Visnyk of V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University. Series Еcоlogy

Comparative assessment of the climatic comfort of Ukrainian regions for the development of recreation and tourism

2024-09-21T13:23:41+00:00

Purpose. To study the climatic comfort of Ukrainian regions as a basis for further development of recreation and tourism.

Research methodology. Comparison of climatic comfort is carried out according to the index of temperature and humidity and the index of wind efficiency with reasonable author's adjustments in accordance with the natural conditions of Ukraine.

Results. The study period covers 30 years: from 1991 to 2021. Materials from all regions of Ukraine and the Autonomous Republic of Crimea were used. It was found that for 7 months Ukraine is in the zone of uncomfortable weather (from January to April and from October to December). The discomfort is observed for 1-2 months longer in 8 regions: Rivne, Zhytomyr, Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Khmelnytsky (9 months from January to May and from September to December) and 8 months from January to April and from September to December in Vinnytsia, Chernihiv, and Sumy. A regularity was found that comfortable weather "migrates" from south to north from May to August. This phenomenon can be explained by the fact that during the transition period, negative subcomfort is observed in almost all regions of Ukraine, unlike the comfortable south. In June, the comfort "moves" to the Central region (Cherkasy, Kirovohrad regions), the Central-Western region (Khmelnytsky, Vinnytsia, Zhytomyr regions), the North-Eastern region (Chernihiv, Sumy, Poltava regions), the North-Western region (only Volyn region), and the South-Western region (only Chernivtsi region). In July, almost the entire territory of Ukraine has subcomfortable weather with positive indicators, and only 3 regions are comfortable (Rivne, Zhytomyr, Ivano-Frankivsk). Comfortable weather in August also "appears" in the Western region (Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Rivne regions) and returns to Chernihiv, Zhytomyr, Khmelnytsky, and Volyn regions.In September, comfort "returns" to the south, as negative subcomfortable and uncomfortable weather prevails in Ukraine.

Conclusions. The study has identified periods with comfortable weather for different regions of Ukraine, which can be used for tourism needs: planning excursion routes; creating strategies for the development of recreational activities in the region; creating newsletters and providing information on the "best" time for recreation; organizing seasonal tours to the regions of Ukraine.

Forest plantations influence on the thermophysical properties of southern chernozems

2024-09-21T13:24:47+00:00

Purpose. Evaluation of the influence of Robinia pseudoacacia L. and Quercus robur L. forest plantations on thermal diffusivity, specific heat and thermal conductivity of southern chernozems.

Methods. The thermophysical properties of soils were determined by the method of pulse heating using a specially developed installation and software. Soil temperature in the field was determined on the soil surface and at depths using temperature sensors. Air temperature was measured with a digital anemometer-thermometer-hygrometer Starmeter (ST8021).

Results. The influence of forest plantations on thermophysical properties was performed using soil samples taken from zonal southern chernozems (used as a control), southern chernozems under R. pseudoacacia plantations and under Q. robur plantations near the city of Zelenodolsk (Kryvorizky district, Dnipropetrovsk region). It was established that the growth of forest plantations led to a decrease in the surface temperature, the temperature at a depth of 50 cm, and the average temperature of the 0–50 cm layer of southern chernozems compared to zonal southern chernozems. The 0–50 cm layer of zonal southern chernozem is characterized by sharper temperature changes compared to southern chernozem under forest plantations. The growth of the forest plantation of R. pseudoacacia on the southern chernozem led to an increase in the values of its thermophysical properties of the upper horizons compared to the zonal southern chernozem. The influence of planting Q. robur on southern chernozem led to an increase in its thermal diffusivity, a decrease in specific heat, and practically did not lead to changes in thermal conductivity.

Conclusions. The growth of the R. pseudoacacia plantation leads to a more pronounced change in the thermophysical properties of southern chernozems compared to the Q. robur plantation, especially in the upper horizons of the studied southern chernozems.

Assessment of water quality from different water supply sources in the Kyiv district of the city of Kharkiv

2024-09-21T13:25:42+00:00

Purpose To evaluate the quality of drinking water from various sources of water supply on the example of the Kyiv district of the city of Kharkiv.

Methods. Field (selection of water samples from various sources), laboratory-analytical analysis of water quality, statistical (processing of received data and comparative analysis).

Results. Water samples were taken from various sources of water supply: natural spring water, water from wells, from a well, from the city water supply and from drinking water dispensers. In the samples of artesian water of the "Roganska" trade mark (automatic water dispenser), no exceeding of the normative values was determined for any indicator. Water samples from wells and centralized water supply have elevated levels of total hardness, chlorine, nitrate and iron content, which requires the restriction of their use as drinking water without additional treatment. Water samples from private wells have an increased level of general mineralization, salinity and electrical conductivity of water. Methods of purifying tap water from common salts at home were studied: water freezing, filtration, settling, boiling.

Conclusions. On the basis of organoleptic, physico-chemical and toxicological parameters of water quality, according to DSTU 4808, water from the machine of TM "Roganska" corresponds to the 1st quality class, spring water - 2nd class, water from wells - 3rd class, and water from a well and centralized water supply - 4th class. In order to improve the quality of tap water from common salts at home, freezing and filtration are recommended.

Research retrospective on the ecological state of Borzhava river basin (Transcarpathian region)

2024-09-21T13:26:39+00:00

The Borzhava River is an important element of the region's river network and a valuable natural resource for the local population of the Zakarpattia region.

Purpose. Analysis of published works containing information on the peculiarities of the ecological state of the basin and water pollution of the Borzhava River.

The results. Scientific works devoted to the results of hydrochemical and hydrobiological analysis of the quality of surface and underground waters, as well as determination of the content of heavy metals, pesticides and other pollutants in soils and bottom sediments of the Borzhava River basin from 2005 to 2020, were analyzed. anthropogenic load, the ecological state of the basin and the level of water pollution repeatedly suffer negative changes.

Conclusions. The processing of literary data ensured the structuring of information and the determination of the level of study of the ecological state of the Borzhava River basin.

Ecological infrastructure and its role in sustainable urban development: analysis and perspectives

2024-09-21T13:27:34+00:00

Purpose. To systematize and analyze contemporary scientific research and publications on the topic of ecological infrastructure in the context of sustainable urban development. The main goal is to define the concept of "Ecological Infrastructure" and its interrelation with the concept of sustainable development, as well as to identify key sustainable development goals that can be achieved through optimizing ecological infrastructure.

Results. This article explores the significance of ecological infrastructure (EI) for sustainable urban development, various definitions of "ecological infrastructure" and its use in scientific research in Ukraine and globally. The role of EI in reducing cities' impact on climate change and their adaptation to extreme weather conditions is identified. The article examines key components of EI such as green infrastructure (parks, gardens, forests) and blue infrastructure (water bodies), emphasizing their importance in providing ecosystem services and improving residents' quality of life. Global experiences in EI utilization are analyzed, highlighting diverse approaches and practical applications of these concepts in developed countries. It is worth noting that there is rapid development in EI research worldwide, focusing on developing green spaces to support ecological resilience of cities in modern urbanization conditions.

Conclusions. The development and implementation of urban environment projects focused on ecological infrastructure are crucial steps towards achieving sustainable development goals. Key aspect of using the EI concept is to ensure sustainable urban development, and consequently reducing cities' environmental impact, include the organic integration of natural habitats into urbanized areas, design, and implementation of both traditional and innovative approaches to reduce the city's footprint on ecosystems and the environment. Thus, the scope of issues requiring further research on EI includes optimizing its impact on achieving sustainable development goals and engaging with local communities to meet the needs of all population groups.

The influence of the El Niño phenomenon on appearance of large-scale forest fires and their ecological consequences

2024-09-21T13:28:34+00:00

The frequency and intensity of forest fires is increasing year by year. It is due to global warming, which is associated with both natural and anthropogenic phenomena and processes There is another mechanism of global impact on the weather, abnormally high summer temperatures, severity and frequency of droughts, intensity and frequency of forest fires and their consequences. It is associated with the unique, cyclical, natural phenomenon of El Niño. The possibility of this phenomenon influence on the intensity of large-scale forest fires and their ecological consequences cannot be excluded, in accordance with the analysis of these processes and their quantitative assessment. There is reason to believe that the phenomenon may affect the intensity and frequency of forest fires in countries nearby. Such a country is, in particular, Chile, which experiences intense forest fires every year. Their intensity is compared to the intensity of record fires in Ukraine in 2020.

Purpose. Comparative assessment of the ecological consequences of large-scale forest fires stimulated by natural and anthropogenic impacts (using the example of Ukraine and Chile in 2014–2024).

Methods. Analytical review of the research problem, systems analysis of a number of accompanying processes, mathematical modeling and theoretical calculations. A methodology has been developed for assessing the ecological consequences of fires and burning of buildings in populated areas.

Results. Areas of fires in 2017 and 2023 reached 0,5 million ha in Chile. Smoke ejections approached 10 Mt, which was one hundred thousand times higher than the norm. There were about 0,5 Gt of carbon dioxide ejections. They exceeded the background value in the fire areas by 200 times. The ejection of soot, carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons exceeded the norm by 120 thousand, 4 thousand and 160 times, respectively. Ejections of PM 2.5 microparticles and polyaromatic hydrocarbons exceeded the norm by 40 million and more than a million times, respectively. Ejections of nitrogen and sulfur oxides exceeded the norm by 3 thousand and 400–800 times, respectively. The combustion energy exceeded 2 thousand PJ, and the average combustion power exceeded 1 TW. The acoustic radiation energy, reaching 7 PJ, exceeded the background value by more than 1000 times. At the same time, the power of this radiation exceeded the norm by more than one hundred thousand times and was about 700 GW. Nitrogen ejections were the largest, reaching 1–10 Mt. The ejection of potassium, calcium, iron, zinc, chromium, and bromine was significant. The ejections of other chemical elements were significantly less. The construction of mathematical models made it possible to calculate the concentration and mass of harmful substances emitted during the burning of populated areas caused by forest fires. For the first time, it was established that ejections of substances during this can be significant. For the first time, the need to take into account the influence of micron smoke particles and polyaromatic hydrocarbons, which lead, respectively, to diseases of the respiratory tract, cardiovascular system and oncological diseases of residents of the entire country and beyond, was substantiated, and their mass and concentration have been calculated. Ejections of nitrogen and sulfur oxides, which stimulate the occurrence of acid rain, have been assessed. A comparative analysis of the characteristics and consequences of forest fires showed that they were more large-scale in Chile in 2017 and 2023 (almost 20 times) and in February 2024 than the record fires in Ukraine in 2020 in terms of their parameters and consequences.

Conclusions. Mathematical modeling and calculations showed that the ecological consequences of large forests and buildings burning in Chile in 2023–2024 were catastrophic. They were accompanied by an intensification of the El Niño phenomenon. No less widespread were the ecological consequences of large-scale forest fires in Chile in 2017, caused by the hottest summer at that time. The size scale of fires in Chile and their consequences were many times higher than the corresponding parameters for the record fires in Ukraine in 2020.

Environmental and toxicological assessment of the water quality of Burshtynska TPP cooling reservoir

2024-09-21T13:29:34+00:00

Purpose. Determination of the ecological and toxicological assessment of the water quality of the cooling reservoir of the Burshtyn TPP, which is a component of the Galicia National Nature Park.

Methods., Field research, analytical, biotesting, statistical.

Results. The assessment was carried out on the basis of the results of determining the toxic properties of water samples. Water samples were taken in the winter of 2024 in the Burshtyn Reservoir, located on the Hnyla Lypa River. The levels of chronic water toxicity were determined using the biotesting method for the crustacean Ceriodaphnia affinis Lilljeborg. The obtained results show that 50% of the samples taken showed chronic toxicity, namely, samples from the samples taken on the coast of the reservoir within the city of Burshtyn, from the recreational area of the reservoir used by the local population for swimming and recreation, and the area of the reservoir within c. Demyaniv, which is also under the influence of the highway, fish farming. The left bank of the reservoir and the confluence of the Gnyla Lypa River into the reservoir - the first class of water quality has been established in this area and the water is defined as clean according to the degree of pollution. The right bank of the reservoir, which is within the limits of the influence of the highway, excess recreational influence, inflow of surface runoff from the city of Burshtyn, has lower water quality indicators, characterized as the second class of water quality, and according to the degree of pollution, the water is defined as slightly polluted. In other representative bodies, the selected water samples met the standard of water quality according to the toxicological indicator - the absence of chronic water toxicity.

Conclusions. It was established that the left and right banks of the Burshtyn Reservoir are subject to different technogenic loads, different parts of the reservoir are subject to different levels of influence from different sources of pollution and, as a result, have different water quality classes. It is necessary to continue monitoring studies to increase the level of environmental safety of water bodies within the influence of the thermal power plant in terms of increasing control structures.

Simulation modeling tools in training environmental science students

2024-09-21T13:30:36+00:00

The use of computer modeling and forecasting for the analysis and prediction of complex systemic processes, particularly in the field of environmental protection, is extremely important. For students of ecological specialties, proficiency in modeling is a key aspect. There are at least two computer simulation programs available on the market with free versions for student education: VensimPLE and AnyLogicPLE. They enable the use of simulation modeling and system dynamics for analyzing and predicting ecological processes. Students are provided with the opportunity to create and study various scenarios using mathematical models. Students are encouraged to create and investigate the "Predator Prey" model, which is based on the Volterra-Lotka system of differential equations. The model describes the dynamics of predator and prey populations in a closed and stationary system. Based on equations that consider the reproduction and mortality of both species, students need to explore the interaction between populations under different input parameters. The model has two stages: initially, accumulators with initial population values are created, then parameters regulating flows are added. Using the example of the provided model, the possibility of studying the impact of various factors on ecosystem dynamics and understanding it more deeply is highlighted.

Conclusions. The application of system dynamics methodology allows for the construction of strategic simulation models necessary for making management decisions in the field of environmental protection and rational resource use. This is important for the practical application of students' knowledge in their future professional activities. Such skills will help them effectively influence the state of the environment and make informed decisions regarding its conservation