Padalko Yu.A., Sivohip J.T., Pavleichik V.M.
REGIONAL ISSUES SUSTAINABLE WATER USE IN THE MALOVODE PERIODS (ON THE EXAMPLE OF THE URAL RIVER BASIN) ^{[№ 12 ' 2017]}
The article provides a brief analysis of the ecological-hydrological and water management aspects of low-water periods in the steppe zone using the example of the Ural River basin. The intra-annual variability of the river runoff, characteristic of the basin under study, is noted, due to the interaction of a number of factors. Based on the calculation of modular coefficients and the construction of difference-integral curves, periods of different water content were established; The low-water character of the runoff was noted in 1949–1985 and 2005–2012. At the same time, the runoff of the majority of the rivers in the Ural River basin is synchronous and in-phase. On the basis of the calculation of the coefficients of variation, the differences in the long-term variability of the runoff of individual rivers were noted, due to natural conditions, mainly — the latitudinal-zonal inhomogeneity of the basin and the relief partition. It was revealed that the minimum coefficients of variation in runoff are characteristic for the Sakmar River and its tributaries draining the mountain forest and foothill landscapes of the Southern Urals and the Urals. The natural zonality also determines the duration of zero flow for small and some average rivers of the Ural River basin. It is noted, unlike the spring-flood highs and the summer-autumn mezhdene, winter run-off minima are very asynchronous for different rivers, some coincidences most often occur in extreme (maximum and minimum) winter water years. In order to determine the possible shortage of surface runoff resources, the water stress indicator for water management sites was calculated. The data obtained indicate a lack of water resources in the upper reaches of the Ural River and the Ilek River in low-water years. The conducted researches show that in the conditions of transboundary river flow it is the shallow periods that maximally exacerbate the tension of water-users’ interests in the Ural river basin. In this regard, the actual problem in the basin is the provision of guaranteed water supply for the needs of industry, agriculture and the population.

Pavleychik V.M.
LONG-TERM DYNAMICS OF NATURAL FIRES IN THE STEPPE REGIONS (ON THE EXAMPLE OF THE ORENBURG REGION) ^{[№ 6 ' 2016]}
Natural fires are an integral phenomenon of the steppe regions. However, studies on the spatial and temporal analysis of this phenomenon and the need for a more complete understanding of the processes, virtually no place in the steppe ecosystems. The article offers an analysis of current trends in the occurrence and spread of wildfires. The main estimated parameter accepted the evidence of total area burnt for some years, a multi-year (1983–2014) period. The boundaries of the fires were identified visually by the Landsat satellite images within the four key areas (Orenburg region). The data show a significant increase in the area of distribution and frequency of fires in all areas under consideration, since the mid-1990s — beginning 2000-ies. It is revealed that the main cause of modern intensification of fires in the steppe regions is the decline in agricultural production 1980–1990-ies, typical of the post-Soviet countries as a whole. Reducing livestock population (in the Orenburg region in cattle by 63 %, sheep and goats by 87 %) was accompanied by a reduction in the load on pastures, revegetation and accumulation of dry plant mass. Everywhere began the practice of burning of grass to improve forage quality land and disposal of trash. At the same time there was a formation of extensive (about 32 % of the maximum area of cultivated land) area of fallow land. The relevance of the conducted, and further research based on the need to examine the environmental consequences of fires in terms of their contemporary time periods, including justification of effective methods of management of fire situations.

Pavleychik V.M., Mjachina K.V.
FEATURES OF SURFACE THERMAL REGIME AFTER STEPPE FIRES BASED ON LANDSAT IMAGES ^{[№ 4 ' 2016]}
Fires are an integral events of the steppe regions. At the same time, a lot of diverse geo-systemic consequences of grass fires still are not studied. Such studies are especially relevant in the conditions of fire events revitalization that observed in the last 15—20 years. The analysis of microclimatic characteristics steppe ecosystems exposed to fires and are in the process of restoration succession is proposed in the article. The main estimated parameter is the surface temperature; its data obtained as a result of "thermal" Landsat bands satellite imagery interpretation. To get any information about the peculiarities of the temperature regime for the burnt areas and the duration of the recovery processes used a series of satellite images that covering the period before and after fires of 2009 and 2014 that was happened in the key area between the Ural and Ilek rivers. Our results that obtained on the basis of post-fire satellite images show the temperature differences usually do not more than 4  °C in the adjacent (burnt and not burnt) areas in the warm seasons of the year and have been declining by the end of the second vegetation year. In addition, it found that the increased thermal background of burnt areas (especially late-autumn fires) in combination with the lack of dense vegetation leads to a drastic reduction in capacity and duration of snow cover, and, respectively, leads to the deterioration of spring moisture conditions. Analysis of the landscape and the territory of habitat structure revealed the main factor determining the duration of recovery processes is a constant high hydration. The proposed studies show the thermal regime of the Earth's surface is one of the indicators that might use as the basis to formulate indirect conclusions about the condition and dynamics of vegetation.

Sivokhip Z.T., Pavleychik V.M.
THE SPATIAL ANALYSIS OF FACTORS OF TRANSFORMATION OF THE RIVER DRAIN IN THE CROSS-BORDER BASIN OF THE RIVER URAL ^{[№ 13 ' 2015]}
The worldwide growing problems of water consumption makes it necessary to address them in the context of geo-political, socio-economic and environmental security of the regions. A considerable relevance of the problem priobre-melt water in water-scarce conditions and in regions with developed industrial and agricultural production. Within the Russian Federation, this combination is a characteristic of transboundary Ural River. The paper analyzes the natural conditions and human factors forming the river flow in the basin of the Ural River in terms of the development of the concept of integrated water resources management. Data on the spatial heterogeneity of the formation conditions of runoff caused by a combination of complex and vzaimouslovlennym zonal-climatic conditions, varied topography and landscape structure. Studies have revealed trends in the water regime of the rivers, expressed in the redistribution of water content on hydrological seasons, manifested in the reduction of the spring and increase the share of low flow, especially in the winter. The information about the most significant types of anthropogenic transformation of surface runoff, summarizes the parameters of the largest reservoirs. It is pointed out that the majority of dangerous hydrological situations observed in the basin of the Urals, provoked by human activities without regard to seasonal and long-term dynamics of channel processes. As an example, consider geo-ecological consequences of the construction of bridges and road embankments. The article states that the question of assessing the impact of flow regulation on a multi-year and annual transformation of the hydrological regime of watercourses Ural River basin remains controversial, and the findings of various researchers  — is not identical. Studies suggest that the transformation of the hydro-logical mode is defined as a geographical contrasts between the different parts of the river basin. Ural and anthropogenic factors. The results indicate the need for drawing up long-term forecasts in the development of water-ecological situation, but with a detailed assessment of the socio-economic and landscape-hydrological effects.

Pavleychik V.M.
FEATURES OF THE SPATIAL STRUCTURE OF THE LANDSCAPE AND ECOLOGICAL FRAMEWORK IN THE SOUTHERN URALS AND IN THE PRIURALIE ^{[№ 10 ' 2015]}
Based on the concept of landscape-ecological framework proposed mapping and analytical foundation for sustainable environmental development and the formation of a promising system of protected areas Zavolzhsko-Uralskiy region. On the basis of data on the parameters of the elements of total areal landscape-ecological framework, a comparative analysis of the spatial structure, revealed differences of anthropogenic transformation of the natural environment in the Southern Urals and in the Priuralie. The information about the level protection of elements framework of the system federal and regional protected areas, suggests that the most important centers of conservation of landscape and biological diversity provided protection status for 20–25 % of Southern Urals and less than 10 % for the Priuralie. Poorly developed and low fragmentation of ecosystems of the mountain forest is a favorable condition for the formation of a network of protected areas. The proportion of protected "zones connectedness" is even less significant and is 7–8 % and 1%, respectively. For this category of framework necessary environmental compliance of use of natural resources combined with landscape and ecological optimization of the structure of land. Despite the active state environmental policy in the Republic of Bashkortostan, Chelyabinsk and Orenburg regions, to ensure sustainable environmental development requires further development and improvement of related regional systems protected areas to ensure adequate protection of the elements of the landscape-ecological framework.