The paper presents the method of photogrammetric processing of SEM images and the results of its application to determine the spatial coordinates of the points of the microsoil of the forest soil by measuring their SEM images, obtained on SEM Hitachi S800 with a magnification of 1000x. Depending on the magnification (scale) of the SEM images, the accuracy of the method is: for M = 1000x - m(X,Y) = similar to 0.1 mu m, m(Z(h))= similar to 1.0 mu m, and for magnification M = 25000x - m(X,Y) = similar to 0.01 mu m, m(Z(h))= similar to 0.1 mu m. The article presents an unusual workflow based on processing in Dimicros, as well as examples of graphic interpretation of digital modeling of the forest soil surface microrelief in the form of microplanes with levels and 3D models obtained using the Surfer program. This information allows learning about the physical and mechanical properties of the soil, its structure, and its resistance to erosion, which is important in construction and environmental protection.

The paper presents the results of studies aimed at assessing the variability of respiratory activity of soil microbiota (rates of basal and substrate-induced respiration), as well as of the content of organic matter carbon and microbial biomass carbon in soils formed and functioning in natural (slightly damaged) biogeocenoses along altitudinal gradient from the foothills to the high mountain regions of the Central Caucasus (500-3500 m a.s.l., Elbrus variant of altitudinal zonality, Kabardino-Balkaria). It is shown that the mean values of the studied indicators in surface horizons (0-10 and 0-20 cm, depending on the soil type) significantly increase with the altitude from mountain chernozems to subalpine mountain-meadow soils and significantly decrease at the maximum altitude in the zone of alpine mountain-meadow soils. The studied indicators in different soil types within the same altitudinal zone also differ; this difference is statistically significant (t > 2.5; p < 0.02) for most of the indicators for the compared pairs of soil types. The data obtained indicate that the impact of the altitudinal gradient is significantly transformed by additional factors. The multi-regression analysis has been performed to identify the effect of the main factors of relief (elevation above sea level and slope aspect and steepness) and climate (19 bioclimatic characteristics) on the studied indicators. It shows that the mean cumulative contribution of all 22 factors to the variation of the studied indicators is 40% in mountain chernozems, 66% in mountain-meadow chernozem-like soils, 31% in mountain meadow-steppe subalpine soils, 67% in subalpine mountain-meadow soils, and 67% in alpine mountain-meadow soils. Thus, the effect of the considered factors may significantly differ both for soils located along the altitudinal gradient and for soils functioning within the same altitudinal zone. Relief and climate play an important, but not the only, role in the formation of properties of mountainous soils in the Central Caucasus.

Melville, Bathurst, and Cornwallis islands are located within the Innuitian Orogen geological province and find themselves primarily in the moderate relief Parry Plateau and low relief Sverdrup Lowland geomorphological regions. They lie between the high relief Innuitia of Axel Heiberg and Ellesmere islands to the north and the low relief Victoria Lowland of Victoria Island to the south. They experience some of the most extreme cold climates in Canada. Vegetation is limited to low tundra communities and barren ground. The only community is Resolute on Cornwallis Island. The region was influenced by both the Innuitian and Laurentide ice sheets during MIS 2. Glaci-isostatic depression of the regional crust and current submergence of eastern Melville Island are two of the key geomorphic imprints on the landscape. Permafrost and periglacial landforms such as patterned ground are ubiquitous. Ground ice in thermokarst produces active-layer detachments and retrogressive thaw slumps. Limited water availability and a brief melt season, when 90% of the annual discharge occurs, condition fluvial processes. There is little research on the effectiveness of aeolian processes. Widespread sea ice reduction under climate change is responsible for inundation of the coastline and erosion of shoreline bluffs.