Geomechanical parameters of sedimentary rocks of Southern Sakhalin

The samples of terrigenous rocks of the Sakhalin were selected for geomechanical studies: the rocks of the Nevelskaya and Kholmskaya Formations from the Petropavlovsk quarry; ones of the Kholmskaya Formation on the west coast of the south of Sakhalin, rocks of the Junonskaya Formation on the east coast. The Kholmskaya Formation N1hl is represented by siltstones and interlayers of fine-grained sandstone. The Nevelskaya Formation N1nv is represented by siltstones with inclusions of tufogenic material. The Junonskaya Formation T2-Jun is represented by variegated greyish-green jaspers. Their static and dynamic parameters (strength limits, static Young’s modulus and Poisson’s ratio, cohesion and angle of internal friction) were determined. The obtained results are characterized by a significant spread of values, which is likely explained by the significant fracturing of the initial samples and the effect of anisotropy.

The role of anthropogenic factors in forest transformation in Southern Sakhalin

The article analyzes the forests changes in the south part of Sakhalin Island from the original, natural state as a result of its habitation and economic development. The most essential disturbances of forest cover occurred in the first half of the last century when 9 pulp-and-paper mills were built by Japanese in southern island. All acceptable and more productive dark coniferous forests for providing these mills were cut down. Moreover, significant share of the forests was destroyed because of repeated and large-scale fires, creating agricultural lands and habitable territories, construction of roads, power lines, oil-and-gas pipelines, etc. The most considerable forests transformation was on the territory of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, and also in Korsakovsky, Dolinsky, Anivsky, Kholmsky and Nevelsky districts.

Genus Elaeagnus (Elaeagnaceae) in the south of the Russian Far East

The spread of two species of oleaster – Elaeagnus angustifolia and E. multiflora, cultivated and wild in the south of the Far East of Russia, has been clarified. Their invasive potential is assessed. Only a single case of invasion of E. multiflora into natural plant communities in vicinity of the Nevelsk in southern Sakhalin has been identified. Previously, this species was known only in culture or as wild in places of former culture in the southwest of Sakhalin and Kunashir Island (southern Kuril Islands).

GEOINFORMATION SUPPORT FOR FORECASTING FLOOD ZONES IN THE SOUTH OF SAKHALIN

Modern systems of hydrometeorological monitoring, for the most part, widely use WEB and GIS technology tools. Territorial fragmentation divisions of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), Roshydromet, Russian Academy of Sciences and other services and departments interested in obtaining data requires creation of unified information environment for exchange of heterogeneous information. Formation field for geospatial data has become possible with the availability of industrial design platforms with high performance, supporting standard data exchange formats suitable of system for building projectoin. The purpose of the study is to develop requirements for geoinformation sup-port of the system necessary for flood forecasting. Methods: GIS mapping, interpretation and analysis of remote sensing data of the Earth. When developing system for hydrological monitoring of rivers in the Southern Sakhalin, we used the experience of operating similar observational network in services of several European countries, as well as the geographically distributed GIS created by Roshydromet. Considering the vast experience of predecessors and requirements for geoinformation support neces-sary for predicting flood zones in the rivers of Southern Sakhalin have been developed. The initial da-ta for creating the correct flood model are satellite images, large-scale topographic maps, digital terrain models, data from long-term hydrometeorological observations, and engineering surveys.

Natural ice in the debris flow basins of the Middle and Southern Sakhalin

The article deals with the ice mounds formation processes in the mudflow basins. Small natural frosts are widespread on the territory of Middle and Southern Sakhalin within the slope and small valley debris flow basins, along with dangerous slope exogenous processes (debris flows, landslides, erosion, etc.), often having a paragenetic nature of the current. The mechanism of ice data formation is due to the hydro/meteorological features of the territory, as well as disturbance of the thermal, hydrological or hydrogeological regime of the debris flow basin. The main reason for the formation of natural ice mounds in the valley debris flow basins is disturbance of the hydrological regime of the catchment basin during debris flow formation, which mainly contributes to the annual solid runoff of first order watercourses. Scum of slope debris flow basins are formed in case of violation of the thermal regime of the surface and soil of the debris flow basin due to climatic anomalies, as well as damage to natural heat-insulating coverings: snow and soil-vegetable. It is also possible to form sloping ice as a result of a violation of the hydrogeological regime of the catchment basin under anthropogenic impact or the development of dangerous exogenous slope processes with a sufficient depth of rock capture. Cryogenic processes of ice formation affect debris flow and channel processes.

Study results of pine and larch provenance trial in Serebryanoborsky experimental forest district

The results of the cultivation of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) in the provenance trial in the Serebryanoborsky experimental forest district of the Institute of Forestry of the Russian Academy of Sciences are summarized. The silvicultural effect was assessed by a comprehensive indicator of the feasibility of introducing specific pine conventions. It was established that the use of pine seeds of exclusively local provenances cannot be considered justified. In the vast area of pine there are very remote populations of a local nature, the seed of which, when moved, can be successfully used to create highly productive artificial stands. The 68 year old geographical plantations of larch growth and production rates of 18 climotypes of 14 larch species were compared. These species are Polish larch (Larix polonica Racib.), European larch (Larix decidua Mill. f. Sudetica), Larix sukaczewii Dylis, Siberian larch (Larix sibirika Ledeb.), Larix cajanderi Mayr., Larix gmelinii Rupr., Larix Czekanovskii Szaf, Larix amurensis Kolesn., Olgan larch (Larix olgensis Henry), Japanese larch (Larix kaempferi (Lamb.) Carrière), Larix kurilensis Maur., Larix principis Rupprechtii Maur., Larix potaninii Bat, American larch (Larix laricina (Duroi) K. Koch). Polish larch, Japanese larch, European larch and Olgan larch have the best growth rate results. Climotypes from Siberia and American larch showed worst results. Polish larch (812 m3/ha) and Japanese (804 m3/ha) larch from the Southern Sakhalin have the highest stem volume. The final estimations showed that the climotypes of Polish larch, European larch from Sudetes and Japanese larch from the Southern Sakhalin are suitable for introduction in the Moscow Region. The climotypes from the Far East, namely Larix amurensis Kolesn., Olgan larch and Larix kurilensis Maur., had positive silvicultural effect. The inland climotypes from Asia together with American larch showed negative results.

Post-war administrative and economic development of Southern Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands in 1945–1964

The article deals with the activities of state authorities in administrative and economic development of the lands of Southern Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands in 1945–1964.