Currently, atmospheric pollution is one of the main causes of premature mortality in the world. The problem is especially relevant for economically underdeveloped countries, in particular Ukraine, the economy of which has been developing for a long time in an extensive way. The complicated socio-ecological situation in the territory of the country is due, first of all, to insufficient financing of the medical industry and environmental protection, outdated technologies in industries, etc. The purpose of the study is to assess the environmental risks of atmospheric air pollution in industrialized regions of Ukraine. Kharkiv and Dnipro regions, which are part of the Donetsk-Prydnistrovsky economic macro-district, a powerful center of metallurgy and machine-building of the national level, were selected for the study. As part of the study, the ambient air condition was assessed from the point of view of sanitary-hygienic norms in compliance with state environmental standards as well as the risks of carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic effects from atmospheric pollution.Regional monitoring data on average annual concentrations of common pollutants and heavy metals in the atmospheric air of the cities of Kharkiv and Dnipro regions were used in calculations, averaged over the period from 2014 to 2016. The results of calculations have shown that the total non-carcinogenic risk from atmospheric air pollution in all studied cities exceeds the permissible level: Dnipro – 19.8 HQ; Kamianske– 23.3 HQ; Kryviy Rig – 19.3 HQ; Kharkiv – 11.9 HQ. The pollutants: PM2.5, copper, formaldehyde, nitrogen dioxide, manganese and phenol mostly contribute to the greatest non-carcinogenic risk.  The dominance of these chemicals and elements in the structure of pollution in the studied cities leads to high probability of development of harmful effects in the respiratory organs – 11.1 to 22.3 HQ; cardiovascular system – 2.9 to 12.3 HQ; immune system – 1.7 to 4.7 HQ; eyes – 0.8 to 4 HQ; central nervous system – 1,4 to 4,6 HQ.  The risk of carcinogenic effects is calculated  for substances with proven carcinogenic effects: formaldehyde, nickel, cadmium, lead and chromium. The obtained carcinogenic risk from atmospheric air pollution within the studied cities falls into two categories: conventionally acceptable level of risk and acceptable level of risk. The greatest carcinogenic danger is from pollution of atmospheric air by chromium. Contribution of chromium to total carcinogenic risk ranges from 53.6 to 90.6%. Taking into account the obtained results, it is expedient to include the assessment of the risks to the population’s health in the system of monitoring and control of the environment in Ukraine.

The purpose of the article is to analyze dynamics of the temperature regime of the surface layer of the atmosphere in the coastal zone of the North Atlantic as an indicator of changes in the thermohaline circulation system. In carrying out the research, comparative-geographical and historical statistical methods of the analysis of meteorological series were used. For research, 20 control points of the eastern part of the United States and Western Europe, which are located along the flow course of the Gulf Stream, are selected. In the selected points, by means of the linear trend method, the regularities of the dynamics of the mean annual, average maximum and average minimum temperatures of the atmospheric surface layer for the period from 1973 to 2013 have been established. The results of the study showed that, contrary to the hypothesis of fall in temperature in Europe, an increase in average annual and average maximum temperatures is observed in all control points of the region - the range means the linear trend is from 0.9 to 4.4 o F and from 0.3 to 3.8 o F respectively. In most US control points, the average annual temperature rises from 0.1 to 3 o F and the average maximum temperature rises from 0.2 to 2.1 oF. For four points of the United States the decrease in the values of the linear trend of average annual temperatures is from -0.4 to -1.2 o F; for three points - a decrease in average maximum temperatures is from -1.3 to -1.9 o F. At 9 control points in the USA and 8 control points in Europe, the average values of the minimum temperatures in the research period increased - in the USA, from 0.1 to 3.1 o F; in Europe from 0.3 to 4.6 o F. The opposite dynamics in the regions is observed for the values of the temperature amplitude. In most control points in Europe, the difference between the average maximum and the average minimum annual temperatures ranged from 0.4 to 6.6 o F; in most US destinations, on the contrary, a decrease in the amplitude value from -1.6 to -3 oF is observed. The analysis of the temperature dynamics of the surface layer of the atmosphere indicates the prevailing warming processes in the coastalzone of the North Atlantic, more intense for control points in Western Europe. The obtained data give grounds for refuting hypotheses of the presence of critical deviations in the thermohaline circulation system of the Atlantic Ocean, which could lead to a cooling in the Northern Hemisphere. The change in the amplitude values is a manifestation of increasing instability of the climate, which is likely to remain in the future with a general increase in the mean annual temperature in the region.

One of the modern methods of spatially estimating anthropogenic impact on a given territory is landscape planning, including the stage of assessment of the conditions of a natural complex . The results of such an evaluation are used in environmental management. The aim of the work is to assess the ecological conditions of the Vasyshchivsky forest area by means of landscape and environmental planning. The aim is achieved by performing the following stages of work: assessment of the distribution and intensity of contamination sources in the Vasyshchivsky forest area; drawing a scheme showing parts of the territory with probable conflicts; making a soil and geochemical survey of the forest area to assess acidity distribution and total content of carbonates in the soil as the consequences of pollution of the forest ecosystem ; specification of geochemical characteristics of soils on the forest sites in the established location of former fires; forecast of limits of afte-r fire areas based on the analysis of cartographic works developed by the authors. The geochemical characteristics of the soils in Vasyshchivsky forest have been studied to identify the areas affected by fire, and the results of this study are given in this paper. During the inventory phase of landscape and environmental planning, a complete survey of the forest territory was conducted and a landscape map was drawn. Based on the authors’ matrices filled with conflicts of natural use, the areas with low, medium and high levels of conflict have been marked within the study area. Landscape and environmental planning has been evaluated by soil sampling outside the test points on the network and their laboratory analysis. The results of the evaluation phase were maps illustrating the geochemical situation in the forest soil cover. The article presents cartographic models of the spatial distribution of carbonates in the forest soils, water and salt extraction pH. The results of the study are part of an environmental assessment of Vasyshchivsky forest area. In future they will be used in restoration of the forest ecosystems after fire.

Об'єктом дослідження є агрокліматичні ресурси на території України, що характеризуються сукупністю агрокліматичних факторів, які діють на умови росту та розвитку рослин та формують урожайність сільськогосподарських культур. Ці фактори мають кількісне значення та визначаються агрокліматичними показниками, що вказують на взаємозв'язок між факторами клімату та умовами росту, розвитку рослин, формування врожаю. Одним з найбільш проблемних місць оцінки клімату для сільськогосподарського виробництва є процеси теплообміну та вологообміну в системі ґрунт-рослина-атмосфера, де відбуваються біофізичні та фізіологічні процеси. Крім того, треба враховувати вимоги рослин до навколишнього середовища: мінімальні та критичні температури повітря, ґрунту; суми температур, які необхідні для визрівання сільськогосподарських культур; кількість вологи. В ході дослідження використовувалися моделі для прогнозування потенційних впливів змін клімату на продуктивність сільського господарства та вивчення варіантів адаптації до цих змін. Оцінка агрокліматичних ресурсів території проводилася за показниками теплозабезпеченості, де розраховувалися суми активних та ефективних температур. Для оцінки екологічного стану агрокліматичних ресурсів використовувався показник стійкості кліматичних умов. На основі цього очікується збільшення тривалості вегетаційного періоду сільськогосподарських культур за рахунок збільшення його теплозабезпеченості. На прикладі Харківської області надалі визначалися основні риси сучасного температурно-вологісного режиму. Встановлено, що найбільше зростання температури повітря зафіксовано з середини 70-х років минулого століття. Встановлено, що в річному ході температура повітря буде підвищуватися з середнім коефіцієнтом лінійного тренду 0,3-0,4 °С на 10 років. Амплітуди коливань температури повітря досить суттєві, що дестабілізує кліматичні умови на півночі. Південна та південно-західна частина регіону мають вищий показник стійкості погодних умов за рахунок усталеного температурного режиму повітря та характеру підстильної поверхні. Завдяки цьому забезпечується можливість отримання заходів, щодо адаптації сільського господарства до сучасних змін агрокліматичних ресурсів. Запропоновані заходи адаптації сільського господарства до сучасних кліматичних змін можуть бути успішно застосовані й у країнах-сусідах, зокрема Молдові, Білорусі. Ключові слова: агрокліматичні ресурси, гідротермічний показник, біокліматичний потенціал, адаптація до змін клімату.

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The purpose of the study is to assess the compliance of professional competencies of graduates – environmentalists with the needs of the labor market. The work is based on the results analysis of a sociological survey conducted among graduates and stakeholders. The authors conducted a survey of graduates and their potential employers on their priorities among the professional competencies. The authors have analyzed professional opportunities of graduates-ecologists and the employers’ requirements related to their competencies. In this regard, we calculated a rating of competencies significance for employers. The article compares professional expectations of the graduates and their employers. Conclusions. The authors conclude that students attach great importance to competencies, providing opportunities for professional growth, mastery of new technologies and application of innovations. Employers bring teamwork skills, professional skills and knowledge in the professional sphere to the fore.

A new method for determining the location of artificial hydrogeological windows in the roof and base of the aquifer has been proposed. As an example, the Buchak-Kaniv aquifer is given. This aquifer is widespread in the north-eastern part of Ukraine and is the main source of water supply for the region. In our opinion, pollution of the Buchak-Kaniv aquifer can occur primarily through artificial hydrogeological windows in its roof and bottom. In order to determine the location of artificial hydrogeological windows, factor analysis of the chemical composition of groundwater aquifer is used. The analysis was first carried out in places where it is precisely known about anthropogenic contamination of the aquifer with oil products and associated waters through artificial hydrogeological windows (for example, oil or other wells). As a result, a number of influential factors weighing more than 10% were identified. Further, in other areas factor analysis is also carried out using the same set of components of the chemical composition of groundwater. The coincidence of influencing factors indicates the theoretical possibility of an artificial hydrogeological window in a given area. In addition, various options for the distribution of pollutants over the horizon area are considered. The identification of these windows is important for identifying sources of aquifer pollution. Especially attractive will be the use of this method in areas where old (working and closed) oil, gas and oil-gas condensate fields are located.

Formulation of the problem. Today, in changing climate conditions, it is very relevant to study the impact of regional climate change on the regime of hydrological indicators and ecological status of the Siversky Donets river basin within Kharkiv region. Analysis of recent research and publications. Hydrometeorological studies are complex and large-scale. In the late 20th - early 21st centuries, a number of articles studied annual runoff of the rivers of Ukraine under the influence of atmospheric processes. Present-day changes in temperature and humidity of the territory affect the hydrological conditions of the rivers. The aim of the work is to assess the relationship between climatic and hydrological indicators (environmental dynamics) of the Siversky Donets basin against the background of regional climate change. In these conditions, monitoring of climate, hydrological and environmental indicators, allows us to make further management decisions on water resources management. Research methods are presented by statistical and cartographic analysis. The source data are a number of climatological, hydrological and environmental observations within the state network of the Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center of the SES of Ukraine. Problems of further research. Modern changes in climatic conditions in Ukraine are characterized by locality and rapidity. Considering the volume of water use from the river Siversky Donets, the question arises about the water supply of the region, optimization of its use and further rational management. Presentation of the main research material. The dates of the ice cover have changed in recent years, and often ice phenomena may not occur at all. We can see significant warming in winter on the example of January air temperatures. Summer temperatures are growing the fastest (by 0.37°C every 10 years), autumn temperatures are in the second place in terms of growth rate. which means that stable ice cover on most rivers of the Donets basin has been absent in recent decades, which clearly indicates a warming trend. Practical value. Based on the main provisions of the national environmental policy of Ukraine on the use of water resources the study of changes in hydrological regime of rivers is of practical importance for sustainable management. Calculation of the IWP has revealed that most rivers belong to the third and fourth categories - "moderately polluted" and "polluted", but there are also absolutely catastrophic cases. Research results. Heavy economic burden on the waterway will increase its over-regulation. In future, comprehensive assessment of climate change impact on the hydrological conditions of the rivers will determine the degree of change in the ecological state of the waterways, their rational use and protect.