Introduction. The article investigates the sound space of resort towns in Caucasus Mineral Waters by the example of the two largest of them, namely Pyatigorsk and Kislovodsk. The concept of the sound space of the city is considered, the main modern aspects of sound research in the city are highlighted. Based on the collected field data, an attempt is made to qualitatively assess the sound environment of cities, especially important for resort towns. For the central parts of the cities, the differentiation of the sound space was carried out, reflecting the type of social use of the territories.
Materials and research methods. The data of field measurements of sound in cities were obtained during the field practice of geography students in socio-economic geography in 2022. The cartographic method, normative approach and typology are used in the course of the study.
Research results and their discussion. The sound space of the studied resort towns has typical features of modern Russian cities. The resort function is not reflected in the sound space. The main factors of its formation are transport highways, human and commercial activities. Recreational areas are more comfortable in terms of sound, having their own internal specifics. In general, the level of noise pollution depends on the types of prevailing sounds in the territory. A microgeographic study of the central resort parts of the cities showed a complete lack of understanding and requirements for sound comfort.
Conclusions. In urban studies, there is an increase in interest in sound in the city, the allocation of sound space and its cultural and geographical differences. Sound can identify universal socio-cultural structures, act as a source of conceptual and methodological constructions. Sound studies help comprehend existing social practices and their contexts. The resort towns of the Caucasus Mineral Waters were founded without taking into account the comfort of the sound environment. As a result, the characteristics of their sound space do not differ from ordinary cities.

Introduction. It is known that the time course of temperature during the year is seasonal. However, the rates of temperature growth in transition periods are different. This complicates the prediction of such an important parameter, in particular for agriculture, as the air temperature of the surface layer of the atmosphere. Accordingly, the article analyzes the intra-annual variability of air temperature and compares it with a sinusoidal model of the annual temperature course.
Materials and research methods. The time series of the air temperature of the surface layer of the atmosphere for the city of Stavropol are considered and the task is to compare the actual and theoretical values of annual amplitudes. In the elementary (sinusoidal) model, this theoretical value turns out to be directly proportional to the annual variance. The time series of temperature differences (inter-monthly changes), the so-called discrete derivatives, is also considered, and the comparison of the usual and discrete derivative of the sine function as an elementary model of the annual temperature course is carried out. A new value is introduced – the standard deviation of variability, which also characterizes the variance, yet not for a number of temperatures, but their differences.
Research results and their discussion. It is noted that the theoretical (i.e., valid for the sinusoidal model) and the actual value of the amplitude of the annual temperature course are quite well matched. However, due to non-periodic deviations, the difference between these values can reach 2 °C, which is characterized by asymmetry on the intra-annual variability chart. In addition, the average annual temperature course is considered and its analysis is carried out using discrete derivatives. It is shown that the ratio of the annual temperature amplitude to the amplitude of the discrete derivative of this value is equal to the cyclic frequency of fluctuations of the annual temperature course.
Conclusions. The results obtained confirm the possibility of using a sinusoidal model of the annual temperature course (although with some limitations related to the asymmetry and shift of intra-annual peak points). The analysis of the annual temperature course using discrete derivatives and its comparison with the sinusoidal model revealed the features of the average annual intra-annual variability of surface air temperature for the city of Stavropol for the period 1944 – 2022. Sometimes there is a change in the rate of heating or cooling; in rare cases, there is an inversion when considering the time series of average monthly temperatures).

Introduction. The snow accumulation regime is an important parameter in climate models, in assessing soil moisture reserves, in calculating the level of runoff, flood forecasting, and also for studying atmospheric pollution. In connection with global warming observed in recent decades, there are noticeable changes in climatic characteristics that affect the regime of snow accumulation in the mountains.
Materials and research methods. To analyze and evaluate long-term changes in snow cover height, we used data from observations of precipitation and snow cover (from 1951 to 2022) at the Terskol meteorological station closest to the Elbrus resort, located at the altitude of 2100 m above the sea level. The materials of the study were long-term observations of the amount of precipitation in the cold season and the height of the snow cover at the Terskol meteorological station. Using the methods of statistical analysis, according to long-term data on snow depth for the cold period of the year, the mean and the standard deviation were calculated. Linear trends were obtained, the rate of change of the meteorological parameter (snow depth), anomalies were revealed relative to the average value for 1961 ÷ 1990 for each of the studied series.
Research results and their discussion. The results of the analysis are the regularities of the temporal course of snow cover height at the Terskol meteorological station from 1951 to 2022. It was found that the value of the average snow depth in the full time series was 46 cm, the maximum value was 82 cm, the minimum – 16 cm, the average deviation was 15,65 cm. The time series of snow cover height is characterized by a negative trend expressed as a linear relationship. The values of anomalies of snow height values in different years are calculated.
Conclusions. It is shown that the period from 1951 to 2022, the snow accumulation regime was characterized by an annual decrease in the average annual snow cover height by 0,1 cm per year. Snow height anomalies were obtained in different years.

Introduction. GIS technologies make it possible to analyze large amounts of spatial data, which include digital elevation models derived from remote sensing data. They are an important source of data for calculating and mapping various phenomena and processes that are closely interrelated with the relief, and cover vast areas. The article presents the results of the accuracy assessment of the three most popular global digital elevation models: ALOS World 3D, SRTM, and ASTER.
Materials and research methods. The evaluation of digital elevation models was carried out on the territory of Budennovsky urban district of Stavropol Krai. Error analysis of morphometric indicators was performed based on the comparison of the studied digital elevation models and the data of the State Research and Development Center of Geoformation Systems and Technologies – GosGisCenter, which were presented in the form of topographic maps. The analysis of the results of the study was carried out based on mathematical and statistical methods. The total sample of compared points equals 5322.
Research results and their discussion. Based on the obtained dataset of each of the digital terrain models, a comparative analysis of the samples was carried out. As a result, it was determined that the ASTER model showed the lowest accuracy. SRTM project data showed insignificant deviations. The digital terrain model based on ALOS W3D data has the highest accuracy.
Conclusions. Despite its popularity and at first glance similarity of the data, a number of features of each of the digital terrain models were identified. The data obtained will simplify the selection of a digital terrain model, taking into account the requirements needed to perform various tasks, as well as improve the accuracy of the results obtained.

 Introduction. Avalanche-talus processes have become common mainly in the mountainous regions of the Karachay-Cherkess Republic. The article provides an assessment of the extent of the spread, activity and danger of avalanche- talus processes on the territory of the republic over 2005–2022.
Materials and research methods. The key method used in this work was the analysis of various materials containing information on the activity of the manifestation of avalanche-talus processes on the territory of the Karachay-Cherkess Republic. Literary sources, reports and published data of the Center for State Monitoring of the State of the Subsoil of the Federal State Budgetary Institution «Hydrospetsgeology » over the period of 2005–2022 served the main sources of the analysis.
Research results and their discussion. The authors characterize the conditions and the causes, the extent of the spread, and assess the activity and danger of avalanche-talus manifestations that occurred on the territory of the Karachay-Cherkess Republic in 2005–2022. The paper provides information on the extent of destruction and deformation of settlements and economic objects under the influence of these processes.
Conclusions. Information is given on the location of avalanche-talus manifestations on the territory of the Karachay-Cherkess Republic and their characteristics, the extent of destruction and deformation caused by them. Over the period in question, more than 90 significant avalanche-talus manifestations were recorded on the territory of the republic, the volumes of which did not exceed 1000–1500 m3. The largest scale of landslide-scree activity was observed in 2006, 2007 and 2010, and a low degree of activity was observed in 2017, 2020 and 2022. The majority of active landslide-talus sites (more than 85 %) were recorded on the highways of the republic. The most significant degree of their activity was noted in the Karachay and Zelenchuk administrative districts of the republic.

Introduction. History matching of a multi-layer model, where several layers are combined into one object and developed using a unified well grid, is complicated by the mutual influence of parameters (porosity, aquifer volume and intensity, permeability, productivity) on reservoir pressure, balance of production from the producing layers, and advancement of the water front. A change in any of the adjustable parameters of one layer entails a change in the controlled parameters of all interconnected layers.
Materials and research methods. The model of the Lower Cretaceous gas condensate deposits of the Nydinsky section of the Medvezhye deposit is a multi-layer one. The development objects consist of 3-4 layers. Each object is developed by an independent grid of wells. Each deposit is layer-uplifted, flooding occurs in the lateral direction. The analysis by the P/z method was carried out, according to the results of which the effect of the water pressure regime on the 2nd and 4th development site is observed, which must be reproduced in the model. Also, this method can indirectly indicate the amount of drained reserves.
Research results and their discussion. The configurable parameters for history matching are: reservoir pressure, the front of the reservoir water advance, gas production profiles for each well based on the PGI using a flow meter. The setting of the initial inflow profile is reproduced based on the results of the primary GIS. The correspondence of the inflow profiles of further GIS should be ensured by the correct distribution of the initial gas reserves across the layers inside the operational facility. Further, while maintaining the balance of the inflow profile, the formation pressure and the water advance front are adjusted by iteratively changing the volume and intensity of the aquifer and the pore volume.
Conclusions. The algorithm for history matching of a multi-layer model, in which several layers are developed by a single grid of wells, should begin with adapting the inflow profile to the initial date. Further redistribution of the production profile should occur iteratively due to the balance of reserves of deposits, volume and intensity of the aquifer, while taking into account the front of the advance of reservoir waters based on the results of observations on the well stock. Adjusting the inflow profile by changing kh is not recommended, since changing the inflow profile over time is most often not the function of kh. At the same time, it is necessary to take into account the mutual influence of the above parameters of one formation on all other layers inside the operational facility.

Introduction. Oil and gas condensate field X is located in the Tomsk region and belongs to the Vasyugan oil and gas region of the West Siberian oil and gas province. In the section of the field, 5 development objects were identified: J1 1, J1 2, J1 3-4, J3 and J4-5. The studied objects are complex in terms of geological structure and phase state of the fluids. The factors complicating the development include low reservoir permeability, the presence of water-oil and gas-oil zones, the complex composition of the fluid, the phase state of the deposit is closeto critical. Studying the experience of developing complex objects is an urgent task. The resulting information can be further used in the design of the development of analogue deposits.
Materials and research methods. The object of the study is the operational facilities of the oil and gas condensate field X. The article presents the results of the analysis of the development of the field; the dynamics of technological indicators, the structure of the fund, and the energy state of the commissioned facilities are studied. The design and technical documentation for the development of the X field was used as an information source, including the materials of studies by the pressure recovery curve (PRC) method, on the basis of which the effect of a decrease in reservoir pressure on the productivity of production wells was established.
Research results and their discussion. At Field X, objects J1 1 and J1 2 were put into development, including oil and oil deposits with a gas cap. Gas condensate facilities are not operated. In general, the field is at the initial stage of development. For the J1 1 formation, according to the design document, a triangular well placement grid is implemented with a step of 700 m with the formation of an inverted seven-point flooding system. The J1 2 facility has a three-row development system 700 × 700 m. Despite the low porosity and permeability properties of the reservoirs, the input well flow rates are high, which is explained by the properties of the fluids of the X field. The only stimulation method currently used at the field is hydraulic fracturing. Adverse factors in terms of field development were identified during the analysis of the dynamics as regards the changes in reservoir pressure. A number of studies were carried out at the field to determine the effect of lowering reservoir pressure on the process of hydrocarbon production.
Conclusions. In the course of the studies carried out at the field, an irreversible negative effect of a decrease in reservoir pressure below saturation pressure on well productivity was revealed. Gas/oil ratio growth is noted even with a slight decrease in reservoir pressure, especially in the J1 1 formation. The introduction of injection wells allowed stabilizing the reservoir pressure, but the main problems in the development of these complex objects remain unresolved. To optimize the further exploitation of these deposits, a comprehensive implementation of the proposed design solutions is required.