During the period from July 1 to August 14, 2007, two marine multidisciplinary expeditions were carried out in the region of the Central Kuril Islands. One of the goals of the expeditions was investigation of the coasts of the Central Kuril Islands to measure the run-up heights and inundation distances of tsunami, as well as to gather data on the geological effects of the tsunami on the coasts

We consider the use of two approaches in assessing landscape diversity of a territory: qualitative and quantitative analyses of the landscape structure on the basis of landscape maps, and a space imagery-based calculation of landscape diversity. This study revealed that the two approaches under consideration reflect different properties of landscape. It is established that the various indicators used in analyzing landscape maps unveil the aspects of a complicated and multifaceted notion of “landscape diversity”. A number of indicators overlap to a significant extent. Landscape diversity has a high degree of dependence on an island’s area.

Landscape maps of Russia at various scales, including individual cartographic products, maps in scientific papers, and comprehensive scientific-reference atlases, as well as digital spatial data on landscapes, have been inventoried. A review of data sources for landscape-cartographic studies in the area of contemporary Russia from 1959 until now and the results of searching for landscape maps on the Internet are given. Taking the difficulties in searching for analog and digital landscape maps and sets of spatial data on landscapes in libraries, bibliographic publications, and databases into consideration, it is proposed to create a metadata base and provide free access to it on the Landscapes of Russia geoportal. It is aimed at disseminating existing Russian and foreign data sources and integrating geosciences data based on geoportal technologies and web mapping tools. The current status of landscape mapping of land and aquatic areas of Russia (Far East; southern Eastern Siberia; Altai; North Caucasus; and the north, northwest, and center of European Russia) is illustrated by some regional case studies (totaling approximately 60 names), which differ in the available cartographic data. The prospects of future landscape mapping include a further improvement of methods and technologies to obtain remote sensing data, as well as the identification of emergent properties of geosystems. The principles of compilation of landscape maps and of the structure of their analysis are formulated with regard for the system properties of the research object (a special subject of landscape science, which is not limited only to the synthesis of information from geology, geomorphology, pedology, botany, etc.), and for practical needs of nature management.

Results of many years research of geo-botanic of the Kurile Islands are presented in article. Vegetation spatial structure of the Kurile Islands is conditioned by complex interactions of endogenous and exogenous factors. Meridional extension for almost 1200 km determines a significant climatic differenciation within archipelago. It is resulted in changes of vertical vegetation zones in the different regions of Kurile Islands. System of hot and cold currents in the adjacent sea water is the factor of asymmetry of vegetation. Special traits of archipelago are determined by the volcanic activity