Vol 17, No 2 (2026)

A study of the herpetobiont community inhabiting the litter of coniferous forests was conducted, and the influence of environmental factors on their distribution was assessed in two sites of a nature reserve in the Republic of Tatarstan, located in the subtaiga (Raifa sector) and broadleaf landscape subzones (Saraly sector). The results showed that the pine biotopes of the different sites have much in common in terms of taxonomic composition, dominant groups, trophic structure, and average dynamic density of herpetobionts. Thirty taxa from three phyla, seven classes, and 16 orders of terrestrial invertebrates were identified. Arachnida and Insecta dominated, with Coleoptera, Carabidae, Staphilinidae, Curculionidae, and Silphidae, as well as Hemiptera, predominating among the latter. The average dynamic density varied insignificantly, ranging from 26.9 to 30.2 individuals/10 trap-days. The trophic structure was represented primarily by predators and, to a lesser extent, by saprophages insects. However, differences were identified: average dynamic density, the abundance of Diplopod millipedes and Isopoda woodlice was higher in the site located in the broadleaf subzone, resulting in an increased proportion of saprophages and a decreased proportion of predators. An average similarity was observed between biotopes (on average, the Jaccard coefficient was 0.56). Analysis of the α-diversity, dominance, and evenness indices of taxa across biotopes revealed high values for the Menkhinik and Margalef taxonomic richness indices in all studied biotopes, with herpetobionts being distributed more evenly. The Berger-Parker dominance index showed uniform distribution in most cases, with the exception of squares 48, 25_2 in the Raifa sector and square 42 in the Saraly sector of the reserve, where ground beetles predominated. Multivariate statistical analysis revealed the significance of various factors in the structure and abundance of invertebrates. In ascending order of importance, the factors were arranged as follows: biotope type – seasonality – zonation – annual conditions – locality.

Peatlands contribute significantly to the global carbon cycle through the long‑term sequestration of atmospheric carbon in peat deposits. The water table level is a primary regulator of this carbon storage function. Drainage for peat extraction, forestry, and agriculture leads to a decrease in water levels, which initiates decomposition processes in the upper peat strata. This leads to increased peat decomposition rates and bulk density, hydrological regime shifts, and alterations in the hydrophysical characteristics of peat deposits. The present study evaluates the hydrological regime transformation in the Great Vasyugan Mire caused by drainage. Research was carried out at a forestry drainage area located in the northeastern part of the Great Vasyugan Mire (Bakchar‑Iksa interfluve, Chaya River basin). The research methodology included an analysis of water level patterns for the period 2015-2025 and assessment of changes in the hydrophysical properties (hydraulic conductivity and specific yield) of peat deposits under forest reclamation conditions. To assess long‑term water level dynamics (2015-2025), automatic pressure sensors were deployed both within the drainage network and in undisturbed areas of the Vasyugan Mire. The water yield coefficient (Sy) was calculated as the ratio of precipitation (P) to the resulting water table rise. For the hydraulic conductivity estimation, in situ slug tests were performed across the peat deposit depth at 50 cm vertical intervals from May to September 2025. At each depth, three replicate measurements were taken by measuring the time required for the water level in the well to recover after a fixed volume of water was removed. Hydrological monitoring of the studied area within the Great Vasyugan Mire indicates water table changes under forestry drainage. Key observations include a significant decrease in water table levels at all observation points, both within and beyond the drainage network, as well as increased amplitude of water level fluctuations relative to the undisturbed reference area. Additionally, a decreased water storage capacity of the peat deposit has been recorded, along with a 1.4‑ to 2.6‑fold reduction in upper‑layer hydraulic conductivity. However, ditches overgrowth has created conditions for moisture accumulation, resulting in elevated hydraulic conductivity values in deeper peat strata during high‑water periods. Multi‑year analysis (2015-2025) confirms that since 2022, increased precipitation and progressive ditches overgrowth have contributed to higher average annual water table levels and reduced seasonal fluctuation amplitudes.

The A.M. Obukhov Institute of Atmospheric Physics of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IAP RAS) celebrated its 70th anniversary in 2026. To mark this milestone, the Jubilee Conference "Physics of Atmosphere and Climate" was held from April 6 to 9, 2026, in the resort city of Kislovodsk, home to one of the institute's scientific stations. Organized by IFA RAS, the Earth Sciences Division of RAS, the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, and the Pyatigorsk Research Institute of Balneology, the conference brought together more than 200 scientists from Russia and China. The program included plenary lectures, four thematic sections, poster sessions, and round tables. This article provides an overview of the conference, summarizing key scientific results and future challenges.

The plenary session covered a broad range of topics. Central themes included observed climate changes, particularly the record global warming of 2023–2024 and increased weather variability in temperate latitudes. Presenters showcased the latest Earth system models (ARTS ESM, INM CM5/6) and decadal forecasting methods using hidden Markov models. Ocean atmosphere interactions, such as CO₂ fluxes over the Black Sea and the role of Arctic sea ice, were discussed. Atmospheric aerosols received considerable attention: optical properties of smoke and dust, black carbon, long range transport of arid particles to the Arctic, and air pollution in resort zones of the Caucasian Mineral Waters (CMW) region. Results from Russian satellite monitoring (Meteor M, Resurs P, Ionosfera M) and retrieval methods for ozone and aerosol profiles were presented. Fundamental topics included structural stability of vortices (Jupiter's Great Red Spot), laboratory modeling of quasi geostrophic flows, and probabilistic tornado risk assessment. The plenary concluded with reports on climate impacts on human health, bioclimatic potential of CMW resorts, and health risk projections up to 2050.

The first section, on turbulence and waves from the boundary layer to the upper atmosphere, presented experimental and theoretical studies across scales. Using three spatially separated sodars in the Rostov region, researchers identified two types of coherent vortex structures in the stably stratified boundary layer: stable Kelvin Helmholtz billows within the surface inversion and less stable structures in an elevated layer. For Arctic tundra (Samoylov Island), comparison of analytical footprint estimation with numerical modeling accounting for real orography showed that for easterly winds up to 30% of the turbulent signal may come from the water surface beyond the island. A database of turbulent energy exchange for urban landscapes in Moscow, Tomsk, and Beijing was created, filling a gap in the international Urban Plumber network. Nonlinear modeling of acoustic gravity wave propagation through critical levels showed that secondary waves with half or one third the primary wavelength are generated, and their amplitudes in the upper atmosphere can exceed those of primary waves. Analysis of sudden stratospheric warmings revealed that changes in wave activity are driven by inter wave interactions before the warming and by wave mean flow exchange during and after the event. Using GNSS networks, disturbances from the 2022 Hunga Tonga eruption were analyzed: at distances of 8 10 thousand km, waves in the upper atmosphere are recorded 40 50 minutes earlier than in the troposphere. For West Siberian mires, eddy covariance measurements showed that a ridge hollow bog absorbs 109 gC/m²/yr, while a pine sphagnum bog absorbs 88 gC/m²/yr; methane emissions from the forested bog are half those from the open bog. In tundra ecosystems of the Yamalo Nenets region, median methane fluxes range from near zero on dry polygon remnants to 7.1 mg CH₄ · m^–2 · h^–1 on drained lake beds (khasyreys). Climate warming (+0.5°C/decade over 60 years) increases the active layer thickness of permafrost by 15 20 cm/decade, reduces lake area by 13.4% over 20 years, and multiplies methane emissions from khasyreys.

The second section, on climate system modelling, presented global Earth system model developments. New versions of ARTS ESM (evolved from INMCM) and PLAV models, participating in CMIP7, were introduced. For ARTS ESM L, equilibrium climate sensitivity has increased notably compared to CMIP6. The PLAV model (resolution ~ 10 km) has improved cloud radiation and aerosol radiation interactions, enhancing accuracy of precipitation and heat flux reproduction. A global atmosphere model with target resolution of 3 5 km is under development for convection permitting calculations. Analysis of large scale circulation patterns in CMIP6 models showed that winter Euro Atlantic regimes are best reproduced, but the positive NAO+ trend from reanalyses is not captured. For Siberia (1940 2025), positive drought trends were found in the Baikal region, Transbaikalia, and Southern Siberian mountains; extreme droughts reached 2 3 cases in the last 30 years, while extreme wetting has disappeared. By 2050 (SSP245, SSP585), further drying is expected. A study of El Niño generation by intraseasonal perturbations showed that in a future climate (SSP5 8.5), the Madden Julian Oscillation contribution weakens, while Rossby waves for central type events increase. Estimates of subaqueous permafrost degradation on the Arctic shelf indicate thaw rates up to 10 cm/year; on the outer Laptev Sea shelf and in the Barents Sea, complete permafrost disappearance is possible by 2100. The ARTS ESM with interactive carbon cycle reproduces historical carbon stock changes (1850 2021). Investigation of climate response reversibility to CO₂ emissions showed asymmetry: CO₂ removal does not fully reverse warming due to oceanic thermal hysteresis. For the Caucasus, dendrochronological and glacial data reconstructed climate fluctuations over 2000 years, with major glacier advances dated at 1.6, 0.7 0.8, 0.5, 0.25, and 0.16 0.14 thousand years ago; glaciers have retreated since the mid 19th century, with most significant warming in recent decades.

The third section focused on aerosols, trace gases, and greenhouse gas fluxes. For the West Siberian Arctic (Bely Island), black carbon concentrations show strong seasonality: winter emissions from oil and gas and heating dominate, summer from aging wildfire smoke. In Central Yakutia, maximum black carbon (up to 30 μg/m³) occurs during wildfires; summer 2025 values were anomalously low (< 2 μg/m³). A correction method for aethalometer AE 33 absorption coefficient was developed using PSAP and nephelometer measurements. In the Pechora and Kara seas, new methane seeps were identified, most active in subaqueous permafrost zones. Hydroacoustic data from Buor Khaya Bay (Laptev Sea) recorded over 100 previously unknown shallow seeps. In the CMW resort region, comprehensive measurements showed strong inverse correlations of PM1.0 and PM2.5 with air temperature (r = –0.90 to –0.82) and direct correlations with relative humidity (r = +0.91 to +0.83), explaining the diurnal cycle. For Kislovodsk, the WRF Chimere model reproduced high surface ozone episodes; exceedance of the 8 hour standard (100 μg/m³) occurs from March to September, peaking in July August. Using Russian satellites, methods were developed for retrieving vertical ozone profiles (IR), nitrogen dioxide (MAX DOAS, resolution 2.4 km allowing point source detection), and aerosol extinction (transformer based neural network). For Meteor M, a dynamic correction method based on validation with NDACC and TCCON networks was proposed.

The fourth section covered applied aspects: bioclimatic potential, energy, and transport. A comprehensive assessment of bioclimatic potential (BCP) of CMW resort cities (Kislovodsk, Yessentuki, Pyatigorsk, Zheleznovodsk) was performed. Kislovodsk had the highest BCP (2.56 points, "very high"), with 2147 sunshine hours per year; Yessentuki and Pyatigorsk had "high" BCP (2.15 and 2.03). However, observed climate change (rising temperatures, changing precipitation, increased blocking anticyclones) poses risks to recreation. For Svalbard, heat waves associated with blocking anticyclones were identified, most intense in July August 2024. An integrated health risk assessment up to 2050 for southern Russian resorts showed a slight increase in winter danger (especially for CMW under SSP245) and a slight summer decrease for the Black Sea coast. A method for modeling atmospheric icing on power lines using WRF ARW (resolution 1 km) was developed, with specialized parameterizations for glaze, rime, and wet snow. For the Russian Arctic, a geoinformation atlas of climate changes (1950 2064) was created, containing over 1000 digital maps to support transport infrastructure, including the projected Northern Latitudinal Railway. Test results of the domestic acoustic anemometer AMK 04 were presented. A simplified parameterization of turbulent heat exchange for a melting glacier surface was developed. An information system for monitoring the carbon balance of Arctic zone ecosystems was presented, containing over 10,000 spatial elements (forest inventory, peatlands, Landsat derived vegetation dynamics).

The conference demonstrated the high scientific level of research at IAP RAS and its partners. Key outcomes include new Earth system models participating in CMIP7, improved representation of circulation and extremes, though uncertainties in climate sensitivity remain. Diagnostics identified regional changes in Siberian hydrothermal extremes, Arctic subaqueous permafrost degradation, and transformation of resort bioclimatic conditions, confirming the anthropogenic role in recent warming. Unique urban turbulence databases were created, and methods for coherent structure analysis were advanced. Comprehensive studies of CMW resorts revealed high bioclimatic potential but vulnerability to climate and aerosol changes. New quantitative estimates of methane emissions from tundra and wetland landscapes showed that permafrost degradation multiplies CH₄ fluxes. The conference resolution stressed the need for further development of Russian climate models, expansion of experimental station networks (high mountain and Arctic), and strengthening interdisciplinary research at the interface of atmospheric physics, ecology, medicine, and economics. Particular emphasis was placed on transferring scientific results into practice for adaptation of resort management, energy, transport, and agriculture to a changing climate. The author thanks the program and organizing committees, all participants, and the company LABINSTRUMENTS for its support.