According to the variety and the intensity of dangerous natural processes occurence, the Greater Caucasus can serve as a natural laboratory, where geodynamic processes of a different order proceed continuously. One of the most destructive natural processes are the landslides. A reference object in this regard is the Luar landslide, which has included all the extreme features of landslide structures known in the Central Caucasus, but has not revealed the secrets of its static state, the determination of which is the most important task of the scientific research. An active landslide formed as a result of anthropogenic activity (slope cutting ) is also considered. The mentioned objects were examined by the geodetic and geophysical methods. Appropriate monitoring systems have been created.

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Two areal spots (Vladikavkaz areal spot and Unal spot) where chemical pollution of soils associated with mining reaches an extremely dangerous level were identified on the territory of North Ossetia-Alania. The areas with varying degrees of environmental stress were identified within the RSO-Alania region based on the obtained data. As a result of eco-geochemical soil sampling in the territory of Vladikavkaz, a technogenic halo of heavy metals dispersion (with an area of about 42 km 2 ) was singled out, the nuclear zone of which, while being characterized by a high concentration of lead, zinc and copper (more than 1%), remains almost unchanged with a significant decrease in the volume of mineral processing in the last decade. Investigations on the influence of negative environmental factors on the morbidity of the population in urbanized areas of Vladikavkaz and Alagir district were conducted. A correlation relationship between the number of neoplasm cases originating from the age group of cancer patients was established. For a more detailed investigation of the distribution of cancer morbidity by age categories, similar data for the Chechen Republic were analyzed. Investigations on the influence of negative environmental factors on the morbidity of the population in urbanized areas of Vladikavkaz and Alagir district were conducted. A correlation relationship between the number of neoplasm cases originating from the age group of cancer patients was established. For a more detailed investigation of the distribution of cancer morbidity by age categories, similar data for the Chechen Republic were analyzed.

Urban areas lying in the alluvial soil are usually prone to a threat of liquefaction even during moderate earthquakes. Liquefaction is the measure of vulnerability of saturated sediment to thickening (compaction) during earthquake and thus to pore water pressures generation (formation) sufficient to cause possible ground instability or failure. The buildings which are constructed over the liquefiable soil are more vulnerable to the vibrations of a potential earthquake. The territory of the North Caucasus is characterized by high density of population and a high level of seismic hazard. Liquefied soils are also presented here. But the earthquake effect depends on the water table and level of seismic loadings. Despite the absence of historical data on liquefaction on this territory, there are soil conditions in new regions with a possible liquefaction behavior during strong earthquakes. Mozdok city with seismic potential M=5.0 for Mozdok Eastern seismic fault is considered in the paper. The major part of the Mozdok city covered by the Recent Alluvial soil with a shallow water table, which is more vulnerable during earthquake shaking and quiet enough to trigger liquefaction. In this regard, a study carried out to understand the liquefaction susceptibility of soil in the cities using geotechnical data. A liquefaction susceptibility assessment method was adopted for Mozdok city. Seismic refraction survey is widely used in Russia rather than SPT, and calculations were made on the basis size of shear velocity Vs. As a result, about 90% of the territory of Mozdok city is liquefiable. The present study can be an eye-opening for urban planners and decisionmakers and emergency responders for future developmental planning activity.

The article considers the main sources of pollutionin the territory of the Republic of North Ossetia–Alania. A study of environmental geophysical factors in the city of Vladikavkaz was carried out at 126 points; indicators of noise pollution, electric fields and the level of gamma radiation were measured. A geoaccumulation index of heavy metals in soils and indices of carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks were calculated and corresponding maps were constructed. The obtained data supporting a high level of carcinogenic risk are consistent with a high level of cancer morbidity in the city, which indicates a close relationship between morbidity and the carcinogenic risk index. It has been determined that emissions from road transport are greater by an order of magnitude than stationary sources emissions, while there is a steady trend towards an increase in air pollution as a result of the increasing negative impact of motor vehicle emissions. It has been established that the most hazardous way for heavy metals to enter the human body from the soil is by inhalation. It has been determined that in areas where environmental pollution with heavy metals is higher, cancer morbidity is also higher.