along with the state some private traders also took part in supplying bread to the Northern areas. However, their activities sometimes provoked dissatisfaction of the local authorities. At the end of the XVIII - first quarter of the XIX century a number of resolutions introduced the principle of freedom of grain trade in the North, but the state continued to control the supply of the Northern regions. Special attention is paid to such an important though understudied institution as reserve state-owned grain stores. Their widespread network was intended under any circumstances to prevent famine among the northerners. By the example of Turukhansk region the author considers the activities of the reserve state-owned grain stores that helped the local people over lean periods due to the declining fishery yields and hunting. It has been revealed that the reserve stores did not bring income, so the local authorities tried to decrease the maintenance costs, transferring part of its responsibilities to merchants and traders from other social strata on a free-of-charge basis.

The 18^th century Russia witnessed massive exile of political opponents and members of political elites to the empire’s remote areas following their power struggle and defeat in the court intrigues. In regard to the northern areas of Siberia until the early nineteenth century such exile was selective and preventative; for the majority of the repressed persons it ended in the exiles’ deaths (A.D. Menshikov, A.G. Dolgorukiy, M.G. Golovkin, K.A. Mengden et al.). The area under study had virtually never been used as a place of exile for the Decembrists and participants of the Polish uprising in 1830-1831. Since 1860s the exile to the North became relatively massive, although it had its limitations in terms of the number of exiles who were to serve the sentence. Exile was used for the Narodniks, participants of the 1863 Polish uprising, Social Democrats, Socialist Revolutionaries, anarchists, members of the radical ethnic organizations. In the Yakutsk Oblast deportation of “politicals” was punitive in character. The most radical means of the political exiles’ struggle against the political regime and custodial conditions were escapes and armed protests the last of which (Turukhansk revolt in late 1908 - early 1909) turned into a robbery and armed conflict. Exile to the Arctic zone was aimed at isolation of revolutionaries without burdening them with manual labor.

The development of northern territories of Siberia included the study of nature and local population, settlement, economic growth, integration of aboriginals into the Russian society. Russian Orthodox priests greatly contributed to the study and development of the northern territories of Siberia. The present article characterizes motives, objectives, content and significance of research activities as well as memoirs of the Orthodox priests who lived in the northern territories of Siberia or visited them in order to study or mentally develop these areas, and to incorporate aboriginals into the Russian political and cultural space. Basic historical sources include more then 50 memoirs, diaries, travel notes of the clergymen. The author also used some other ego-documents - letters and some official reports vividly conveying the author’s personality. The primary goal and content of the clergy’s activity was to preach Christ, to strengthen the faith of the baptized and to convert the unbaptized, although there were many people who along with performing their primary duty greatly contributed to the education of the peoples of the North, establishment of schools, translation work, training of priests of aboriginal descent, acquainting them both with the Christian and European cultures. Notes of the missionary journeys for the most part contain information about the geography, numbers and settlement of local population (including indigenous peoples), its material culture, way of life - morals, customs, traditions, trades, dwellings, clothes, norms of common law, religious beliefs etc. The study led to the comprehension of “the other”, its inclusion into their own world and mental acquisition. Notes of the priests contain key geographical, ethnographic, statistical, linguistic, and historical data. These data are even more important for understanding the sociocultural image of the authors - clergy of the Russian Orthodox Church, the significance of their research, educational and general civilizing activities in the North of Siberia. The author suggests that the undoubtful success of aboriginals’ incorporation into the Russian civilizational space was to a large extent due to the accomplishments of missionaries in the course of their scientific, cultural and religious activities.

Arctic continental shelves where the largest reserves of oil, gas and other strategic resources are concentrated determine the future of the world economy. According to the experts, the intellectual priority of any country in the world community is demonstrated by this country’s presence in the Arctic region. New patterns of the Arctic research cooperation emerged. It has been realized that it is necessary to carry our integrated research, take into account any possible outcomes and consequences of interdisciplinary projects. Such approach prevails in all countries that work in the Arctic. In this regard, of particular relevance is a retrospective analysis of the the Russian scientists’ achievements made in the course of integrated research of the problems of the Arctic. The paper considers the contribution of the academic institutes of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences to studying the complex problems of the Arctic region. The author analyzes activities of scientists from the Institute of Geology and Geophysics who provided the basic approaches to the integrated research of Siberia and its Arctic territories. These approaches are currently developed by the Institute of Petroleum Geology and Geophysics named after A.A.Trofimuk, Institute of Geology and Mineralogy named after V.S. Sobolev in Novosibirsk. Scientists of SB RAS following the traditions of the Russian Academy of Sciences for several decades have been determining the strategy of research and development of Siberia and its Northern territories, participating in mineral resources exploration and linking their development with social and ecological issues. In the field of Arctic studies the institutes of SB RAS have a unique research capacity which should be used for implementation of the state strategy of development of the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation. It is noted that the article highlights only major, most significant accomplishments of Siberian scientists in Arctic studies. The problem requires further, more detailed research.

The paper deals with analysis of texts reflecting the contemporaries’ attitudes towards the correction of the books during the church reform initiated by Patriarch Nikon. It is established that the contemporaries focused their attention on the book editing, i.e. the problem of the original texts that were used to provide a rationale for any changes made by the reformers in the prayer-books and other works. In the prefaces to these editions they presented these changes as the necessary corrections of the accumulated discrepancies between the Old Greek and Slavonic books. Reformers argued that all novelties were introduced to the Rite and liturgical practice of the Church based on the “Old Greek and Slavonic books”. Their opponents, naturally, began to prove that it was precisely this postulate - following the tradition - that was violated by the reformers. The same allegations were brought forth both by the Latin party and the defenders of the Old Rite. The former did it in order to catch the Church in a deception of the flock, without focusing on the betrayal of tradition, while the opponents of the reform, just like the reformers themselves, believed that following the tradition was a prerequisite for the existence and development of the Russian church. Therefore, both the supporters and opponents of the reform argued thay their defended the tradition of the Russian church. Analysis of the works written by the first generation of defenders of the Old Rite led to conclusion that they charted the course for the next generations defending their right to remain in opposition to the novelties. This implied comparison of the new liturgical texts with the new ones, and, above all, gaining a better knowledge of the authoritative manuscripts and old-printed books where the tradition of the Russian Church was fixated. As a result, the highest level of book culture, inherited from the Old Russia and developed during the Modern Age has become a characteristic feature of the defenders of the Old Rite.

In the works of ecclesiastical writers of the second half of the XVII century (Patriarchs Joachim and Adrian, Athanasius of Kholmogory, Euthymius of Chudov Monastery, Ignatius Rimsky-Korsakov and others), the edifying theme occupied an important place. Religious and didactic issue is present in most texts of this group of authors. The article discusses these texts which include the teachings, encyclical letters of Patriarch Adrian and Archbishop Athanasius of Kholmogory, the spiritual testaments of Patriarch Joachim and Bishop Mitrofan of Voronezh and other works. In terms of their content and subject matter, the texts under study are closely related to tradition: they are focused on the edifying literature of Ancient Rus’ (texts of a protreptic nature from Holy Scripture, words and teachings of the Fathers of Church and Russian writers). Moral and ethical themes of Christian didactic literature were reflected in each work. Following its traditions, the authors condemn human vices and give protreptic recommendations on standards of life and behavior of a pious Christian. One of the important themes that were reflected in the studied works is the theme of “reverence for books”. As the analysis shows, similes and metaphors used by the authors and related to the theme of worship of books and reading, go back to the texts, which were known in ancient Russian book-lore from the first centuries of its existence. In addition to considering traditional themes of the edifying literature, each author of the analyzed texts expressed his attitude towards topical issues of the second half of the XVII century. Creative efforts of writers were focused on addressing such issues as spiritual enlightenment; recovery of the Church authority weakened as a result of church reform and strengthening of secularization process; struggle against the schism; counteraction to the influence of western religions. Studying the works of writers of the patriarch circle of the second half of the XVII century in the context of church and edifying tradition leads to the conclusion that these authors maintained a strong continuity with tradition. Moreover, in their didactic texts they touched upon topical issues of the day.

Academic publication of the Siberian chronicles, based on codicological and textological analysis of manuscripts, offers extensive material for further research. The revealed redactions and types of texts show that the Chronicle of Savva Yesipov had been actively used in the book culture of the XVII century. The Tale of Yermak’s seizure of Siberia became a metatext for the Siberian chronicles. While studying the chronicles it is important to determine the degree of the text’s variation and basic trends in the development of historical prose from the viewpoint of an editor as a reader and as an author. Analysis of the manuscript tradition that was created mostly by the scribes of the XVII-XVIII centuries shows the significance of the text’s functions and its elements such as titles, word order, introductions, conclusions etc. In the Siberian chronicles the unlimitedness of events typical of the All-Russian chronicles was replaced with delineated boundaries and limits of the course of historical action which is expressed in titles, forewords and special endings of the narrative. The paper presents some key results of analysis of these elements based on the study of types, redactions and versions of the Yesipov Chronicle. The objective of textological analysis is to determine the evolution of the authorial intention in the history of the text of this monument that was used in dozens of copies in the XVII-XVIII centuries. The titles are the most inconsistent elements in the Old Ancient writings. It is stated that within the Siberian chronicles the titles performed representational function from the reader’s point of view and nominative function - from the writer’s (editor’s) point of view. A variety of titles determined the goals of chronicals’ narrative in its historical and cultural development. Introductions appeared in the later redactions of the Siberian chronicles. They were designed for establishing contact with the reader and explaining the conception of the historical narrative. The ending, marked by the chronicle’s editor, focuses the reader’s attention on the chronicle’s compiler. The chronicle has an open structure due to the absence of such endings in some of its versions.

The aim of this article is to introduce into scientific circulation one of the unknown polemic writings dated from the turn of the 1890s. The work is written as an epistle, a style common among the Old Believers, and belongs to the Tomsk peasant writer G.A. Strakhov. Today, the only known copy of “ Appeal” is stored in the Scientific Library of the Tomsk State University. The author of the article used methods of historicism, hermeneutics and causal analysis. It seems logical that the polemic writings constitute a significant portion not only of the general Old Believers’ literary legacy, but of the Belokrinitskie Old Believers (“Austrians”) as well, because ideologists of the new community had to uphold their position from the first steps towards institutionalization taken in 1846-1847. In the case at hand, the aggravation of polemics between the Old Believers Chasovennyye and “Austrians” was caused by several factors connected particularly with the common past of Beglopopovtsy agreements whose routes of migrations had often overlapped within the Ural and Siberian Region. Inner contradictions took place both in the Chasovennyye and Belokrinitskie communities. In “The Appeal to the Old Believers Chasovennyye” these contradictions can be traced in regard to such issues as the rites of reception, adoption of common position towards the official Orthodox (“Nikonianskaya”) church and to always such a politically acute issue as the time of Antichrist’s advent. At the same time, re-establishment of its own Belokrinitskiy episcopate and the refusal to accept Orthodox clerics converting to Old Believers faith, according to a previous decision of the Tyumen convocation in 1840, resulted in the final organizational and ideological divergence between the two Old Believer communities. Analysis of sources used by G.A. Strakhov in his “Appeal” shows that the Belokrinitskiy apologist quite extensively used not only the literature that was authoritative for all Old Believers, but the synodal and civil publications as well. At the same time, ideological conceptions of the opponents, in G.A.Strakhov’s opinion, are directly affected by the radical Old Believers groups.

The aim of the article is to draw attention to the nascent period of the early writings of the Yakuts, which played an important role in the history of the Yakuts and characterizes ethnic and confessional policy of Russia. In order to achieve the set goal the author describes the revealed texts and actors in the process. Although historians have admitted the existence of the written tradition before the Revolution of 1917, they questioned the extent of its spread. On the basis of the revealed texts the article attempts to show the historic features of origin and the nature of existence of the written tradition at the end of the XVIII - first half of the XIX century. Furthermore, it pays attention to the authors of these texts, some of them have been mentioned for the first time. The beginning of the period under study was marked by the spread of literacy among the Yakut population. This was possible thanks to the initiative of the state to create the Yakut writing, which was an important element of Russia’s policy. The author adheres to the concept of multiculturalism in relation to the national policy of the Russian Empire, that went through three stages of development. This policy was clearly manifested in the creation of writing for various peoples that were annexed into Russia at different times, including those ethnic groups that previously had not had written languages. Among the methods used in the article the leading position is taken by the retrospective, historical and comparative methods. Among the key research findings one should mention the setting of a problem of the early Yakut writing’s origin. Aside from the famous monuments of this writing the author identifies a number of new texts demonstrating the variety of genres - from literary to epistolary; identifies and characterizes the first actors of the process of formation of the early Yakut writing. These actors included representatives of the yakutized Russians and educated Yakuts.

The article deals with the activity of a famous researcher of Siberia Grigory Ivanovich Spassky, which is connected with collecting of materials for the magazines «Sibirsky Vestnik» («Siberian Herald») and «Asiatsky Vestnik» («Asian Herald»), published by him. This was the first periodical on this topic in the Russian Empire. This publication is distinguished by the wealth of published materials (more than 430 printed sheets), the major part of which has never been published before. The source of «Sibirsky Vestnik»’s materials wasn’t analyzed in the complex by the previous researchers, but such research would help to reveal the mechanism of «Sibirsky (Asiatsky) Vestnik»’s transformation. «Sibirsky (Asiatsky) Vestnik» made the evolution from the leasure time magazine to a scientific publication, which became the instrument of scientific knowledge not only in Siberia and Eastern Asia, but in the East in general. Among the people who supplied Grigory I. Spassky with «Siberian» and «Eastern» materials, the names of Siberian governor general Mikhail M. Speransky, Tomsk governors Vasily S. Khvostov and Peter K. Frolov, Orientalists Egor F. Timkovsky, Stepan V. Lipovtsov, Mikhail D. Sipakov and others were revealed. The analysis of archive materials from Spassky Fond (№ 805), which are stored in the State Archive of Krasnoyarsk region, in comparison with the materials from “Sibirsky Vestnik” and “Asiatsky Vestnik” demonstrates these people’s contribution into the spread of knowledge about Siberia. The article also presents reference data concerning the publications in “Sibirsky (Asiatsky) Vestnik”. It also emphasizes the role of Grigory I. Spassky not only as the collector of “Siberian antiquities”, but more as the organizer of the publication, which played the role of the attraction centre for original, trustworthy and live information about the Asian part of the Russian Empire.

The article examines the features of hagiography development in Siberia in the XIX - early XX centuries. For the first time it raises the problem whether there was a single Siberian hagiographic tradition, or it was composed of separate territorial loci. According to modern concepts, the place where a Saint performed his ascetic labors provided the basis for the development of regional hagiographic traditions. The analysis of “Siberian Paterik” project by Omsk hagiographers (1916) allowed to hypothesize on forming regional hagiographic traditions in Siberia - territorial loci. Unlike the XVII century, when there was the only Tobolsk metropolis in Siberia, so the individual loci were not the subject to dispute, the XIX century witnessed a different situation: there were grounds to talk of the Tobolsk, Tomsk, Irkutsk, and other hagiographies. Their further development was provided by the penetration and spread of printing technology in Siberia as is evident from the “Joint Catalogue of the Siberian and Far Eastern book. 1780-1917” (Vol. 1-3. Novosibirsk, 2004-2005). Formation of the regional loci is indicated by the growing activities on collecting the information about the saints and piety ascetics in individual dioceses. The “Nests of Holiness” were formed; along with writing the texts of individual biographies and hagiography, the hagiographic collections and “Lives of the Fathers” associated with several territories, monasteries, and Orthodox missions were prepared. The project of “Siberian Paterik” can be viewed as a possible result of this process. The author raises an issue of the need to study the creative legacy of Siberian historians, such as A. I. Sulotsky, N. A. Abramov, A. I. Yurievsky and others, in the context of regional hagiographic tradition development.

The article is devoted to the problems of publishing activities of the Chita Subbranch of the Amur River Branch of the Imperial Russian Geographical Society (CS PBIRGS) during the pre-revolutionary period. For the first time in historiography the article considers the formation and development of book publishing of the CS PBIRGS based on the archival records and clerical documents, taking into account the data contained in scientific works, reflecting past scientific views. The author also analyzed sources that are bibliographic in nature - the book production of the CS PBIRGS. The fundamental principles of historicism and scientific reliability, logical and statistical methods allowed to recreate an overall picture of book publishing of the CS PBIRGS. The article is quite detailed in outlining the process of publishing the periodicals of CS PBIRGS. A comprehensive approach to studying the book publishing of the CS PBIRGS made it possible to analyze the distribution of printed editions of the Subbranch. It is noted that the editions of the CS PBIRGS were distributed not only on a free-of-charge basis (by means of book-exchange with other scientific organizations), but also trough sale in book-selling establishments. On the basis of the conducted research, the valid conclusion is drawn that the CS PBIRGS paid special attention to its publishing activity, promoting distribution of results of its scientific research among the general public both in Russia, and abroad. The state of CS PBIRGS publishing practice was determined by trends of development of the regional science and culture, the level of local printing base. The output of book production depended on financial opportunities of the Subbranch, qualification of local scientific experts. It is obvious that the publishing activity of the CS PBIRGS represents an important stage of the book culture of the Transbaikalia.

The paper considers the origin and evolution of literary-art journals in Siberia and the Far East. It also attempts to identify common features of the journals’ development specific to these regions. Much attention in this work is paid to the origin of the journals since much of them were established under similar spontaneous conditions. The mode of their further development also followed a similar pattern. Periods of repressions were followed by “thaws”. Pressure on the journals in one region entailed the revision of editorial policies in the neighboring regions. Many authors and critics, and with them the journals, at one time or another, fell from grace. Often these were writers who brought fame to the national literature. Finally, by the end of the Soviet period the journals had reached their peak when they published a number of works of the “returned literature”, i.e. works that had been previously censored or forbidden. But in the 1990s much of the formerly unavailable materials were published, so the journals lost their popularity and were on the verge of being closed. However, forces accumulated by the literary journals during the Soviet age helped them to survive later. Special emphasis is placed on changing circulation and periodicity of journals, as well as changing status of periodicals from the literary miscellanies to the literary journals. Chronicle of events that took place at the same time in different places allows to make generalizations not only about the history of Siberian and Far Eastern literature but also, with certain assumptions, about the history of these regions. In conclusion the author pays attention to the literary interests of Siberians which can be identified by analysis of publishing and socio-political activities of the journals. They portray a specific image of Siberians, that is a unique combination of the strive for independence and commitment to social order. This paradoxical combination is explained by their love for homeland every inch of which was reclaimed from nature with great difficulty.

The article considers mechanism of accumulation of novelties in interpretation of signs of the Day of Judgment made by the Old-Believers fr om the lower reaches of the Yenisey River; it also attempts at determining when a high threshold of such novelties was reached letting individual polemicists or authoritative communities make a decision about their canonicity or heterodoxy. The article presents results fr om an analysis of original writings of Fr. Symeon, hegumen of a skete, who died in 1954 in one of the concentration camps and was regarded as a saint by the Chasovennye (Chapeliers) Old-Believers; works of an outstanding popular writer A.G. Murachev, scribe K. Pleshakov and monk Fr. Timothy. It is proven that the starting points of all theological interpretations were the innovative works of Fr. Symeon who considered proletarians as servants of Antichrist surrendering to his will under the slogan “Proletarians of all countries, unite”. Establishment of the block of socialist countries in Europe in the wake of the World War II convinced his disciples in the truth of his words. Self-identification of the Chasovennye theologists as “true Christians” further included referring to loyalty to the teaching of Fr. Symeon. However, the skete ideologists believed that A.G. Murachev’s new scenario of Judgment Day moved so much away from the original concept that it came close to the line wh ere “ours” turns into “alien”. This was probably due to the fact that eschatological ideas were dominant in the system of Old-Believers’ teaching (as a rule, occasional deviations from the eschatological system that was acclaimed as canonical did not result in accusations of heresy). On the other hand, the fact that in the 1990s sketes identified bar-codes as marks of Antichrist made A.G. Murachev think that the inhabitants of the sketes fell into heresy. However, the line wh ere “ours” irrevocably turns into “alien” has never been crossed by both polemizing parties, apparently, because of their high authority along with fears of a major schism in the church.

Article belongs to the series of works aimed at improving the performance of radiation codes that implement the statistical Monte Carlo method. A brief description of the main blocks of the two programs for calculating the intensity of solar radiation in a vertically inhomogeneous medium, basis, in FORTRAN, and its optimized version, in the C language, is presented. The results of tests aimed at assessing the performance of each of the code under different conditions of numerical experiment are presented. In the cases examined, the performance indicators of optimized C code were higher as compared with the basis one. It is shown that differences in execution time of the codes are reduced by increasing the optical density of the atmosphere, and using more efficient computers. Developed C program can serve as a basis for creating a high-performance radiation code.

The atmospheric transparency window of 8-12 mm is one of the main spectral intervals forming thermal balance of the atmosphere; at that, the contribution of continual absorption to the radiative balance is the most significant. The results of simulation of upward and downward fluxes for different meteorological situations (cloudy and cloudless) are presented; and role of H₂O continuum is estimated with use of different models of continual absorption.

The paper presents the results of quality assessment of images made using a copper bromide vapor laser monitor. Two different imaging techniques were used for the study: laser illumination and amplification using laser active medium (so called laser monitor). The images were numerically evaluated using the following informative parameters: standard error, Shannon entropy (H), and zero mean normalized cross-correlation (ZNCC). It is shown that use of an active medium introduces into images small distortions, which depend on the stability of amplification properties of the active medium. In the scheme of laser illumination, the influence of instability is less pronounced. The imaging in single-frame mode can decrease the distortions introduced by the active medium.

In laboratory conditions at low pressures of air, corresponding to heights of tens of kilometers above sea level, the apokamp was formed. Apokamp is a plasma jet extending from the spark discharge channel formed by two electrodes, one of which is high voltage and has a positive polarity, and the other is under floating potential. It is established that underpressure apokamp has spectral and morphological features associated with blue jets and starters that observed in the upper layers of the atmosphere.

The influence of gas pressure measurement errors in the chamber of a photoacoustic detector on accuracy of restoration of fast VT-relaxation time of molecules is investigated with the use of numerical simulation of a shape of photoacoustic signal. Using the relaxation of water vapor molecules from the lower excited vibrational state as an example, it is found that for values of the radius of the Gaussian laser beam ω₀ ~ 1 mm, typical in experiments with MK-301 microphone, the relaxation time τ⁰_VT ~ 10^-6 s x mbar can be restored from the dependencies of duration of photoacoustic compression pulse on gas pressure with a relative errors δτ⁰_VT ≤ 10%, if systematic measurement error of pressure does not exceed 0.03 mbar. An error of restoration is directly proportional to the propagation time of sound through the illuminated area.

The content of CO₂ and H₂O in vacuum-extracted tree-ring wood of stem and root discs of certain conifer species was measured. Annual distributions of these gas components were found to exhibit cyclic behavior. Moreover, distinct cyclicity was also revealed in interannual variations of the total pressure of the vacuum-extracted tree-ring gas samples. It may be safely suggested that diffusion of stem CO₂ into the atmosphere will show the same periodic variability. Two hypotheses about the origin of the cyclicity in the tree-ring CO₂ distributions are examined.

Asymptotic solutions of the problem of reconstructing the distribution of the structural characteristics of the refractive index fluctuations from the measurement data of the backscatter enhancement effect are derived. Solutions are expressed through fractional derivatives of the backscattering gain in the case of small aperture receiver, or through the ordinary derivatives in the case of receivers with a large aperture. The properties of the integral equation kernel are studied in detail, from which the asymptotic formulas follow. Attention is drawn to the fact that the kernel is oscillating in general. Kernel oscillations little impact the value of the backscattering enhancement, but their impact can be significant on the derivatives of this factor.

Systematization of information resources in quantitative spectroscopy is demonstrated using the methanol molecule as an example and applying the facilities of the W@DIS information system. The choice of quantum numbers for methanol state is explained and brief descriptions of about 40 publications containing spectral characteristics of methanol are given. The main information objects (data and information source) are defined. The interfaces used for the analysis of wavenumber consistency in all data sources and the interface of application for forming measured line list are described.

The spectrum formation of difference frequency generation between CO₂ and CO lasers radiation is theoretically and experimentally studied in an AgGaSe₂ crystal at I type phase matching. The study shows a promise of this crystal for developing selective laser sources tunable in the wavelength range 12-16.6 microns. Phase-matching angles for difference frequency generation between CO and CO₂ lasers radiation were measured and compared with those calculated by various dispersion equations. The combination of dispersion equations, which describes the difference frequency generation in the wavelength range 12-16.6 μm the most correctly, was chosen.

This study was conducted to analyze the habitat preference of six major mammals for various environmental factors based on 100 random points within a mountain area in South Korea. In-situ presence and absence data for the mammals were surveyed and collected, and twelve explanatory variables related to topography, water, greenness, and anthropogenic influence were applied to create a habitat distribution model. The best combination of variables was determined using Moran’s I coefficients and Akaike criteria information, and applied to estimate the habitat preference for each species using GRASP v.3.0. The predictive map showed that wildlife animals in this study were mainly categorized into two groups: Group I (Korean squirrel, Sciurus vulgaris , mole, Talpa micrura and water deer, Hydropotes inermis ), showed equal preference for all mountainous areas; Group II (weasel, Mustela sibirica , leopard cat, Felis bengalensis and raccoon dog, Nyctereutes procyonoides ) showed different preferences in a mountain.

Bird species diversity of the altitudinal belts of the Eastern Himalaya was analyzed in the early spring of 2005 and 2014. The species richness is decreasing from the belt of subtropical mixed and coniferous forests to the alpine belt. Specific species not beyond the borders of the appropriate belt are characteristic of three of four altitudinal belts. Avifauna of two adjacent belts also has a lot of common species. One hundred thirty three bird species registered in both seasons belong to 6 faunal complexes, the majority of species are Himalayan endemics and subendemics, as well as Palearctic species. Abundance of background species was determined for each altitudinal belt.

Spatial heterogeneity of mycobiota species composition has been studied. There are clavarioid fungi used as a model group for mycobiota zonation of Northern Eurasia. The differences in the classification results of these fungi depending on used coefficients of similarity, aggregation algorithms and opinions of different interpreters are shown. A combining method of different classifications is proposed. Further study on a larger number of fungal groups will allow a more representative circuit that will help to create a unified biogeographic zonation of Northern Eurasia.

The analysis of the available data on the various adaptations of the woolly mammoth to cryoarid conditions of the Ice Age is represented. Mammuthus primigenius had a set of specific anatomical-morphological ideoadaptations (thick long three-row wool, small ears, short tail, adipose “hump”, “hood”-like extension on the trunk, wide soles of the feet) and physiological ones (reduced sensitivity to cold, specific kind of lipid metabolism) providing safe existence and wide distribution of this species in the Northern Holarctic for a long time. Current data let to suggest that the woolly mammoth was a highly specialized species of the Mammoth biome.

The first results of the horizontal distribution of the cell abundance and toxicity of Microcystis in the hypereutrophic Moroccan reservoir Lalla Takerkoust are reported. An unexpected spatio-temporal heterogeneity has been shown between Microcystis abundance and microcystins concentrations. The principal determining factors were analyzed in order to identify the most likely sites for the proliferation and/or accumulation of Microcystis in this reservoir. The horizontal heterogeneity seems to be mainly influenced by the wind direction and inflows. The results can serve as reference data for monitoring cyanobacterial water blooms and associated cyanotoxins in the lake.

The genetic diversity of microbial communities developed naturally within the system of ore heap-solution of heap leaching process was studied. The difference of the microbial community structure was identified. It was found that phylotypes Serratia and Achromobacter dominated within the ore heap and Hydrogenophaga and Acinetobacter dominаted in the solution. Phylogenetic anаlyses revealed that there were microorganisms among the closest homologues which were able to destruct toxic compounds and/or exhibit their enzyme activity at low temperature. It was shown that aerobic organoheterotrophs were the most promising for isolation from autochthonous microbial communities of technogenic complexes in East Siberia, study of their destructive potential and use of them for bioremediation.

The adaptation of living organisms to the environmental conditions is formed and manifested at different levels - from the molecular to the biocenotic. Nowadays, the metabolic antioxidant system (AOS) is considered to be the key part of adaptive processes, and its activation is regarded as a general response of biota to the negative impact of the environment. The usage of AOS components as biomarkers of stressful influence on hydrobionts has good prospects and is actively applied in the monitoring system of aquatic ecosystems. In this paper the kinetics of free radical formation in various zoobenthos representatives from the Yenisei River (amphipods, oligochaetes, leeches, chironomids) and in amphipods from the Us River (a small mountain river, the Yenisei tributary) is analyzed. Parameters of kinetics of radical formation were registered using the method of luminoldepended chemoluminescence under the initiation of oxidative stress with hydric dioxide in vitro in homogenates of hydrobionts tissues. It was revealed that in amphipodes, as opposed to other invertebrates, the process of antioxidative activity is characterized by two chemiluminescent flashes. What is more, interspecies and age-related differences in parameters of the kinetics of free radicals formation were noticed in amphipodes. In Gmelinoides fasciatus Stebb. the intension peak of the formation of free radicals and their total number during the 60-minute registration period authentically exceeded these parameters for Gammarus sp. and Eulimnogammarus viridis Dybowsky. With age, the increase in volume of production of free radicals in E. viridis and Gammarus sp. and its decrease in G. fasciatus were observed. The authentically higher value of volume of production of free radicals in G. fasciatus and E. viridis inhabiting the zone of the Yenisei River with heightened anthropogenic load was marked.

Based on daily examination of phytoplankton in the Yenisei River downstream of Krasnoyarsk НPS within a four-year period the share of living and dead cells is evaluated and the dimensional structure of phytoplankton is described. It has been established that in spite of being affected by the passage through the turbines of the high-pressure dam, the high water flow rate and discharges of water from the HPS, living algae predominate over the dead ones in the thickness of water of the studied part of the Yenisei River practically during the entire year with rare exception of several dates in late autumn and winter. Microphytoplankton (20-64 mkm) and nanophytoplankton (2-20 mkm) ammounting to 83 % of all algae passed the blades of the turbines of the dam largely in the intact form and the share of their living cells varied from 21 % (in the winter period) to 96 % (in the spring-summer period).

The water and hydrochemical balance of Shira and Itkul lakes located in the arid (steppe) zone in the Khakasia Republic (Russian Federation) has been calculated. Existence of hydraulic connection of these lakes is shown. Lake Itkul can be considered as flowing reservoir. Outflow of water from Itkul to Shira is 6791 thousand m3/year, and outflow of the dissolved salts is 35 697 tonn/year. In this case, Lake Shira can be only considered as unflowing reservoir with transpiration mechanism of water chemical composition formation. Lake Itkul appears to be a flowing reservoir. In Itkul salt concentration is not such as occurs in Lake Shira because of less influence of evaporation and time of water-rock interaction. This mechanism may be similar for other arid zones in Northern and Central Asia.

The results of long-term studies on the status of arginine in coniferous plants are summarized. The characteristics of amino acid metabolism in coniferous species, the annual and daily dynamics, effects of temperature, light and mineral nutrition on its accumulation in organs and tissues are described. Methods for increasing Arg content in conifers by regulating mineral nutrition are considered.

At the beginning of the growing season in the I age class stand of Scots pine ( Pinus sylvestris L.) in the Krasnoyarsk forest-steppe controlled burning was carried out to simulate moderate ground fire. The structure of the annual rings of wood and trophic supply, cambial zone antioxidant system condition, the content of photosynthetic pigments in the needles of the suppressed and dominant trees on the experimental and control plots after 3 hours, 5 days and 2.5 months after the fire were studied. The fire narrowed the width of the annual wood ring due to decrease of number and size of early and late tracheids. The primary reactions to the pyrogenic heat shock were sharp decrease in chlorophyll content in needles, manifestation of oxidative stress in stem cambial zone - elevated level of hydrogen peroxide and activity of most antioxidant enzymes, reduction of non-structural carbohydrates pool. Restoration of cambium function after fire was promoted by increasing activity of amylase, invertase and peroxidase.

The reasons for Siberian pine and fir decline were analyzed by remote sensing techniques, dendrochronology, GIS technology and in situ observations in Baikal region (Khamar-Daban). It was found that since the 1980s, there was a decrease in the value of the growth index ( R ² = 0.69) and an increase of aridity of the climate SPEI ( R ² = 0.72). In the mid-2000s, the increase in aridity led to the division of Siberian pine trees in two cohorts, “survivors” and “decliners”. The spatial distribution of these cohorts is different: dead and declining stands are located mainly on the relief elements with an increased risk of water stress (steep, convex slopes, southwest exposure). The growth index of the trees is closely related to the dryness index in June ( r ² = 0.55). In addition to water stress, drying trees are exposed to stem pests and plant pathogens. The primary cause of Siberian pine decline is water stress due to increasing aridity. Weakened water-stressed trees are sensitized to pathogens. Synergism of climatic and biotic impacts led to observed decline of Siberian pine stands. In general, within the Khamar-Daban region heavily damaged and dead stands (> 50 % dying and dead trees) make up 8-10 % of the total area of dark needle conifers.

Population dynamics, density and aggregation size of tuberoid orchids were identified based on mapping, electronic maps construction with application of “point processes”, Ripley function and pair-correlation function. Discrete and discrete-continuous types of spatial structure dominate in populations in optimal ecological conditions. Bounded aggregations of levels I (radius 0,45-0,75 m) and II (radius 1,2-2,5 m) are formed at 3 to 7,5 m. Spatial pattern depends on generative specimens which are related with “group effect”. The microloci have full ontogenetic structure and may be regarded as elemental populations. They form larger aggregations of levels III and IV with random spatial distribution and continuous bounds. Aggregations of higher level are not formed in worse ecological conditions. Random spatial distribution and incomplete ontogenetic spectrum of microloci are indicators of critical population status.

New quantitative indicators of ecosystem fragmentation based on remote sensing, ground research and GIS-analysis have been developed. Density of trails and the extent of their influence on forest ecosystems were estimated. A new approach was tested in the forest area nearby Novosibirsk Akademgorodok.

The content of 30 macro- and microelements has been studied and assessed by statistical, hygienic and biochemical criteria in soils and Achillea millefolium L. as a forage and medicinal plant. The study has been conducted in the territories of Novosibirsk agglomeration contaminated by waste of industry and transport. In the soil-plant system the relationships have been determined between elemental and biochemical compositions of Achillea millefolium L.

In the process of conducting analytical work regional features of lithostratos and soils: increased total content of hexavalent chromium (700 MPC or more) and trivalent iron (more than 18000 mg/kg) were revealed. This is due to the relationship of the geochemical background of the area with natural and anthropogenic factors in the conditions of monsoon climate promoting emergence of process acidogenesis.