Geomorphology and Neotectonics of Eastern Siberia. On the Centenary of the Birth of A.G. Zolotarev

Doctor of Geography, Professor Anatoly Gavrilovich Zolotarev (02.18.1921– 01.15.2011) takes a worthy place in the history of Siberian science and Irkutsk State University. He was a bright and, we can say, unique personality, combining the qualities of a recognized leader, a talented organizer of science and higher university education, a brilliant lecturer and teacher, and, finally, a geologist – a highly qualified investigator. The area of his scientific interests was the geomorphology of Eastern Siberia, the latest tectonics of the Siberian platform and pre-rift transition zones of Eastern Siberia. He examined in detail the stages and features of the formation and structure of the Baikal-Patom step-vaulted uplift, as well as the latest tectonics and geomorphological structure of the Khubsugul region. He developed corrections for calculating the total amplitudes of vertical neotectonic movements – for the initial level, given the fluctuations of the World Ocean and corrections for the lithomorphic level. The result of these studies was the conclusion about the subsidence of some parts of the Siberian platform, and not their uplift, as previously thought. These new data were taken into account when compiling maps of the latest tectonics of the south of Eastern Siberia on a scale of 1: 1,500,000 under the guidance of A.G. Zolotarev. Zolotarev created a powerful Siberian scientific and educational geomorphological school, distinguished by high efficiency both in the field of fundamental and applied geomorphology, and in the training of specialists in geomorphology.