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Presented is the evidence concerning the groundwater and surface water quality on the territory of the settlement of List vyanka which are used by the local population for water supply. The development of the tourism industry in the Baikal region leads to the anthropogenic impact on the Lake Baikal ecosystem and to changes in natural landscapes as well as deteriorating the state of the terrestrial and underground hydrosphere. Detailed hydrogeological sampling of 106 boreholes and wells in the pad’s and narrow valleys of the settlement revealed areas of polluted groundwater. It is established that groundwater within the Sennaya pad’ is generally of good quality and suitable for drinking purposes. In the Bannaya pad’ where the brook of the same name is the main drain, nitrate content slightly exceeds the background values. The Krestovaya pad’ showed the largest number of groundwater sources (mainly public wells) with polluted groundwater. In the Malaya Cheremshanka pad’, the waters are polluted by nitrates, and their content exceeds the requirements laid down in health standards by a factor of 1.1-2.5. In the Bol’shaya Cheremshanka pad’, increased contents of nitrates were also recorded in groundwater from one well and one borehole. Groundwater from the Berezovaya pad’ contains nitrates exceeding by a factor of 2,5-2,9 the permissible concentration. The main pollution source of groundwater is domestic sewage from the numerous hotel complexes located along the valley bottoms and the sides of narrow valleys. On the whole, the content levels of standardized components (nitrates, ammonium and silicon) in groundwater of Listvyanka do not exceed the threshold level value for drinking water.

T is shown that the unfavorable intra-annual distribution of river runoff, and low-water and high-water periods complicate the use of water resources of the Novosibirsk reservoir and are accompanied by a number of negative consequences. The possi bilities of creating reservoirs in the basin and their influence on the runoff of the Upper Ob are analyzed. The Novosibirsk res ervoir is considered as an example of water resources management in the extreme hydraulicity conditions of the river. It is noted that in spite of the shallow seasonal flow regulation, the reservoir allows the negative consequences of floods and low-water situations to be reduced. At present, the Upper Ob is characterized by an increase in the recurrence frequency of low-water years and low-water cycles consisting of two years or more. For the period 1959-2015, 21 years were high-water, 11 years - moderate water and 24 years - low-water. We examine changes in hydraulicity of the Upper Ob for the period 2012-2015, including extremely low-water, high-water and moderate-water years. An analysis of the use of the water resourc es of the Novosibirsk reservoir in the low-water conditions shows that forecasts of the spring inflow into the reservoir do not permit any reasonably high-quality management decision-making corresponding to the extreme conditions of formation of the annual low inflow. In some periods, warm spring weather causes intense snowmelt in Altai, which leads to a rise of the water levels in local rivers, and the inflow into the reservoir increases up to seven times. Generally, almost a third of the high-water inflow is accumulated in the Novosibirsk reservoir, which makes it possible to influence the processes of flooding and underflood ing in the downstream. As a result of the studies carried out, a need for a deeper regulation of the Upper river flow has been revealed.

A set of climate-induced changes in the typical landscapes of the Siberian taiga at the southern periphery of the permafrost zone is discussed. The results obtained are based on long-term field investigations made in the key areas within the eastern margin of the West Siberian Plain, in the northern part of the Yenisei Ridge and the western Central Siberian Plateau. Analysis of primary climatic data shows that since the early 1980s the mean annual temperature in the boreal areas of Siberia increased by 1-2 ° C against the previous cooling period 1950s-1970s. Winters became warmer and springs and autumns longer. It is established that such changes have influence primarily on the state of ecotone landscapes located in the vicinities of their eco logical borders. A study is made of the boreal landscapes of the permafrost ecotone corresponding zonal-geographically to the natural complexes of the middle taiga. These geosystems are characterized by the highest vulnerability to any external influ ences, which renders them particularly informative for studying the consequences of climate changes. On the basis of using visu ally observed landscape indicators representing complex links between their components, combined with instrumental data, the main trends in geosystem changes in the areas of sporadic and discontinuous high-temperature ice-bounded ground are revealed. These trends are considered in the form of the following response processes observed in the Siberian taiga in the south of the permafrost zone: degradation of ice-bounded ground and intensification of solifluction in dark-coniferous landscapes of glacial plains; local replacement of solifluction with land sliding; melting of goletz ice in kurums; mudding of kurums with fine earth and their further overgrowing with mosses, lichens and small-leaved forests; changes in animal habitats, and deterioration of the worsening conditions for taiga bioresources reproduction, etc.

A landscape and ecological analysis is made of the structure of soil zoocenoses in the Tunka depression and the foothill area of Khamar-Daban. We examine the patterns of change in quantitative characteristics and taxonomic diversity of invertebrate communities in the landscape-ecological range under the influence of natural and anthropogenic factors. Taxonomic diversity and structure change mainly in the gradient of edapho-climatic and phytocenotic conditions which vary with the location of a biogeo cenosis in the landscape. Within the taiga and forest landscapes, the general regularity of distribution of soil invertebrates is an increase in the number of species from steppificated pine and larch forests to dark coniferous-fir and mixed sufficiently moist biogeocenoses of the mountain forest belt. The relatively low heat availability of the root layer, combined with high humidity, and also the high temperatures that lead to drying of the soil, negatively affect on the taxonomic diversity of the mesopopulation. The main trend of change in taxonomic diversity of pedobiont communities is a decrease of the number of species in the gradient of increasing climate aridity, and an enhancement in hypothermaia and anthropogenic pressure. A structural and dynamical analy sis identified two main types of structure of the communities: mesothermohygrophile (with a relatively small contribution from of insects and a large contribution from annelids), and xeroresistant (with a significant involvement of representatives of the insecta class. The first type includes zoocomplexes of taiga, forest, meadow and wetland biogeocenoses represented mainly by moisture-loving forms; the second type includes steppificated, steppe and radically anthropogenically disturbed biogeocenoses, the composi tion of which is dominated by invertebrates with relatively short development cycles and largely adapted to moisture deficit.

Reconstructions of changes in vegetation, climate and sedimentation conditions in the valley of the lower reaches of the Bikin river lower reaches (Northern Primorye) for the last 70 thousand years were made from results of palynological and dia tom analyses, radiocarbon dating of peat samples, plant detritus and wood residues contained in the alluvial and biogenic de posits of floodplain and above the floodplain terraces exposed by profiles. New evidence was obtained for multiple and significant transformations of natural environment of the region for several climatic cycles during the Late Pleistocene and Holocene cor responding to marine isotope stages MIS 4-1. It was established that the final phase of MIS 4 was dominated by ecosystems of mari and dark coniferous taiga, the interglacial stage of MIS 3 by communities of birch forests with the involvement of broad-leaved plants, and the glacial stage of MIS 2 by birch open wood with larch and spruce as well as by sphagnum bogs and dwarf birch. In the Early Holocene (Q¹_IV) there occurred a rapid expansion of deciduous plants. During the Holocene Optimum, about 6,5 ka, the ecosystems were dominated by polydominant forests. The maximum development of oak-deciduous forests with co nifers is recorded about 5 ka. The transition from the Middle to Late Holocene (Q² _IV) is characterized by a reduction in IV-Q³ the proportion of pine and broad-leaved vegetation and by the development of small-leaved and dark coniferous plant communi ties. It is found that in the second half of the Late Holocene (Little Climatic Optimum), pine-oak forests began to dominate the landscapes, and the end of that period developed the contemporary ecosystems.

We examine territorial marketing, a direction of regional policy, which is gaining increasing popularity across the globe; it emerged at the interface of marketing and socio-economic geography and is based on the notion of the uniqueness of each place. We discuss the methodological issues related to this direction and to its relevance to Irkutsk. A study is made of the use and prospects of the images of the city of Irkutsk as the tools for the promotion of the place and the attraction of migrants and tour ists. The investigation was made at different geographical scales: regional (Irkutsk - Baikal); microgeographical toponymics, and statistical analysis of the individual perception of the city. Use was made of different investigation techniques: a multi-scale treatment of the same geographic phenomena against the background of the world, the country, the region and the agglomeration; analysis of the city’s recreational-geographical location as a variety of the economic-geographic location; comparison of street names according to the locality of the names, that is, the extent to which they are connected with the history and culture of the city as well as according to their popularity and content analysis of texts and images taken from the Internet and belonging both to tourists and to local residents, and images in the field of emotions. Some recommendations are made for the use of the im ages of the city in its marketing promotion. It is pointed out that the identified images were used in practice; in particular, in designing the historical 130 ^th Quarter in Irkutsk where timber representing one of the city images was widely used.

The role played by the household farms in the agrarian economy of the Republic of Buryatia is investigated. «Points of growth» are revealed, namely, commercial farm households located in the suburban zone of the capital of the Republic. A study is made of changes in marketability of products. Emphasis is placed on the high marketability of cattle meat which reaches in some years 50 % of the products obtained as well as a steady growth of the marketability of milk and potatoes. Sociological sur veys were carried out among 47 farm household owners and members of their families. The criteria for selection of households as objects for study were the regularity and a long period of sales at a given outlet, and the availability of the staple range (milk and dairy produce sold throughout the year). The surveys revealed the distinctive features in the internal structure of the households influencing their competitiveness. The factors were identified, which contribute to increasing the effectiveness of sales. A charac teristic is given to the age structure of the households owned by the population and of the approaches used in selling products. The range of products sold in each season is considered, and the prices are given. The places of product sales are characterized. The factors are formulated, which influence the price and the range of products. The study revealed the influence of the economic-geographical location of the sales places, the availability of the automobile in the farm households, and the population’s capacity to pay the price of products. Statistical information was used to determine a surplus of some kinds of agricultural products, and their marketability was analyzed starting in 1998. A characteristic is given to the development of the suburban and peripheral farm households. Additional channels of sales of agricultural products obtained in the farm households are analyzed.

We examine the enterprises of the fuel and energy complex of the Tyva Republic in which the in which the coal industry and the heat power industry play a leading role. This complex is a crucial economic sector whereas it has a serious negative impact on the environment. Coal mined on the territory of the republic is currently being used primarily for the production of thermal energy. Tyva experiences a shortage of electricity that is offset by energy from the Unified Power Grid of Siberia. A characteristic of the coal-mining enterprises and heat power generation facilities is provided. For the environmental assessment of the coal-mining enterprises we used the most significant indicators, such as the method of mining and the area of disturbed lands whereas for the heat power generation facilities we took into account the amounts of atmospheric pollutant emissions. Data on pollution of soils and earth materials, groundwater, snow and atmospheric air are given. The most significant environmental problems were revealed for the Kaa-Khem coal mine and in the zone of influence of the Kyzyl thermal power plant located in the urban area of Kyzyl. Some measures for a minimization of environmental stress are considered. The findings are displayed on the environmental map. An original cartographic language was developed for this map compilation, which is represented by the system of graphical point signs for displaying coal deposits, the impact of mining enterprises on the environment, mapping of enterprises in the heat power industry and their environmental indicators. The area map symbols show the density of violations for municipalities. The findings expand the methods of thematic mapping and can be used in governance of environmental man agement.

Processes of accretion and abrasion and possibilities of using the main natural resources in the maritime coastal areas of the Red River delta in the north of Vietnam are considered. Quantitative data on erosion and accretion are provided for the period since 1930 till the present, and the level of accretion and erosion processes is estimated according to their intensity and prevalence. Three periods of development of accretion and erosion in three areas of the Red River delta have been identified, and the results of cartographic and quantitative analysis of their intensity are presented. It was determined that the erosion areas in some periods reached 47 ha/year with the destruction rate of the coast as high as 9,2 m/year and the rate of accretion 445 ha/ year, and the seaward shift of the coastline with the velocity of up to 37,6 m/year. The most eroded coastal areas are Wang Li and Hai Hau, and accretion is largest in Ba Lat. The area characteristics of the eroded and accretion areas are given for ten coastal regions from the city of Haiphong to NinhBin Province. It is shown that the dynamical processes in the coastal zone of the northern part of Vietnam significantly complicate the use of natural resources and their economic development. The specific character and ecological problems of sea salt extraction, cultivation of aquaculture, restoration of mangrove vegetation in the maritime and coastal zone of the Red River delta are considered. It was determined that irrational use of the coastal territories gives rise to environmental problems and to a decrease in economic efficiency of natural resource management. It is concluded that the identified patterns of formation of the estuary should be properly identified and, on this basis, it is advisable to develop balanced methods for sustainable use of natural resources of the coastal regions of Vietnam, including coastal shoals.

A palynological analysis was made of the paleosoil (less than 20 cm in thickness) of the age of 4110 ± 110 BP which had formed on the top of river sediments and was subsequently covered with aeolian sands (3,6 m thick) of the so-called Bledow Desert. The results of the palynological analysis indicate: (1) the dominant role of pollen from lime (Tilia) among the tree species; (2) substantial amounts of pollen from maple (Acer); (3) a significant presence of pollen from heather (Ericaceae), and 4) an increase in the contribution of pollen from plants (including grains) associated with human activity. A comparison of data obtained with results from analyzing the contemporary pollen rain in different plant communities of the other parts of Poland indicates that during the formation stage of the Holocene soils in the Bledow Desert, the aforementioned tree species were dominant in the composition of forests and that the presence of a large contribution of pollen from lime and pollen in the soil was determined by their properties and ability to persist in the paleosol.