Features of the plant communities formation in "Gurzufsky" Park

The article reveals the features of the organization of plant formations of the park-monument "Gurzufsky". For the first time, the characteristics and layout of 12 cultures of phytocenoses (CFC) that dominate the park landscape are presented. A histogram of the distribution of woody and shrubby plants by species composition in the CFC is given. A landscape map of "Gurzufsky" Park has been developed, taking into account the geo-morphological and ecological-phytocenotic features of the territory. The assessment of landscape morphological units from the position of the possibility of growing plants of various ecological groups was made, a scheme for assessing the phytoecological potential of the park was developed, where four categories of park territories were identified according to the degree of favorability for growing introduced plants. The analysis of key morphometric landscape characteristics and calculations of the values of the weighted average value of the plantings’ state (AVPS) forming the CFC, on the basis of which the stability of park groupings is determined, are carried out. In the course of comparative studies, the possibility of predicting the optimal species composition of park CFCs with high ecological plasticity for solving various tasks related to the organization of garden and park space has been established.

The principles of compiling and the content of the Geocryological Map in the area of the bridge crossing over the Lena River

For the safe construction and operation of a bridge it is necessary to have a clear understanding of the landscape, geocryological and hydrogeological features of the territory. In this regard, a review of the geocryological study of the permafrost zone of the bridge crossing area has been prepared; the analysis of the published and archive literature on the geological structure and hydrogeological conditions of the area under study was carried out; field and fund data and data of engineering and geological surveys were studied and analyzed; control and linking field routes and geothermal measurements in wells were carried out. The results obtained in the course of this work served as the basis for the compilation of a permafrost landscape map and then a geocryological map of the bridge over the Lena river in the area of Yakutsk on a scale of 1 : 5 000. The geocryological map shows the spatial heterogeneity of the permafrost-landscape conditions of the territory under consideration due to zonal (altitudinal-belt), regional and local factors. The information base of geocryological characteristics was the data of engineering and geological surveys.

Structure and mapping of landscapes of the Pripyatsky National Park using geoinformation technologies

The article considers new approaches to the study of the structure of natural landscapes, the identification of typical and rare landscapes of Pripyatsky National Park and their mapping using GIS-technologies that allow the creation of digital landscape maps. The relevance of the work is to create the first digital maps for the Pripyatsky National Park, which can be used to expand the network of ecological routes, increase the number of objects of inspection of the territory by tourists, monitoring forests and swamps. The created digital landscape map reflects the hierarchical levels and structure of natural complexes in the rank of genera, species and tracts, as well as the principles of their selection, which correspond to scientific approaches to the classification of landscapes of the Belarusian school of landscape studies. As a result, the main factor of the selection of genera is the genesis, species – the nature of relief, tracts – features of relief and soil-vegetation cover. The mapping of landscapes of specially protected natural areas (SPNA) of the Republic of Belarus using GIS-technologies was first tested on the example of the Berezinsky Biosphere Reserve and three national parks (Narochansky, Braslavskie Ozera, Belovezhskaya Pushcha). The digital landscape map of the Pripyatsky National Park, which illustrates the territorial distribution of 4 genera, 19 types of landscapes and 3 types of tracts, helped to clarify the boundaries of landscape units and served as the basis for identifying typical and rare landscapes, which is especially important for identifying rare landscapes that have preserved their natural appearance and have a special nature conservation value and in need of special protection. A digital map of typical and rare landscapes shows that within the boundaries of the park are widely represented species of lake-swamp and alluvial terraced landscapes, typical for the Polesie region, rare landscapes are confined to the floodplain landscape of the Pripyat River with ridged relief, old lakes, floodplain oak forests and tall grass meadows. In general, the identified typical landscapes of the Pripyatsky National Park are representative of the Polesie landscape province and reflect its regional features, and rare ones are found only in this region and emphasize its individuality. Digital maps made it possible to reveal the complex structure of landscapes, to discover not only typical and rare landscapes, but also unique objects in the rank of a natural boundary, and thereby show a more diverse landscape structure of the park than is reflected in the Landscape map of the Republic of Belarus (2014).

The Landscape Structure of the Dnipro River Islands in Kyiv, Ukraine: the Venetsiansky (Hydropark) Island Case Study

The article studies the Venetsiansky (Hydropark) Island (the Dnipro River, Kyiv, Ukraine) landscape structure applying the genetic landscape science method and the European landscape classification (LANMAP) approach. The aim of the article is to determine the best way to study the river islands landscapes analyzing the Venetsiansky Island landscape structure by the both methods. Methodology. The genetic landscape science method consists in the next steps: 1) the island’s territory information collecting; 2) the preliminary landscape map creating; 3) field study; 4) the final landscape map creating. The LANMAP method consists on: 1) the climate study; 2) the altitude study; 3) the parent material study; 4) the land cover study. The results. The genetic landscape science method demonstrates that the Venetsiansky Island is not a landscape, but a structural part of the landscape – the tract. The LANMAP study reveals that the Venetsiansky Island is naturally homogeneous, but land cover differs. The conclusion. The both methods’ study shows that the river island cannot be the entire landscape by the natural criteria, but only the part of it. The genetic landscape science explores the landscape forming while the LANMAP reveals the current state of the landscape.

TO THE QUESTION OF POLYSTRUCTURAL ORGANISATION OF LANDSCAPE SPACE

Обсуждается понятие полиструктурности ландшафтного пространства. Объект исследований – остров Матуа с активным вулканом, отсутствием поверхностного стока и широким развитием селевых и лавинных комплексов. Разработана ландшафтная карта, основанная на структурно-генетических принципах, внутри островного ландшафта выделены три географические местности. Предложена модель нуклеарной системы с ядром в виде кратера вулкана, по степени влияния вулкана на природные комплексы выделены три зоны. В составе парадинамических геосистем, связанных однонаправленными потоками вещества и энергии, выделены и проанализированы селевые и лавинные геосистемы. Количественно оценены вещественные потоки, генерируемые вулканом, лавинами и селями. Установлено, что в современный период именно вулкан является основным системообразующим фактором для большинства природных комплексов острова. Сделан вывод о том, что полиструктурность ландшафтного пространства отчетливо проявляется в пределах острова и связана с формированием на одной территории разных типов геосистем, выделение которых основано на разных физических принципах. The concept of polystructurality of landscape space is discussed. The object of research is the island of Matua with an active volcano, lack of surface run-off and widespread development of debris-flow and avalanche complexes. A landscape map of the island's territory is presented, based on structural and genetic principles; three geographic areas are identified within the island landscape. A model of a nuclear system with a core in the form of a volcano crater has been developed; three zones have been identified according to the degree of the volcano's influence on natural complexes. Debris-flow and avalanche geosystems have been identified and analyzed as part of paradynamic geosystems connected by unidirectional flows of matter and energy. It has been established that in the modern period it is the volcano that is the main system-forming factor for most of the natural complexes of the island. It is concluded that the polystructural nature of the landscape space is clearly manifested within the island and is associated with the formation of different types of geosystems on the same territory, the identification of which is based on different physical principles.

Mapping the Main Characteristics of Permafrost on the Basis of a Permafrost-Landscape Map of Yakutia Using GIS

The purpose of this article was to compile four separate digital thematic maps of temperature and ice content of permafrost, the active layer thickness, and cryogenic processes in Yakutia as a basis for assessing changes to modern climate changes and anthropogenic disturbances. In this work, materials on permafrost were used, serving as the basis for compiling a permafrost landscape map of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). The maps were compiled using ArcGIS software, which supports attribute table mapping. The ground temperature and active layer thickness maps reflected landscape zonality and regional differences. Peculiarities of genetic types of Quaternary deposits and climatic conditions reflected the ice content of surface sediments and cryogenic process distribution maps. One of the most common is ground temperatures from −2.1 to −4.0 °C, which were found to occupy about 37.4% of the territory of Yakutia. More than half of the region was found to be occupied by permafrost landscapes with a limited thickness of the active layer up to 1.1 m. Ice-rich permafrost (more than 0.4 in ice content) was found to be typical for about 40% of the territory. Thermokarst is the most hazardous process that occurs in half of Yakutia.

Fire-fighting Potential and Burnability of Forest Geosystems of Western Transbaikalia (on the Example of the Chikoy-Khilok Interfluve)

In this work, on the basis of a landscape map and satellite images from the Landsat satellite, an assessment of the fire-fighting potential of forest geosystems in the territory of the Chikoy-Khilok interfluve (Western Transbaikalia) was carried out. The basis for assessing the fire-fighting potential of forest geosystems was the analysis of the level of water exchange between the components of geosystems, which characterizes the micro- and mesoclimatic features of landscapes. In order to assess the moisture exchange potential of forest geosystems, a joint analysis of index images reflecting the temperature and humidity of the vegetation cover of landscapes was carried out. These images are calculated based on the infrared channels of the Landsat 8 OLI and TIRS satellite images. Forest geosystems with a high potential for moisture exchange have low temperatures of vegetation cover and high fire resistance. The joint analysis of the index images and the landscape map made it possible to carry out an expert assessment of the fire resistance of various types of forest geosystems on a scale of 1 to 5 points. On the territory of the study, the lowest level of fire-fighting potential is distinguished by the geosystems of dry pine and birch-pine forests on plains and foothill heights composed of Quaternary deposits of light texture (sands, sandy loam). Based on the time series of space images of the Landsat, obtained in different years from 1977 to 2020, an analysis of the actual burning of forests has been carried out. This analysis confirmed the high degree of reliability of the assessment of the fire-fighting potential of the forests of the Chikoy-Khilok interfluve area.

Ecologization of geographic education and forming of ecological culture

In recent years geographical education has undergone great changes. Taking into account its significance and current situation, the Concept of the Development of Geographical Education in Russia was adopted. It notes that geography forms the concept of human activity in interaction with the environment at all levels, and geographical information serves as the basis for identifying and solving problems that arise in the process of this interaction. This allows us to conclude that one of the features and tasks of modern geographical education is its greening, which is the subject of this article. As geography and ecology are now closely cooperating, there is a new thread occurring in science. This is geoecology. The article reveals the essence of this term and its conceptual basis. One of the main components of a human culture is the geographic culture. The geographic culture forms thanks to geographical education. Meanwhile, the geographical culture facilitates the formation of the ecological culture. The contemporary literature on geography and ecology often discusses the issue of how the ecological culture is formed. Methodologists are involved in developing various practical extra classes to improve the ecological culture. The major method to study the ecology and geography is a geoecological (ecological) mapping. The mapping facilitates programs and projects aimed at environment protection. The findings of the ecological and geographical researches help create geoecological, landscape and ecological maps. Today researchers are actively developing a unified method for creating such maps. The model or the basis of this method should be a landscape map of a territory. This is particularly urgent these days; regions create charts of their ecological framework. The article also reveals the essence and meaning of a territory’s landscape and ecological framework. Such a complicated system shall be developed by people knowledgeable in geography and ecology. Training such specialist is the top priority of the geographical education.

Regarding the Creation of the Landscape Map of the Nature Geo-systems of the “Chernye Zemli” Biosphere Reserve

Целью работы стало создание Ландшафтной карты природных геосистем Государственного природного биосферного заповедника «Черные земли». Материалы и методы. Для составления карты использовались данные многолетних полевых исследований за периоды 2002–2011, 2018–2019 гг., а также имеющийся архив картографических материалов и материалы дистанционного зондирования Земли. Исследования природных геосистем проводились с применением методов ГИС-технологий, дистанционного зондирования и методов ландшафтно-экологического профилирования. Результаты и выводы. В результате проведенных исследований получено представление о современном состоянии ландшафтов заповедника и его фитоценотическом разнообразии. Полученные результаты могут быть использованы для прогнозирования динамики и восстановления аридных пастбищ.

Methane Content and Emission in the Permafrost Landscapes of Western Yamal, Russian Arctic

We present the results of studies of the methane content in soils of the active layer and underlying permafrost, as well as data on the emission of methane into the atmosphere in the dominant landscapes of typical tundra of the western coast of the Yamal Peninsula. A detailed landscape map of the study area was compiled, the dominant types of landscapes were determined, and vegetation cover was described. We determined that a high methane content is characteristic of the wet landscapes: peat bogs within the floodplains, water tracks, and lake basins. Average values of the methane content in the active layer for such landscapes varied from 2.4 to 3.5 mL (CH4)/kg, with a maximum of 9.0 mL (CH4)/kg. The distribution of methane in studied sections is characterized by an increase in its concentration with depth. This confirms the diffuse mechanism of methane transport in the active layer and emission of methane into the atmosphere. The transition zone of the upper permafrost contains 2.5–5-times more methane than the active layer and may become a significant source of methane during the anticipated permafrost degradation. Significant fluxes of methane into the atmosphere of 2.6 mg (CH4) * m−2 * h−1 are characteristic of the flooded landscapes of peat bogs, water tracks, and lake basins, which occupy approximately 45% of the typical tundra area.