Scientific and methodological aspects of teaching courses on geoecological problems of plains and mountains areas in the permafrost zone

Aim. To reveal scientific and methodological techniques for creating and teaching geoecological disciplines in bachelor's and master's programs based on long-term methodological developments of Cryolithology and Glaciology Department of the Faculty of Geography of Lomonosov Moscow State University.

Methodology. The author's methodology for studying, assessing and mapping the permafrostecological state of flat and mountainous permafrost areas is presented, based on landscape methods: landscape-indicative and landscape-structural. The advantages and disadvantages of the method of point expert assessments and one of the techniques for their improvement are shown. The conceptual provisions of the stability of cryogenic and high-mountain geosystems to mechanical disturbances of the surface are presented. The main assessment factors of avalanche danger and risk for recreational facilities in the mountains are listed.

Results. The concepts of "geoecology of the cryolithozone", "stability of northern geosystems", "crisis geoecological situation" necessary for the geosystem approach to geoecological problems are formulated. The factors of cryogenic processes activation at different mapping scales and hazard & risk factors for high mountain areas are analyzed. A graphic-analytical method for comparing factor scores against the background of an interval scale in “quality centers” is shown. Examples of original practical tasks are demonstrated. The procedure for the integrated assessment of the lithocryogenic stability factors of landscapes to the manifestation of undesirable cryogenic processes is disclosed along with the factors of their bioresource value in order to obtain quantitative indices for ranking landscapes according to the degree of vulnerability to development. A number of significant permafrost maps compiled on a landscape basis are listed.  Examples of original practical tasks are demonstrated.

Research implications. The multifactor integral assessment methodology is in demand in engineering-geographical research, particularly during pre-project stages of land development, ensuring the reliable operation of engineering structures in the cryolithozone while maximizing environmental preservation. The methodological techniques are of practical interest for training specialists in natural sciences on environmental studies of the cryolithozone and mountainous regions.

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