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Investigations were made with a view to assess the geographical features in the formation of the chemical composition of surface waters of natural landscapes in Southern Yakutia. On the basis of studying the lithologo-geochemical and landscape-climatic characteristics of the region, we determined the specific character of the chemical composition of surface waters. It is established that the waters of the Lena-Aldan plateau refer to weakly alkaline, soft waters with moderate mineralization, and the waters of the Chul’manskaya hollow are categorized as neutral, very soft waters with very low mineralization. It is found that the intensity of water migration of most of the elements being studied (S, C, N, and others) increases with an increase of the degree of climate humidity, in dissection of relief and redox potential as well as with a decrease in acidity of the river waters in Southern Yakutia at the transition from the Lena-Aldan plateau to the Aldan highland and the Chul’manskaya hollow. It is determined that long-term changes in chemical composition of the waters of the Lena-Aldan plateau and the Aldan highland depend primarily on the natural conditions whereas in the Chul’manskaya hollow they are caused by the influence of the an thropogenic factor.

This paper considers land use dynamics within Aksai-Chatyrkul depression of the Inner Tian Shan for the period of last several decades. The territory of this alpine valley is used as pastures for livestock of Atbashy district - a traditional branch of agriculture in Naryn region. In this paper, for the first time the dynamics of alpine pasture land use in Aksai-Chatyrkul depres sion in recent years are analyzed, taking into account the climatic and anthropogenic changes. A map of land use at as scale of 1: 500 000, based on satellite imagery for the period of 1978-1980 as well as a map of monitoring observations of pastures in Naryn region for 2010 were used. The analysis and assessment of the spatial distribution and area changes of pastures from 1980 to 2010 were conducted. Due to the closing of representative Aksai and Chatyrkul weather stations in the study area the data from the closest weather stations of the Inner Tian-Shan with longest time series (Naryn and Tian Shan) were also used to reconstruct the time series of mean annual air temperature and annual precipitation. Trends of recent climate changes in Aksai-Chatyrkul area in 1930-2014 were identified according to the data of six weather stations. Selyaninovs hydrothermal coefficient for Aksai-Chatyrkul depression was calculated and the assessment of climatic and anthropogenic changes potential impact on land-use dynamics was made. Cartographic analysis of land use dynamics shows that there is a tendency of total pasture area reduction in Aksai-Chatyrkul depression, which reduced by up to 12.2 % from 1980 to 2010. For verification of the map docu ments the 2014-2015 field observation data were used. There is an increase in mean annual air temperature and a slight increase annual precipitation in the region during the period from 1930 to 2014, as well as a weak trend of aridization in Aksai-Chatyrkul area. These factors have very slight impact on land use dynamics in the region compared with anthropogenic factors.

Formation processes of the runoff of rainfall floods are considered and the short-term forecast technique is developed by using the Onon river as an example, because the hydrological regime of the rivers within the Upper-Amur basin are characterized by significant water-level fluctuations caused by rainfall floods during the summer-autumn period. The investigation is based on the water-balance method. Plots of changes of the water flow rate over time (hydrographs) are constructed, and genetically related values of the flood runoff and flood-forming precipitation are calculated for the period of long-term observations. Statistical characteristics are used to substantiate the forecast arguments (predictors): the pair and multiple correlation coefficients and the criteria of t-statistics which are numerically equal to the ratio of the regression coefficient to the standard error of its determination. It is established that in addition to atmospheric precipitation that makes the main contribution to the formation of the flood runoff, an important role is also played by the degree of soil moistening prior to flood-forming rainfall. It is suggested that the water level in the river prior to the onset of a flood should be used as the indicator of pre-flood moistening. Two approaches are tested in dealing with the problem of forecasting the volume and the maximum water level of rainfall floods. E. G. Popov’s infiltration-capacity model was used to determine the mathematical structure of the dependence of the flood runoff on the main factors for its formation having regard to the main components of melt water losses (capacity retardation, infiltration, evaporation). The resulting dependences are recommended for making forecasts of the volume and the maximum water level of rainfall floods on the rivers within the Onon basin.

We examine the role of ecological information for the conditions of generation of the municipal spatial data infrastructure. The possibilities of using ecological geospatial data in municipal management are shown. We developed a series of digital eco logical maps of Novosibirsk which can be used in managing the ecological situation. It is suggested that cartographic models of the ecological situation should be used as the tool for presentation of ecological information in the spatial data infrastructure. These models offer a means of visualizing the current status of the environment as well as making ecological forecasts and pre senting their results. Our investigations permitted out to substantiate the list of ecological data which are required to characterize the state of environment within a large industrial center as well as the visualization and modeling technique for data collected by using the cartographic method of investigation and geoinformation mapping procedures.

In recent years, most climate change research have focused on determining patterns of exogenous processes activation and natural environmental and climate variability. This paper presents materials resulted from a comprehensive analysis of historical data, dendrochronological and geotechnical monitoring. The latter was conducted on the Ulaanbaatar geodynamic test site (polygon) (2012-2016) taking into account the geological and geomorphological conditions and using techniques for morphometric analysis of the relief. Some regularities in the development of the gullies and ravines network within the polygon area have been established, specifically, in Ulaanbaatar city and its immediate vicinity. The ongoing natural environmental and climate changes have been estimated according to dendrochronological observations at 26 stations located in most of the territory of Mongolia, except for the Gobi Desert. Activation of exogenous processes is in direct relationship to weather conditions and climate changes. Time series analysis was conducted using the mathematical statistics methods. The verification of the results obtained was underpinned by historical data on the flooding, droughts, and dzud events reported earlier and still occurring in the region, which have always been causing disastrous environmental and socio-economic consequences. The dendrochronological series was 500 years in length, or more, while historical chronology is spanning a period of 400 years. Based on the statistical analysis, the frequency of adverse events was established, and statistical models of weather and climate changes were built, which include predictions of future trends in the course of natural environmental processes until 2050.

A comprehensive study of unconsolidated deposits in the Nikolsk section allowed to reconstruct exogenetic and pedogenesis processes developing within the Tugnui Depression (the Selenga Middle Mountains), with the sedimentary strata accumulation dynamics restored at different time intervals. The phases of erosion-accumulative and eolian processes activation have been established (12,9-11,7; 10,2-8,6; 2,1-1,8 cal ka BP), which permitted reconstructing chronology and specific features of the pedogenic stages. Soils indicating stabilization stages of the relief-forming processes are represented by chernozems. Concurrent stages of pedogenesis and sedimentation processes benefited the formation of light- and dark-humus stratozems due to gradual washout and inwash of material in the uppermost soil horizons persistently affected by pedogenesis. Chronologically, the most pronounced phases of pedogenesis are associated with the time intervals of 11,7-10,2; 8,6-2,1 and 1,8-0,6 cal ka BP. The dynamics of sedimentation stages, phases of their stabilization and intensive pedogenesis have been determined primarily by climatic and environmental changes over the past fifteen thousand years in the study area. The obtained results are in good agreement with the stages of pedogenesis and manifestations of exogenetic processes in the adjacent territories of Russia and Mongolia. A polychronous development of exogenetic and soil-forming processes controlled by the landscape-climatic heterogeneity of the study area has been revealed, which makes itself evident in better pronounced stages of enhanced sedimentation in more arid southern areas of the Selenga Middle Mountains, while in more humid environments of their central part the periods of pedo genesis tend to be more extended. The structure of the pedo-sedimentary series of Nikolsk section thus demonstrates the alternating periods of pedogenesis and more intense exogenetic processes and represents changes of regional landscape and climate occurred over the last fifteen thousand years.

The Southern Baikal region is situated close to the industrially highly developed part of the Irkutsk region and the Republic of Buryatia, which therefore makes its oil and gas potential profoundly relevant. The lack of discovered large deposits of oil and gas here can be explained only by the extremely low level of exploration maturity of the geological structure and its complexity. Meanwhile, the existing favorable preconditions indicate the occurrence of hydrocarbon deposits in this area. These include the presence of marginal depressions, within which thickness of the subsalt clastic section tends to increase, as well as the distribution of Vendian-Cambrian carbonate reef formations. The study of Riphean deposits is of particular significance, as they form here many kilometers-thick intervals with enhanced reservoir properties. Caused by the lateral pressure of Baikal rift, an extended thrust structure developed at the marginal areas of the platform, to form a broad front encircling Patom Highlands. Here, both sediments of the upper overthrust structure and autochthonous rocks are considered highly potential for hydrocarbons. A pronounced dislocation of the upper part in the section of the platform margins re duces the quality of seismic data, which requires improving the methodology for oil and gas geological and geophysical prospecting. In this respect, the most appropriate appears the approach involving integration of seismic and electromagnetic studies, development of multi-wave seismic survey with large spacing and increased multiplicity factor, and the use of detailed geophysical data on the upper part of the structure for an adequate account of its irregularities. The paper shows that the development of the Southern Baikal region as a base region for the study of marginal basins in the south of the Siberian platform, will ultimately allow to assess its oil and gas potential and form a reliable methodological basis for the development of this kind of studies in the context of a similar geological structure of Cis-Patom and Cis-Sayan depressions.

Among energy infrastructure objects in the central ecological zone of the Baikal natural territory, coal-fired boiler-houses exert the greatest anthropogenic impact on the environment. According to calculations made, the total annual air emission of pollutants from such boiler-houses is estimated at 23 thousand tons, with their largest share (80 %) accounting for particulate matter. The ranking of central ecological zone by the extent of anthropogenic impact has revealed that 90 % of the total boiler-house emissions in the southern and northern parts, specifically, in the Slyudyansky, Kabansky and Severo-Baikalsky districts. The most substantial proportion of emissions is observed in the towns of Slyudyanka, Severobaikalsk, and Nizhneangarsk urban-type settlement. The use of natural gas will significantly mitigate the anthropogenic impact from heat supply facilities on the environment in the central ecological zone. The most attractive scenario of boiler-house gasification in the southern part of the zone would be the construction of the main gas pipeline, providing thereby natural gas supplies to the area. In the northern part of the zone, an autonomous gasification is only possible by setting up deliveries of the INK LLC (Irkutsk Oil Company) production (also called propane-butane mix) from its gas-processing plants. The projected volumes of gas consumption by all boiler-houses converted to gas in the most challenging areas are estimated at 56 and 69 million m ³ /year for the southern and northern parts of the central ecological zone, respectively. Taking into account the environmental and economic aspects, it appears feasible to convert only small boiler-houses to gas. In this case, their total air emissions will be reduced by more than half. Despite the unconditional ecological efficiency of converting coal-fired boiler-houses to gas in the central zone and available prerequisites for its utilization, this measure is somehow limited by uncertain terms of fields development, and construction of gas transportation infrastructure in the region.

Some material and data on the aquifer system in the vicinity of Listvyanka municipality are provided, along with stratifica tion of hydrogeological section of the key site - Krestovaya valley. Listvyanka settlement is situated at the joint of the Irkutsk artesian basin and Baikal mountain-folded hydrogeological region. The peculiar hydrogeological conditions are caused by a combination of the environmental factors: the composition and jointing of water-bearing rocks, height above the Baikal level, position of the valley channels, and permafrost distribution. Fissure, fissure-formation, pore-fissure and pore-formation under ground waters occur in crystalline and fine-grained deposits. They are calcium or magnesium hydrocarbonate in chemical composition with salinity not exceeding 0,5 g/L. Atmospheric precipitation is the main source of underground water recharge. Lake Baikal drains the underground waters as evidenced by their table which is inclined in its direction. The underground waters recharging the Baikal do not disturb the chemical stability of its water body owing to their low salinity, and chemical composition similar to that of the Baikal water. Permafrost is found in the form of small islands under swamps in the valley floors. The permafrost thickness is 15-30 m at most. In severe and dry winter the permafrost can barrage the groundwater flow and prompt the icing formation.

This paper presents evidence on the quality of ground and surface waters in the Krestovaya Valley used for community water supply. Ground water of HCO3 Mg-Ca (Ca-Mg) composition with TDS ranging between 71,0 and 514,5 mg/L is com monly available in Listvyanka settlement. It was analyzed how the water components comply with the requirements of the threshold level value for potable water, and thereby established that the content of all components in the local ground water sources does not exceed critical concentrations. However, some water wells have been found polluted. The main pollutants are nitrates, ammonium and silicon, originated from discharged residential wastewater of numerous hotels situated along the Kre stovka River banks. The threshold level values of nitrates and ammonium in the groundwater are found to be 1,1-5,9 and 6,3 times higher, respectively. Given that silicon content of both the riverine and ground water is almost equal, it may be taken as the natural background content, despite their pollution level is in excess of permissible limits. The problem of potable water de silication through water treatment processes should be solved on the basis of socio-hygienic monitoring and eco-epidemiological studies. To monitor ground and surface waters quantity, a depth-to-water map of the valley has been compiled which shows the stream underflow course from watersheds toward the Krestovka River and Lake Baikal. The stream underflow is formed at the confluence of groundwater of crystalline rocks of bed-rock massifs and groundwater of Quarternary alluvial deposits.