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The Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) and GRACE Follow-On (GRACE-FO) missions have enabled consistent production of monthly gravity field solutions by international institutes, contributing to the International Centre for Global Earth Models. Each institute employs distinct processing strategies, yielding varied estimates of terrestrial water storage (TWS). In this study, we employ statistical collocation techniques (Total assessment ratio, TAR) to assess and compare the performance of GRACE TWS data products (2003.03 ~ 2014.03) and GRACE-FO TWS data (2018.06 ~ 2022.11). For GRACE TWS, the TAR values are as follows: COST-G (0.15), ITSG (0.83), APM-SYSU (0.85), CSR (0.91), JPL (0.93), GFZ (0.94), Tongji (0.96), HUST (1.08), SUST (1.18), CNES (1.37), and AIUB (1.41). Similarly, for GRACE-FO TWS, the TAR values are COST-G (0.15), JPL (0.81), ITSG (0.96), CSR (0.97), GFZ (1.06), and CNES (1.41). Furthermore, our comparison across basin sizes and climatic regions reveals that COST-G exhibits lower uncertainty and larger signal-to-noise ratios in TWS, making it particularly noteworthy for its utility. Conversely, other single solutions that depict long-term trends and annual amplitudes demonstrate comparable values across various basin sizes, climatic regions, and specific areas.

Forest soils often contain more carbon (C) than living trees, with significant variation in soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks due to stand type and soil characteristics. This study evaluates SOC stocks in the Moroccan Middle Atlas forests using field measurements and machine learning models. Soil profiles across 16 forest types were analysed, identifying soil typology and measuring SOC stocks. Spatial variation in SOC stocks was influenced by stand type and substratum nature, as determined through supervised extrapolation analysis. SOC stocks ranged from 35 t SOC ha-1 on tree-free land to 252 t SOC ha-1 under mixed cedar (Cedrus atlantica) and zeen oak (Quercus canariensis) stands. To enhance estimation accuracy, Random Forest (RF) and Gradient Boosting Machine (GBM) models were tested. The GBM model outperformed the RF model, with an RMSE of 6.97 t C ha-1 and R2 of 0.99, compared to RF’s RMSE of 10.28 t C ha-1 and R2 of 0.44. For better SOC stock assessment in deeper soil layers, a strategy involving more surface soil samples (0–30 cm) combined with numerical modelling of proximal soil properties is recommended.

Long-term mining activities without proper protections can cause geo-environmental problems. These problems have negative effects on the environment and agriculture, and also pose risks to the safety of local residents. This paper aims to propose an assessment system with authority and practicality for evaluating the influence of mining on the geo-environment in China. The proposed assessment system is based on the national technical specification and considers the natural conditions of the mining area. The study area for this research is the Huodong Mining Area (HMA) in Shanxi Province, China. To evaluate the impact of mining activities on the geo-environment, an assessment system with 5 criteria and 17 factors was established. The weights of the criteria and factors were calculated using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) method. The membership degrees of impact factors to the evaluation grades were determined using the Fuzzy Comprehensive Evaluation (FCE) method. The evaluation results of each divided element were then combined to obtain the final evaluation results for the entire study area. The final results demonstrate that the geo-environment in the HMA has been significantly affected by mining activities.

Despite China’s efforts to conduct unified investigations and monitoring, gaps remain in the comprehensive evaluation of natural resources. A major challenge is the aggregation of data from different categories at the county level, which is crucial for sustainable development. We collected data for Huanggang City, China, for the years 2020–2022, converted them into plane data, and applied multi-criteria decision analysis to examine the natural resource characteristics of Huanggang, which has 10 county-level administrative regions. An evaluation system comprising 56 indices for land, water, forest, wetlands, and minerals was constructed. The analytic hierarchy process and ordered weighted averaging were used for single-resource categories, while the entropy weight method and technique for order preference by similarity to the ideal solution were used to aggregate multi-resource categories. The southern alluvial plain of Huanggang is a favourable location for mineral and land development, whereas northern mountainous and hilly areas are well suited for the growth of green ecological industries focused on water, forest, and wetland ecological functions. The results of this study provide guidance for resource development policies at the county-level, offer a reference for enhancing resource development and protection, and support the Sustainable Development Goals.

Loess has unique physical, hydrodynamic and mechanical properties, which are influenced by both internal and external geological processes, as well as human engineering activities. Consequently, surface disasters are especially prevalent in the Loess region of China. The study area is situated in the middle part of Lüliang Mountain in the middle part of the Loess Plateau, which is characterised by a typical loess landform with a complex system of gullies and hill ridges. According to current theory, the cracking boundary of the goaf profile is a straight line. However, these surface disasters are actually caused by the shear action of the deep rock layer and the original vertical joint structure of the loess. By analysing the cracking process of the ‘Goaf-Overburden-Loess’ section in the study area, it can be found that the boundary of the movement basin section presents a broken line shape, which has important implications for the accurate estimation of the area affected by loess-type surface subsidence.

Lake sediments record the environment during the lake sedimentation whose characteristics can infer environmental changes and human activities. In this study, the 210Pb chronologies and sedimentation rate of the sediment core in Honghu Lake were calculated by the Constant Rate of Supply model. The characteristics of the sedimentary environment were analysed by using physical and chemical indicators. Four stages were divided as follows: Stage A (before 1900): The relatively low sedimentation rate and nutrient content indicated an extremely stable sedimentary environment. Stage B (1900–1949): With the growth of population, the intensity of land use began to increase, with an averaged sedimentation rate of 0.252 g·cm−2·a−1. Stage C (1949–1980): The sedimentation rate and nutrient content increased markedly. The intense human activity has damaged the surrounding vegetation leading to soil erosion and accelerated sedimentation rate. With the deterioration of the lake water environment, the organic matter source was mainly the internal source represented by algae and bacteria. Stage D (1980–2011): Influenced by the difference in land use types along the coast, the sedimentation rate of HH-A (0.570 g·cm−2·a−1) is higher than that of HH-B (0.445 g·cm−2·a−1). The results are of significance to the management of rural lakes and reservoirs.

ABSTRACTTopographic influences of the ground motions in 3D geological configurations have been addressed using Spectral Element Method as implemented in SPECFEM3D code developed to simulate seismic wave propagation. Hexahedral mesh model was constructed to which the 1987 Jinka earthquake source characteristics were applied. The simulation results have shown that topography has significant effects on ground motion and changes PGA values by ± 55% compared to the flat topography. PGA amplification variation between valley and hill/ridge top is observed to be in the order of 1.6. The study indicates that there is PGA amplification on top of hills and de-amplifications occur at the base. Valleys and flat areas generally show low and negative amplification factors. It is observed that topographic features play significant roles in concentrating or diffusing seismic energy. This was confirmed by observing the behaviour of PGA values along selected profiles and by comparing PGA maps with and without topography. The study shows that topography has serious consequences and must be taken into account to minimise damage to infrastructures and safeguard human lives and suggests the importance of incorporating the effects of topographic features in any seismic hazard analysis schemes in densely populated mountainous regions.

The aim of this study was to investigate the causes of building failures in a part of Ilorin. Vertical electrical sounding (VES) was conducted, and 1D inverted resistivity indicates four distinct layers. The first layer is top soil with resistivity values of 16.1 Ωm to 81.1 Ωm and a depth of 0.1 m to 0.3 m. The second layer is clay/silty clay with resistivity values between 12.6 Ωm and 59.6 Ωm and a depth of 1.1 m to 2.8 m. The third geoelectric layer is weathered basement with resistivity values between 5.9 Ωm and 38.4 Ωm and a depth of 1.3 m to 6.2 m, and the fourth layer is fresh basement layer. Four pits were dug to a depth of 1.5 m, and undisturbed soils were collected for geotechnical test. Maximum dry density of the soils falls between 1.73 and 1.84 with an average of 1.90 Mg/m. Dynamic cone penetration test (DCPT) was conducted, and the quantity of blows to achieve 1000 mm (1 m) penetration depth (n) was recorded. DCPT of the soils varies between 89.8 kN/m2 and 314.3 kN/m2, with low bearing capacity of 89.8 kN/m2 to 134.7 kN/m2 at a depth of 0.1 m to 0.3 m, which is below the recommended minimum value of 150 kN/m2, and this contributed to the building failures in the study area.

ABSTRACTNitrogen mainly exists as nitrate in aqueous environments. In karst areas, nitrate pollution caused by anthropogenic activities severely endangers aqueous systems. In order to identify nitrate sources, nitrate in the cave water of Mahuang Cave was comprehensively analysed using hydrochemistry, δ15N-δ18O isotopes and stable isotope analysis in R. The results indicate that the nitrate content in the cave water presented insignificant seasonal variations but significant spatial variations. Compared with the variation of δ15N-NO3−, the seasonal variation of δ18O-NO3− was positive (2.68‰) in the dry season and negative (−0.52‰) in the wet season. The variation of NO3− and Cl− and the isotopes of NO3− (δ15N, δ18O) suggest multiple sources of NO3− in the water. The average contribution of different nitrate sources in the karst cave water was assessed by the SIAR model: chemical fertilisers (46.29%) > soil nitrogen (30.57%) > manure & sewage (14.14%) > atmospheric precipitation (9.14%) in the dry season and chemical fertilisers (61.86%) > soil nitrogen (20.29%) > manure & sewage (12.43%) > atmospheric precipitation(5.57%) in the wet season. The contribution in dry and wet seasons was dominated by chemical fertilisers and soil nitrogen.

ABSTRACTThe response mechanism of the southeastern Tibet Plateau to the Indian-Eurasian collision is still controversial. The widely distributed shear systems in the Sanjiang area especially Ailaoshan-Red River shear system contribute a window to understand the tectonic evolution. Here we compile comprehensive geochronological data of the high-grade metamorphic rocks from the Ailaoshan-Red River shear system. The data reveal that the Ailaoshan metamorphic belt should be metamorphic complex with Middle-Late Triassic magmatic rocks and Cenozoic granites besides the Precambrian basement. The Cenozoic U-Pb age results of granitic rocks by accessory mineral within the Ailaoshan-Red River shear system range from ~41 Ma to ~20 Ma. The results of Ar-Ar dating of various minerals are in the range of ~40–5 Ma, concentrated in ~35–20 Ma. The U-Pb age results coincide basically with Ar-Ar data, indicating a rapid cooling process and reflecting a possible tectonic transition at ~20 Ma. The metamorphism and magmatism since the Cenozoic were not only unique to the Ailaoshan metamorphic belt, but also existed in the Chongshan and Gaoligongshan metamorphic belts. We infer that the Sanjiang area has a similar lateral extrusion deformation background and corresponds to the response of the India-Eurasia convergence process.

ABSTRACTThis study investigates the effect of compartmentalisation in the Lower Cretaceous Zubair Formation in the Bahrah Field in Kuwait, with proven plays’ success ranging from 50 to 60% due to irregular trapping configurations and fluid retention resulting from reservoir compartmentalisation and heterogeneity. An integrated analysis was conducted, including facies mapping, core data, sedimentological and petrographic assessments, pressure measurements and fluid contacts correlated with the structure map that was subjected to cross-fault juxtaposition analysis to test fault sealing capability. It’s found that the main reservoir units Z10 and Z23 are trapped on the upper down-dip side of the Bahrah Anticline by a set of NW-SE trending faults exhibiting effective sealing. Vertically, the reservoirs are sealed by internal Zubair shales. The Z10 unit is highly compartmentalised by strong lateral sealing from the Ratawi shale, while the Z23 unit experiences some hydrocarbon leakage through fault planes. Core data indicate reservoirs have an average porosity of 14.2% (7.6–20%), shale volume of 12.8% (7.2–20.3%), water saturation of 42.2% (19.5–100%) and permeability of 1080 mD (.01–6180 mD). Pressure measurements, fluid contacts and sedimentological analysis support lateral heterogeneity. The traps are a combination of structural and stratigraphic mechanisms related to the fluvio-deltaic depositional environment and subsequent deformation.

ABSTRACTThe paradox between massive rural revitalisation and cultural preservation calls for new sustainable development strategies. How to strike a balance between them has become a research hotspot especially for traditional villages in developing countries. Through data collection, field research and analogy, this article explores the spatial prototypes of mandala, Mount Meru and ‘zhai xin’ (central stronghold) concept, and points out the coupling relationship between spatial patterns and Tibetan settlements and its influences on settlement layout, architectural forms, and local customs, which includes the cultural philosophy of spatial patterns, the structure of human settlements, village layout, road network planning, and core node building complex. Taking Ge’en Tibetan Village revamping program in Aba Tibetan and Qiang County as an illustrative example, this design strategy will not only improve local residents’ living standards, but also helps to retain the cultural essence of traditional villages, thereby diving the development of tourism and other tertiary industries. Based on cultural heritage preservation, this work offers new perspectives on land use planning and architectural design for the revitalisation and sustainable development of traditional village in under-developed areas.

ABSTRACTThe Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Multipath Reflection (MR) technique utilises the multipath effects of GNSS signals on the sea surface to retrieve tidal variations, playing a crucial role in tidal monitoring. However, traditional GNSS-MR techniques have certain limitations in terms of accuracy and stability due to restrictions in satellite elevation angles and antenna heights. This study proposes a new GNSS-MR sea surface height retrieval method that combines Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) optimised Support Vector Machine (SVM) with improved complete ensemble empirical mode decomposition with adaptive noise (ICEEMDAN). The method utilises the GNSS multipath interfering signal frequencies (signal-to-noise oscillation term) extracted by ICEEMDAN as input features to the PSO-SVM model to retrieve the sea level height. Using one year of signal-to-noise ratio data from GNSS stations SC02 and TPW2, the stability and accuracy of the proposed method are evaluated under conditions of high satellite elevation angles and without precise GNSS antenna height information. Experimental results demonstrate that the PSO-SVM-ICEEMDAN method is superior to other existing methods in aspects of retrieval stabilities, root mean square errors, consistent tidal patterns, and so on.

ABSTRACTUrban footpaths are the main outdoor activity spaces for pedestrians. It is traditionally believed that the air temperature of a pedestrian walkway under tree shade is lower. However, from the perspective of vertical air temperature profiles, there is little difference in air temperatures between a shaded pedestrian walkway and one under unshaded sunlight. This paper adopts a human-centred approach to investigate the three-dimensional spatial distribution of air temperatures in a pedestrian walkway in Taipei City under tree shade. It analyzes the air temperature reduction caused by attenuation of ground reflected long-wave radiation due to shade, and the effect of shade on environmental ventilation. It was found that air temperatures varied along pedestrian walkway height and direction. The measured data shows that the main difference in air temperature between shaded areas and areas exposed to sunlight is in the 0–0.5 m height range, and there is little difference in air temperature between the 0.5 m-2 m height range.Higher shades led to poorer ventilation and were more likely to cause local overheating. This suggests the need to assess urban pedestrian thermal comfort from a three-dimensional perspective, considering not just planar shades but also vertical shading and ventilation.

ABSTRACTIndonesia is located at the confluence of the world’s tectonic plates, causing frequent tsunami disasters. An area in Indonesia prone to a tsunami is the Sunda Strait, which has an active underwater volcano, Mount Krakatau. One of the tsunami disaster mitigation measures is to make a map of the level of vulnerability of coastal areas to tsunami disasters. Spatial analysis of the vulnerability of coastal areas to the tsunami disaster employs the overlay method of coastal area vulnerability parameters using Geographic Information System software. The parameters used in analyzing the level of tsunami vulnerability are (1) land elevation, (2) land slope, (3) land use, (4) distance from the coast, and (5) distance from the river. The level of vulnerability is divided into five categories: very high, high, medium, low, and very low. Of all the research areas, those included in the very high vulnerability category (33.56 ha) areas included in the high vulnerability category are 3923.62 ha.

ABSTRACTAmidst the rapid urbanisation, the ecological environment of plateau lake basins faces significant challenges. To better coordinate the relationship between urbanisation development and ecological environment construction, this paper conducts an analysis and assessment of the ecological resilience and urbanisation coupling coordination in Dali Prefecture based on socio-geographical spatial data. Initially, an assessment model for ecological resilience is established using resilience theory. Subsequently, the urbanisation development level is evaluated based on panel data. Finally, a coupling coordination model is employed to calculate the coupling coordination between the two aspects. The results indicate: (1) a rapid increase in basin urbanisation from 2010 to 2019, particularly between 2010 and 2015; (2) a continuous expansion of low-value ecological resilience areas across the entire basin, with a predominance of townships experiencing fluctuating decreases or stagnation, leading to an overall negative trend in ecological resilience indices; (3) evident spatial and temporal disparities in coupling coordination between the two systems in the basin’s villages and towns, primarily reflected in differences in coupling coordination types, with a few towns consistently exhibiting environmental lag. This study introduces a customised ecological resilience model for the Erhai Basin, enhancing comprehension of urbanisation-ecological resilience dynamics in plateau lake basins.

ABSTRACTClimate and LULC changes have a great influence on the hydrological processes which include evapotranspiration, infiltration, surface runoff, groundwater flow, and stream discharge regime. This study aims to review the existing literature on the impacts of climate, and LULC changes on the sustainability of irrigation water in West Africa. The future of irrigation in West Africa will be driven by strong external factors, such as rapid population growth, climate change, and LULC change. The annual average temperature is between 25.9 and 34°C. Rising temperatures have affected all sectors, including water resources, increased irrigation demand, and the sustainability of agricultural production. Reduction in precipitation will reduce river flows and increase evaporation due to a drier atmosphere, thereby reducing the amount of water available in reservoirs for irrigation. The current demand for freshwater in West Africa for irrigation purposes is expected to triple by 2050. From 1997 to 2018, forest area decreased by 24.6%, while residential and agricultural land areas increased by 140% and 11.7%, respectively, in West Africa. Effective mitigation and adaptation measures are the policy issue for the observed adverse impacts of future climate and LULC changes on the sustainability of irrigation water availability in West Africa.

ABSTRACTThe Unumherin community in Nigeria’s Niger Delta is home to coastal marine polluted zones, and this research examines the radioactivity distributions and biohazard in the coastal environment. The activity concentrations of 40K, 238U, 232Th, as well as the outdoor dose rate of contaminated coastlines were measured using a calibrated RS-125 Gamma-Spec and a NaI(Tl) gamma-detector. The laboratory examination of sediments, water, and fish from the same coastal region – Clarias gariepinus Pseudotropheus elongated Oreochromis niloticus and Stromateus fiatola – was combined with the in-situ observations of gamma dose rates. With a value of [Formula: see text], the hotspot at site 4 is shown by the geographic distribution of gamma dose rates. The findings showed that the activities of the primordial radionuclides varied, with average values for the sediments and water exceeding suggested limits. Similarly, the corresponding mean hazard indices mostly exceeds the allowable limits. The species specificity of the fish species accounts for the variation in the mean concentrations of 40K, 238U and 232Th. C. gariepinus, having accumulated higher concentrations of 40K and 238U, may be the first to elicit health hazards in the future if pollution continues unmonitored. Hence, continuous monitoring of the aquatic environment alongside is highly recommended.

ABSTRACTThe aim of this study was to assess the historical and projected climate trend analysis in the Upper East Region, Ghana, using time series and modelled climate data under shared socio-economic pathways scenarios. Due to the climate data scarcity challenge in Ghana, there is a need to rely on high-resolution satellite-based climate products for climate change studies. Accordingly, temperature and precipitation data of six stations were obtained from Ghana meteorological stations; in addition, precipitation data of five satellite stations were obtained from CHIRPS data with 0.05’ (5 km) resolution to complement the in-situ datasets; and the temperature data for the satellite station obtained from the NASA power project were extracted. Modelled climate data were obtained from five GCMs in the CMIP data portal on the WCRP website. R software was used to extract NetCDF-format GCM data to Excel format and CMhyd was used for downscaling GCM data. The variance scaling method and local intensity scaling methods were used for temperature and precipitation bias correction, respectively. The Mann-Kendall (MK) method was used to determine the statistical significance of a change and identify trends in temperature and precipitation. The results of historical temperatures were significantly increased, while historical precipitation was significantly decreased. The projected mean annual temperature will increase significantly, peaking at 1.80°C by 2065, precipitation will, conversely, show significant spatial variability and seasonal dependency. For instance, by 2065, precipitation is projected to decrease between 10.05% and 12.66%. The results concluded by recommending policymakers develop climate change adaptation strategies guided by future climate scenarios.

ABSTRACTIn large-scale debris flow susceptibility assessments, there is often excessive manual intervention, low efficiency, and inadequate model accuracy. To address these issues, this paper integrates multiple data sources and proposes a Multi-channel and Multi-scale Residual Network (MMRNet) for automatic extraction of gully features. Firstly, MMRNet employs a multi-scale feature fusion module to capture both local and global features of gullies, enhancing the model’s feature representation capabilities. It then uses an improved residual structure to fuse shallow features, compress features, and improve assessment efficiency. Additionally, channel rearrangement techniques are used to enhance feature flow. Finally, susceptibility prediction is made based on the similarity between the gully under evaluation and gullies where debris flows have occurred. The natural breakpoint method is used to classify susceptibility results into five levels. Experimental results show that the very high susceptibility zones for debris flows are mainly concentrated in areas with abundant river systems along the Nujiang River, covering 61.68% of the entire study area, with a debris flow proportion of 98.78%. The MMRNet model achieves an accuracy (ACC) of 81.6% and an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.8320, indicating that this model is a high-performance method for debris flow susceptibility assessment.

ABSTRACTThe decline in air quality is thought to be due to rapid land use/land cover (LULC) changes near metropolitan areas that are undergoing rapid urbanisation. Here, we quantify the characteristics and relationship between the aerosol optical depth (AOD) index and LULC changes in Hangzhou, China, since the 21st century using multispectral satellite remote sensing data. The regional study results show that the correlation between the operational AOD observations (MOD04_3K) at 3 km resolution and the in situ AOD measurements available in Hangzhou ranges from 0.48 to 0.80, and their root mean square error (RMSE) < 0.30. During the past two decades, Hangzhou has been in the stage of rapid urbanisation, and the area of construction land has increased significantly, mainly converted from cultivated land and forests. The correlation coefficients between the AOD and the changes of cultivated land, forest land, grassland and construction land in Hangzhou were 0.36, 0.86, 0.61 and 0.63, respectively, indicating a strong correlation except for the cultivated land. Finally, the temporal evolution of the correlation coefficients between the cultivated land and building land are positively correlated with AOD, while from the trend of the correlation curve, grassland, woodland and AOD show negative correlations.

ABSTRACTMastering the changes in the planting area of crops are critical for formulating sustainable agricultural development strategies. The Landsat 9 satellite provides continuous observational data for crop mapping. It is necessary to evaluate the potential of Landsat 9 images for canola mapping. According to literatures, some canola indices have been proposed in relation to the spectral features of the yellow canola flower, such as the canola ratio index (CRI), normalised difference yellowness index (NDYI), canola index (CI), canola flower index (CFI), normalised difference rapeseed flower index (NRFI) and winter rapeseed index (WRI). However, it is unclear which index has more potential to extract canola based on the Landsat 9 images. Therefore, the potentials of these indices for canola mapping were quantitatively compared by using different classification methods including supervised and unsupervised classification methods. For supervised classification methods and the CFI, the overall accuracy of canola mapping was above 90% and the kappa coefficient was above 0.8. For unsupervised classification methods, CFI also performs best. It was demonstrated that the CFI outperformed the other five indices for canola mapping. It was also confirmed that Landsat 9 images and the CFI exhibit promising potential for canola mapping via quantitative comparison.

ABSTRACTThe Ordos block is an important active block in North China during the Cenozoic and modern tectonic activity. Based on a large amount of GPS observation data, an accurate and dense GPS velocity field of the Ordos block is calculated through frame transformation. The results indicate that the estimated internal principal tensile and compressive strain rates of the Ordos block are 2.7 [Formula: see text] and 1.5[Formula: see text], respectively. Additionally, the block exhibits rigidity and there is negligible counterclockwise rotation. Relative to the Ordos Basin, the Loop Fault on the north side of the Ordos Block displays a left-rotation strike-slip rate of approximately 0.9 mm/yr and a dip-slip rate of around 0.5 mm/yr, accompanied by slight extrusion. The dip slip rate of the southern section of Taihang Mountain fault system indicates that there is spreading movement in the southeastern part of the block. The southwestern Liupanshan fault also experiences extrusive motion. These block motion features and fault sliding distributions provide a reliable database for understanding the possible motion and dynamics mechanisms of the Ordos region.

Formulation of the problem. Snow cover has a great influence on the climate, relief, hydrological and soil-forming processes, plant and animal life. It protects the soil from deep freezing and preserves winter crops, absorbs nitrogenous compounds, thus fertilizing the soil, adsorbs atmospheric dust and cools the surface layers of the air. Snow cover and its duration are social and economic important and affect the environment. Snow-related difficulties are a dangerous factor in the human environment, and more attention should be paid to the impact of snow on the economy or its great value as a natural resource. The investigation of the spatial distribution and temporal variability of the snow cover is an urgent and important issue, especially in the conditions of modern climate changes. The purpose of the article is to establish the characteristics of the spatio-temporal distribution of snow cover in the territory of Vinnytsia region for the period 1996-2018 and the features of its characteristics at the beginning of the XXI century. Methods. The data of daily meteorological observations on the height of the snow cover at the stations of the Vinnytsia region were used as the initial information. To characterize the height of the snow cover, its average values are calculated not for months, but for decades of winter months. Decadal heights and their repeatability by decade were calculated for each station for the period from 1996 to 2018 based on data on the distribution of snow cover height. Results. The analysis of the spatio-temporal distribution of snow cover for the period 1996-2018 makes it possible to describe certain features of the formation of snow cover in the territory of Vinnytsia region: the snow cover in Vinnytsia region is formed in the third decade of October, with the exception of the Vinnytsia and Khmilnyk stations, where the appearance of snow cover begins in the second decades of October; disappearance occurs in the third decade of April throughout the region; decadal heights of snow cover have the maximum repeatability in the gradation from 0 to 5 cm; average decadal heights with the largest values from 10 to 13 cm were found in January and February at the stations of Bilopillia, Vinnytsia and Khmilnyk; the formation of stable snow cover on the territory of Vinnytsia region occurs in the second decade of November; the destruction was recorded from the second decade of March to the first decade of April. Scientific novelty and practical significance. The article provides an analysis of the distribution of snow cover and features of its formation at the end of the 20th and the beginning of the 21st centuries on the territory of the Vinnytsia region. The snow cover has a significant impact on the branches of Ukraine's economy. Agriculture is the most sensitive to the features of snow cover formation, especially when it comes to overwintering of winter crops. One of the main agrometeorological factors that determine the overwintering of winter crops is the height of the snow, its spatial and temporal variability, the period of appearance and disappearance of the snow cover. We believe that our investigation can be used to clarify the forecast of the yield of winter crops in Vinnytsia.

Statement of the problem and goal. Vinnytsia region now demonstrates one of the lowest indicators of provision of natural protected areas and objects (2.27% of the region’s area). The regional figure for Vinnytsia is even lower, which is 1.65% of the city’s area. The need of the day is to study the localities of rare species of biota, rare biotopes, and migration routes of animals in an urbanized environment as potential objects for the development of protected areas. Materials and methods. Determination of the optimal methodology for identifying the taxonomic structure and ecological groups of the studied fauna based on the analysis of literary, cartographic, and stock materials. To assess the geocomponent representativeness of the fauna of the urban environment, expedition research methods were used. Systematization of terrestrial and terrestrial-aquatic taxonomic groups of fauna was carried out using empirical methods. Identification of characteristic traces and remains is used to record animals through visual observation. Audio Moth v.1.2.0 recording devices and an Echo Meter Touch 2 active bat detector were used to record owls (Strigiformes, Aves) and bats (Chiroptera, Mammalia). With the help of control catches, as well as through analysis of the catches of amateur fishermen, the species composition of fish was established. Results and discussion. Under conditions of significant technogenic transformation of the biotopes of the tract and nearby aquatic landscapes, a relatively rich zoocenosis has formed. This zoocenosis unites synanthropic and local species of birds, reptiles, mammals, amphibians and fish. This is facilitated by the combination of a wide range of facies that provide the trophic and topical needs of animals. The territory of the tract, thanks to the rich species composition of animals and stable interspecies connections, can effectively serve as a center for the conservation of biodiversity and an educational, ecological and aesthetic mission in an urban landscape. Scientific novelty. A specific faunal complex of the park, the mouth of the town of Tyazhilivka and the adjacent part of the Sabarovskoe reservoir has been identified. It includes 104 species of animals of the genus Chordata: class Mammals (Mammalia) - 14 species, class Birds (Aves) - 66 species, class Reptiles (Reptilia) - 4 species, class Amphibians (Amphibia) - 4 species, class Orthoptera (Actinopterygii) – 16 species. Research materials are the basis for the creation of a nature conservation area and the expansion and optimization of the existing natural reserve network of the urban environment.

Problem formulation. Assessment of the representation of landscapes in the modern network of Nature Reserve Fund is based on natural and biosphere reserves, national nature parks, which has the status of the highest category in accordance with regional physical and geographical areas - natural areas (subzones), provinces (country), landscape divisions. The constant monitoring analysis of the state of representativeness of the nature reserve fund on the basis of geographical criteria is considered relevant and at the same time difficult. The purpose. The aim of the research was to assess the degree of representativeness of the modern network of biosphere and nature reserves, national nature parks in accordance with the system of physical and geographical zoning of Ukraine. Methodology and materials. The methodological basis for the presented analysis can be considered zoning of the earth's surface by components of the natural environment. Accordingly, for comparative analysis used as the main method of identification and accounting of biosphere and nature reserves, national nature parks within the physical-geographical areas, zones and mountainous countries of their location. For the above-mentioned physical and geographical ranks were calculated indicators of nature reserves. Results. These physical and geographical ranks are not equally provided by the studied objects. Most biosphere and nature reserves, national nature parks are located in the steppe zone (24) and the Ukrainian Carpathians (15). Slightly more than a third (36%) of the physical-geographical provinces are provided with biosphere reserves and reserves. A much higher (80%) degree of representativeness of branches of biosphere and nature reserves, national nature parks has developed at the level of physical and geographical areas. Categorically the most developed and territorially dense regional networks of objects are observed in the Ukrainian Carpathians and Polissya province. Accordingly, most of the biosphere and nature reserves, national nature parks have the following physical and geographical areas of these two natural regions: the Outer Carpathians (8 sites), Polonynsko-Chornohirska (7 sites) and Volyn Polissya (7 sites). The highest reserve index (10,4 %), which is formed by biosphere and nature reserves, national nature parks, was found for the zone of deciduous forests. Scientific novelty. According to the composition of the physical-geographical provinces, for the first time a complete geographical network of biosphere reserves in Ukraine has been proposed, which should be formed by at least 14 objects. The current level of provision of physical and geographical areas with branches of biosphere and nature reserves, national nature parks is analyzed. In the zonal dimension, the indicators of nature reserves formed by these categories of the nature reserve fund are determined. Practical meaning. The article provides the functional analysis of the regional distribution of the territory of the Nature Reserve Fund of Ukraine for the optimal conservation and protection of protected landscape diversity.

The benefits that city residents receive from green spaces related to maintaining their health are a group of cultural ecosystem services (CES). To avoid subjectivity in the assessment of CES, there is a methodology based on determining the effectiveness of green spaces in providing them. Currently, there is no technological scheme for assessing the CES available to urban planners. Accordingly, the purpose of the paper is to highlight the technological features of the CES assessment. Methodologically, the work consists in creating a geodatabase (DB) on the state of green spaces and anthropogenic pressure on them. All the calculation indicators proposed in the methodology should be included in the database as attributes, and their calculation should be performed as working scenarios documented in the form of automated calculation models, etc. The technology is based on QGIS/SAGA spatial analysis tools (QGIS version 3.32.1-Lima), which contains the necessary basic geoprocessing algorithms and modules for calculating the CES. The technology for estimating CES is presented in the Model_CES. The functioning of the Model_CES depends on the amount and quality of input data. As input data, the database includes information on: urban green spaces; vegetation; landscapes; areas with multi-age urban development; local areas of urban population concentration; survey statistics, etc. Attribute information is the basis for the correct operation of the Model_CES algorithms, in particular, the calculation of parameters by which it is proposed to assess the volume of CES. Adequate to the parameters, a file database in the GeoPackage format was formed in accordance with the standards of the Open Geospatial Consortium - Model_CES, which contains the input data sets: tabular: "survey_all"; vector: "Vegetation", "BGI", "local_district", "hollow", "age_consruct". Technological procedures and algorithm for calculating CES volumes and risks of their loss in Model_CES form calculation blocks: 1. a block for determining the potential of green spaces in providing CES; 2. a block for determining the effectiveness of the green space in providing CES - the real supply of CES; 3. a block for calculating the volume of ecosystem services and the risks of their loss; 4. a block for calculating the score of alternative availability of the green space. As a result, the proposed algorithm produces the output geodataset "BGI_CES". After the implementation of the technology, this dataset contains attribute information about each green space, in particular, their ability to provide cultural ecosystem services, efficiency in providing CES, the volume of CES and the risks of their loss. Thus, the paper solves the scientific task of creating an assessment technology that meets the following requirements: it is suitable for processing information that is spatially distributed; it is focused on the availability of uncertain and often limited data; it is available for use by specialists of design and other institutions that may be limited in data. The presented technology can be used in urban planning practice as a tool for improving the quality of urban green spaces, their sustainable development and providing citizens with the maximum amount of CES.

The aim of the article. This article highlights the significance of forest cover as an important indicator of the state of the environment. It discusses the findings of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Forest Resources Assessment (FRA) 2020 report, which states that the world's forest area has decreased by 178 million hectares since 1990. The case study of Volyn region shows how cloud processing and vegetation classification can help quantify forest dynamics from 2000 to 2020, allowing local authorities and decision makers to monitor and analyze trends in near real time. Overall, this work provides insights into the importance of monitoring forest dynamics and the potential for remote sensing technology to facilitate this process. Data & Methods. Remote sensing is an effective tool for monitoring forest ecology and management, and Google Earth Engine (GEE) is an online platform that combines data from various agencies to analyze environmental data. The article presents a case study of the Volyn region and how cloud processing and vegetation classification were used to assess forest dynamics from 2000 to 2020. The study used data from Landsat 7 Collection 1 Tier 1 composites and the CART algorithm for binary decision tree building. The study was based on information provided by the Main Department of Statistics in the Volyn region on the area of forests and areas where logging was carried out during the specified period. Research results. It is interesting to note that despite the decrease in logging activities, there is an increase in forest cover loss within forest ranges. This could be due to various reasons, such as illegal logging or natural disturbances like fires or disease outbreaks. The use of machine learning methods like CART classification can help to identify and monitor these changes, which can then be used to inform policy decisions and management practices to reduce forest cover loss. In general, in the Volyn region, there is a gradual decrease in the areas where various kinds of logging are carried out from 524 km2 in 2003 to 239 km2 in 2020. In contrast, forest cover loss within forest ranges increased rapidly from 37.85 km2 in 2015 to 84.01 km2 in 2017 and beyond from 5.53 km2 to 10.80 km2 in 2015 and 2017 respectively. In this study, the accuracy assessment was performed using 30% of the control points obtained initially, based on data on the reliability of the land cover. The manufacturer's accuracy and user accuracy were calculated to evaluate error omissions and possibilities of a pixel being categorized in a certain category. The spatial resolution of Landsat 7 data used in this study was 30 m, with a minimum calculation area of 0.337 hectares. The overall accuracy and the coefficient κ are the most representative measures of accuracy, with an average accuracy of classification of OAav=98.82% and κav=0.9764.

Introduction. The paper is devoted to the study of the Cherkaska formation of the Jurassic system of the North-Western outskirts of the Donbas and is a continuation of a series of publications highlighting the stratigraphy of Jurassic in key areas near the town of Izyum and the village of Kamyanka. Material and methods. The scientific search was based on the analysis of literature, results of previous drilling and mapping works, as well as own field, laboratory and analytical studies. Chemical and X-ray structural analyzes of clays, mineralogical analysis of sands were carried out. Micropaleontological analysis and generalized data on the distribution of fossil remains were carried out. The palynological analysis of these deposits was also carried out, including, for the first time, according to the orthostratigraphic group – dinocysts. Results and discussion. The stratotype of the Cherkaska Formation was not specified. These were probably outcrops of ferruginous sandstones in the area of the village of Cherkaske, Slavic district, Donetsk region. Unfortunately, the deposits of this formation are exposed very fragmentarily, which makes it impossible to indicate a single typical section. As a number of such sections, it is possible to indicate Topalska balka - a clay stratum, and Pidluzhnyi farm - the upper stratum, stratigraphically important Vitcheliian layers were noted only in the village of Sukha Kamianka. Lithology. In this section of the paper, we present the detailed lithological composition of the deposits of the Cherkaska Formation from the three studied outcrops. Paleontological remains. Based on the findings of macrofauna in the sandstones, the dated levels of Witchellia rossica and Stephanoceras humphriesianum can be distinguished, which correspond to the two upper zones of the Lower Bajocian of the International Stratigraphic Scale. Upon the appearance of dinocysts of Pareodinia sp. and a small percentage of Clasopollis pollen (remains of gymnosperms) for the first time dated clays of the Cherkaska sub-formation. Stratigraphy. Within the studied territory, the Cherkaska formation is clearly divided into two parts: the lower one, composed of clays, and the upper one, composed of sandstones, which makes it possible to divide it into sub-formation. Witchellia limestone may be present if the upper sub-formation is eroded. Paleogeography. At the beginning of the Cherkaskyi period, the territory was a flat lowland covered by an extremely shallow sea basin. In the Late Cherkaskyi period, the supply of detrital material increases significantly, but the depth of the basin also increases, the salinity becomes normal, and a normal marine fauna appears. In some places, on the slopes of paleo-elevations, accumulation does not occur, which leads to the formation of deposits of a facies similar to Ammonitico rosso - limestones from Witchellia. Conclusions. The Cherkaska formation represents an important stage in the geological history of the development of northwestern Donbas. The formation marks the beginning of the Middle-Late Jurassic transgression, the beginning of the formation of normal marine sediments, and the activation of differentiated tectonic movements of local structures.

Highlight the purpose. Plant cover of our republic, especially forest ecosystems, has lost its original state as a result of the influence of natural and anthropogenic factors. The study of the impact of these factors on biodiversity has been the focus of many experts. The settlement of the studied area since ancient times and the good development of agriculture have caused the degradation and erosion of the forest cover that covers large areas, as well as the vegetation that replaces each other in the altitude zones here. For this reason, the issues of protection and protection of vegetation are distinguished by their relevance. The main goal of our research is to protect the vegetation of forests that have changed their initial state. Objectives. Mountain geosystems of the northeastern slope of the Greater Caucasus are bordered by the Russian Federation to the north, northwest, and west, the Samur-Devachi plain to the east, and the watershed line of the Greater Caucasus Range and Atachay to the south and southeast. Methods. Field studies were organized to solve the issues raised during the research period. Short-term visual observations of the existing geoecological conditions were carried out, from topographic maps and other maps (landscape, vegetation, etc.) of various scales, as well as from 1:25000 scale aerial and space images in the fund of the Institute of Ecology of MAKA, “Google” and “Bing” space images with a resolution of 1 meter in the funds, taken in the visible zone of the spectrum, obtained from various satellites in 2020-2023 and based on the application of SASPlanet, ArcGIS processing programs were used. With the help of these materials, the vegetation degradation and erosion processes of the research area were studied. Results. The northeast part of the Great Caucasus differs from the other mountainous regions for its appropriation features. For a long time appropriation of the investigated zone by the various farming areas caused a serious change in the natural geosystems. Thus, the zones where a hypsometric height of 200-500 m are mainly replaced by agro-complexes, the parts within 500-1800 m turned into a life and rest objects together with the arable and pastures, an irregular use from the summer pastures in cattle-breeding in the zones higher than 1800 m was completed by exposing of the plant cover to transformation. During assimilation, activation of ecological problems like decreased plant productivity, intensification of the erosion process, acceleration of degradation, and so on activates a problem of rational use. Defining importance, sensitiveness of plant cover, and rational use ways as protection, refusal of usage, extensive use of protection, development, extensive use, improvement, and development were determined.

Problems Statement and Purpose. The colouration (when pigment is distributed more or less uniformly within skeletal substance) and colour patterns (when pigment is concentrated or arranged in bands, lines, spots, patches, etc.) of fossil brachiopod shells is poorly understood, since its preservation in the fossil record requires the coincidence of several, sometimes random, taphonomic factors. However, the study of the original colouration of fossil invertebrates is of great palaeoecological and taphonomic importance (e.g., to study of the evolution of vision, the development of predator-prey relationships). Records of Palaeozoic brachiopod shells with preserved colouration are quite rare and the shell colouration and colour patterns are currently known for only 15 genera. Data and Methods. Studied isolated valves of the lingulid brachiopods Lingularia mytiloides from the lower Moscovian Kamensk Formation of Luhansk Region (Ukraine) show a preserved colour pattern on the outer surface, represented mainly by light concentric bands. Studied remains are represented by small, 8–10 mm long and 6–7 mm wide, moderately convex ventral thin-shelled valves with elongate elliptical outlines, a rounded anterior margin, subparallel lateral margins and a small, pointed umbo. Valve surface is covered with thin concentric growth lines and weakly developed rugae. Results and Discussion. The studied specimens were divided into two groups based on shell colouration features, which may reflect some details of the colouration and colour patterns. However, these differences may be taphonomic artefacts. It is quite possible that the colour bands on the surface of the valves are evidence of sulphide oxidation, but even so, they likely still reflect the original colour patterns. Environmental conditions were important factors for the preservation of the colouration on the shells of the studied lingulid brachiopods. Among these conditions, the most important were slow sedimentation, absence of agents of mechanical and chemical destruction, such as high-energy water activity, encrustation by epibionts, etc., dysaerobic conditions, and rapid burial apparently accompanied by the activity of bacterial communities. The studied colour patterns on the shells of Lingularia mytiloides are similar to those on other fossil lingulids. The adaptive significance of this colouration for the studied lingulids, which lived infaunally, remains unclear and cannot be resolved with the available material.

The purpose of the article is to determine the role of information in human-geographical research. Therefore, the authors analyzed and characterized the features of types and categories of information and analyzed the concepts and theories of information used in information geography as initial and basic options for identifying the definition of "information". Based on the analysis, they propose the concept of "information" from the perspective of human geography and identify its role in human-geographical research, as it enables human geographers to analyze and comprehend the intricate interactions between society, nature, and the connections between spatial structures. Results. The article reveals the fundamental role of information in human geography, providing the basis for the analysis, interpretation, and prediction of social and spatial processes. The interdisciplinary significance of the human-geographical concept is also considered. Its primary function is to combine data from various fields of knowledge and contribute to a comprehensive understanding of the complex interaction between humans and nature. The authors analyzed previous foreign and domestic studies of various scientific areas, in particular human geographers, and also examined the most common philosophical concepts of information: attributive, functional, and anthropocentric. Today, there is constant discussion and no single point of view among scientists about information concepts. The article analyzes the concepts and theories of information used in information geography as initial and basic, the definitions of the concept of "information", and the peculiarities of its use in human-geographical research. Based on the analysis, the authors proposed the concept of "information" from the standpoint of human geography and its role in human-geographical research. The main contradictions between society and nature were also revealed, and the basic principles of interaction between society and natural systems in the multisystem of environmental management were considered. The authors highlighted the ideas of the formation of the concept of the social and geographical system and the socio-geographical process and revealed the peculiarities of the embodiment of ideas in human-geographical research. In human-geographical research, information plays a crucial role in determining the level of society's development. Researchers use this information to study the distribution of human activities and natural resources, plan and manage territories, analyze dynamics and transformations in spatial structures and communication networks, and understand their impact on society. The collection and processing of primary geodata allow for the integration of different types of information and the creation of cartographic models. The utilization of information facilitates socio-economic and urban analysis, enabling the study of the demographic system's features, including its structure, distribution, and the characteristics of its primary categories. In further studies, the authors are going to prepare a model illustrating the role of information in the processes of territorial management, regional development, and restoration.

Formulation of the problem. This article is devoted to the analysis of the current state and prospects of the decarbonization project and its role in foreign policy in the process of creating the emissions trading system and the mechanism of the new European system of taxation of imported goods that leave a large carbon footprint (Control Border Adjustment Mechanism, CBAM) (the so-called "carbon border"). The issues raised in this work correspond to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), namely: the fight against climate change (13 goals), which were adopted by the United Nations in 2015 as a universal call to action to reduce poverty, protect the planet and ensure that by 2030 all people live in peace and prosperity. It was analyzed that the EU institutions (Commission, Council or European Parliament) had the greatest impact on the organizational structure of the European Union emissions trading (STV). Purpose. The purpose of the study is to analyze the role of decarbonization as a multilateral political mechanism of carbon regulation at the border. Methods. Comparative, systemic, institutional research methods are used in the article. Research results. Attempts by the European Parliament to significantly change the decentralized nature of the ETS have failed. Thus, the process of updating the ETS and the mechanism of the new European system of taxation of imported goods that leave a large carbon footprint corresponds to the main provisions of the intergovernmental approach. Decarbonization is a term used to remove or reduce carbon dioxide (СО2) emissions from the atmosphere. Decarbonization is achieved by switching to low-carbon energy sources. The project "Cross-Border Adjustment of the Carbon Tax Upon World Accession" makes it possible to avoid negative consequences for trade and can create a win-win situation - in economic, political and environmental terms. Documents reflecting the positions of the subjects and the course of the legislative process were used as primary materials. The research was conducted on the basis of the process tracking method. The article proves that the decisive confluence in the formation of the ETS design was the member states (the balance of interests and influence of the member states in the Council of the EU). The commission played a significant role as the author of the idea and moderator of compromises. The Commission and the European Parliament have on several occasions successfully blocked or softened Member State amendments that threatened to undermine the substance of emissions trading. Conclusions. As the planet faces rising temperatures and more frequent extreme weather events, it is clear that our current infrastructure practices must evolve. To mitigate and adapt to climate change, sustainable infrastructure is not just an option; it is a necessity.

Problems Statement and Purpose. More than 50% of the world's population lives in cities. In Azerbaijan, 53% of the population lives in cities. For this reason, almost all global problems originate from urban landscapes. Therefore, it is very important to study the development of cities and prepare the future scenario. Our goal is to study the cities located in the Kura-Araz plain, determine their annual growth rate and forecast future development trends. Data and Methods. In the article, the development of 17 cities located in the Kur-Araz plain in the central part of Azerbaijan during the historical period and its future forecast were analyzed. Modern methods were especially preferred during the research. Satellite images of cities were processed and the results were analyzed. Satellite images from 1975 and 2023 were used and deciphered in determining the boundaries of cities and studying their dynamics. The dynamics of changes in the areas of the cities were studied by determining the boundaries of the cities, and the dynamics of population growth was studied and analyzed. Statistical analyzes were used in the study of the population. Results and Discussion. The cities of Kura-Araz lowland cover 25% of the cities of the republic. These rivers are the main source of the formation of cities. However, as these coastal cities grew, the ecological problems of the Kura and Araz rivers increased and the water level decreased. Cities have grown in all directions and are still growing. For the first time in Azerbaijan, urban landscapes were studied based on GIS technologies and Remote Sensing methods. For the first time, the factors of natural conditions, the absolute height, inclination and exposure of the terrain were analyzed based on GIS technologies, and it was determined that 2/3 of the research area is located below sea level, and 1/3 is located in areas up to a maximum of 200 m absolute height. The inclination of the area continues up to a maximum of 5⁰. Cities have been classified in different directions. Conclusion. For the first time, issues of territorial management of urban landscapes were conducted and mapped on the basis of GIS technologies. At this time, it was determined that cities have grown more than 2 times during 1975-2023. However, this increase cannot be compared with the dynamics of population growth. Because during these years, the population growth has varied between 10-30%. Urban landscapes have grown mainly in riverside areas, along transport routes.

Problem definition. Solving the problems of an unfavorable investment climate and attracting the necessary investment resources for the reconstruction and recovery of Ukraine is impossible without implementing a thoughtful and effective investment policy. The purpose of the article. Objective of the article is to analyze Ukraine's investment policy in conditions of full-scale Russian aggression and to justify possible directions for its improvement based on modern foreign approaches. Results, scientific novelty, practical significance. Over the past two years, Ukraine has taken several important steps that, even in the conditions of a full-scale war, ensure the inflow of investments into the state's economy ($4.25 billion in 2023). Firstly, priority sectors and industries for stimulating investment have been identified. These sectors ensure the livelihoods of citizens and strengthen the state's defense capabilities and, in the future, will become the locomotive for the recovery of the Ukrainian economy. Among them are military-tech (high-tech weapons), metallurgy, mining, and mechanical engineering; agriculture and food industry; IT sector and startups. Additionally, the energy sector, construction industry, retail, housing, and communal services, and production engaged in mobilization orders, medicine, are extremely important. Secondly, a series of measures have been taken to insure investments against war risks: 1) agreements on risk insurance from international organizations with such practices, particularly the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) and the International Finance Corporation (IFC); 2) support from partner countries that provide guarantees to their businesses investing in Ukraine (from the USA, Poland, Germany, the United Kingdom, Denmark, and others); 3) a bill on insurance of investments (including domestic ones) against war and political risks through the Export Credit Agency of Ukraine (ECA). Thirdly, work has been done to provide investors with reliable information about the country's investment potential, including creating an information platform for attracting foreign investments "Advantage Ukraine," which gathers over 500 investment projects and opportunities worth over $400 billion in ten economic sectors. Fourthly, the investment activity infrastructure is constantly developing and improving. The Government of Ukraine pays special attention to industrial parks, for the use of which foreign investors are offered significant tax benefits. As of 2024, there are 76 industrial parks in Ukraine. Among other measures of state investment policy are the resumption of privatization, deepening deregulation processes, harmonization of Ukraine's current legislation with EU norms, particularly regarding the improvement of the customs and tax systems, creating conditions for quick investments, amending the law on so-called "investment nannies," expanding the range of potential investors, etc. Also, several important steps have been taken that positively impacted the state's investment image. Ukraine acquired the status of an EU candidate member; the EU countries and some other countries canceled tariffs and quotas on Ukrainian exports; a transport visa-free regime with the EU was introduced; deferral of tax and customs payments, as well as reporting submission, was implemented; digitization of public services was carried out; the Ukrainian energy system was included in the unified European energy system; Ukrainian businesses demonstrated a high level of flexibility and adaptability, and the country – high resilience and loyalty, etc.

The work was carried out during the war with great faith in Ukraine's victory over the invaders. Problem Statement and Purpose. The article examines examples of the work of centers of intangible cultural heritage (ICH), in which elements of the ICH have become tourist magnets for individual tourist locations. The potential of combining these locations into a modern tourist cluster is analyzed, which can serve as an example for other regions of Ukraine. Therefore, it seems logical to analyze the development of a tourism product, using the example of intangible cultural heritage, study the potential of existing tourist locations and design a model for their unification into a modern, attractive tourist cluster, which could become an example for other regions of Ukraine. The analysis should show ways to popularize intangible cultural heritage through tourism, which contributes to the socio-economic development of communities. The purpose of the article. The work examines in detail the achievements of the National Museum-Reserve of Ukrainian Pottery in the village of Opishnoy (Poltava region), as an example of the success of a mature enterprise in the tourism industry with more than 35 years of work experience since its creation, known not only in Ukraine, but also in the world. The tourism prospects of the center of folk culture in the town of Reshetylivka (Poltava region) as a result of the creation and activity of the All-Ukrainian Center of Embroidery and Carpet Making as the leader of this center are considered. A separate part of the Center's work is presented, aimed at the formation of tourist activities in the form of offers for leisure activities, master classes, and informal education, which meets the growing demand for the study of national culture and contributes to the formation of public communications. Results. Taking into account the experience of successful centers of intangible culture in the field of tourism in Opishnoy and the town of Reshetylivka, analyzing the reasons for less success in the field of the center of the village. Petrykyvky (Dnipropetrovsk region), the author is looking for ways to form a tourist cluster Opishne-Reshetylivka-Petrykivka, built on the basis of the use of elements of the ICH of these locations. This should have a positive effect on the socio-economic development of local communities, for which tourism can play the role of a «catalyst» of regional development, taking into account the sustainable existence of elements of the ICH. The processes considered in the article contribute to the unity of Ukrainian society around the preservation of its own national cultural heritage. The war greatly reduced the volume of tourist activity in Ukraine, but the industry shows flexibility and readiness to quickly restore its functions and, to some extent, adapted to the changes and demands of wartime. Diagrams, a map, and the author's photos are offered to visualize the presented material.

Problem Statement. The necessity to review, revise, and supplement existing building regulations in the field of engineering surveys and design is driven by the increasing significance of hydrogeological research. This is in response to the growing trend of urban development on territories (mainly within urban agglomerations) that were previously considered unsuitable for construction due to adverse engineering-geological conditions. The issue becomes particularly relevant against the backdrop of Russia's armed military aggression against Ukraine, which necessitates deeper underground space utilization to construct reliable shelters for protecting civilians from missile and bomb attacks. Under these conditions, new and stricter requirements arise for the content and quality of engineering surveys, design solutions, as well as for measures related to the engineering preparation and protection of territories and individual objects from hazardous geological processes. The aim of this study is to highlight the significance and objectives of engineering-hydrogeological surveys in construction and to propose recommendations for improving the state of survey and design activities in the context of large-scale reconstruction in Ukraine. Research Methodology. The research involves the systematization and generalization of both domestic and international experience in conducting engineering-geological surveys for construction. Special attention is paid to identifying areas where hydrogeological studies should be prioritized. To formulate requirements and suggestions for improving the regulatory framework in the field of engineering surveys and design, the study analyzes various manifestations of flooding processes. Additionally, the impact of groundwater in various physical states on the strength and deformation properties of soils, as well as the initiation and intensification of hazardous engineering-geological processes, is investigated. Results. The study presents the scientific foundations for improving the regulatory framework in the field of engineering surveys for construction, according to modern requirements. Special emphasis is placed on enhancing the role of hydrogeological research in deepening underground space utilization within urban agglomerations. It is noted that with the expansion of the interaction sphere between projected structures and the geological environment, the influence of groundwater on engineering-geological conditions intensifies, leading to a deterioration in the properties of specific soils and the activation of engineering-geological processes. Scientific Novelty. For the first time, a theoretical justification is provided for the concept of mandatory inclusion of hydrogeological studies in the scope of engineering-geological surveys, even in cases where groundwater is absent within the interaction sphere of the designed structure and the geological environment. Based on the study and systematization of flooding processes, the stages of predicting changes in engineering-hydrogeological conditions have been improved. Practical Significance. The theoretical findings can be used to enhance the regulatory framework in the field of engineering surveys, particularly for developing requirements regarding the content and quality of hydrogeological research. This will improve the reliability of designed buildings and structures while also reducing the risks of hazardous engineering-geological processes emerging or intensifying.

Statement of the problem. The article discusses the manifestations and consequences of such conflicts, in particular their impact on the Pechenihy Reservoir. The study of the problem of water clashes and its exhaustive justification is an important step in the development of effective strategies for managing water resources and preventing the negative consequences of conflicts. Despite the generally defined interpretation of water conflicts, the term should be considered more thoroughly as a phenomenon, based on its duality, because such conflicts can be provoked by different reasons, and therefore their course and consequences may differ. The study of the problem of water clashes and its exhaustive justification is an important step in the development of effective strategies for managing water resources and preventing the negative consequences of conflicts. The study of the problems of water conflicts with the example of the Pechenihy reservoir is due to the novelty of the problem faced by this reservoir. For the first time, the Pechenihy reservoir witnessed large-scale hostilities and, accordingly, for the first time in the history of its existence, faced the devastating consequences of the war. A comprehensive characterization of the reservoir as a center of local water skirmish is necessary, especially in the context of determining the manifestations and classifications of water conflicts. The aim of the work is to set out the causes, classifications and consequences of water conflicts that arise in the context of the use of water resources based on the example of the Pechenihy reservoir. The article aims at a comprehensive analysis of the impact of these conflicts on the geo-ecological and social spheres. Methods. In addition to general scientific methods of analysis, synthesis and generalization, geographical methods of research were used. A special place was occupied by the methods of space hydrology (deciphering aerospace images of the reservoir). The applied method of system analysis helped to identify and clearly classify the situation around the studied reservoir as a local water conflict with the identification of the problem and the way of its course. Results. The study substantiates the phenomenon of water conflicts, highlighting their dual nature as both geo-ecological and social issues, exacerbated by military operations. The hydrological and technical characteristics of the Pechenihy reservoir were examined, revealing significant geo- and hydroecological problems due to nearby combat activities. The study provides a first-time analysis of local water conflict events from the onset of the Russian invasion to the Kharkiv counteroffensive, classifying the conflict around the Pechenihy reservoir as armed, with water serving as both a victim and weapon. The novelty of this article is manifested in an in-depth study of the specifics of hydroecological conflicts in the conditions of long-term hostilities around the Pechenihy reservoir, followed by a comprehensive analysis of the geoecological and social aspects of this problem.

Introduction. The relevance of this publication is associated with the problem of foundation and developing a raw material base of kaoline raw material in accordance with the demand of the national industry. The purpose of the publication is the development of a digital structural-lithological model of the Glukhovetsky deposit, which displays the causal relationship between the geological structure of the crystalline foundation, the zoning and the material composition of the cortex of the crystalline foundation breeds, the thickness and relief of the surface and the sole of the illegal of the kaolins, the indicator of the underlying of the kaolins, the content of the oxids in them by oxides iron and titanium. Materials and Metodology. The algorithm for building structural and lithological models of kaolin deposits was developed by the authors of the article and tested on a number of deposits of the Ukrainian Shield and made public in scientific publications and at scientific conferences of various levels. Production reports, scientific publications and dissertation studies were the basis for the research of the Hlukhivetsky deposit. Based on the coordinates, description, test results of 691 wells, chemical analysis of kaolins and determination of their whiteness, a target electronic database was created, which became factual material for cartographic constructions. Maps are built in a software environment Golden Software Strater, Golden Software Surfer software. Correlation between certain parameters were investigated in Microsoft Excell. Main Results. The spatial variability of the relief of the surface and bottom of the deposit of eluvial kaolins and its thickness was studied. It has been found that the kaolin deposit has a complex morphology, which are expressed in significant fluctuations of the absolute marks of its surface and bottom and are caused by the geological and tectonic features of the territory and the erosion of the section. The petrographic and mineral composition of the rocks of the crystalline foundation determined the lateral and vertical variability of the whiteness index, the content of iron and titanium oxides in kaolins, and the lateral and vertical variability of their quality. It was established that the spatial distribution of the whiteness index varies widely (68.1-92.24 %) and is determined by the increased content of Fe2O3 and TiO2, or one of the specified oxides. Sometimes, in the presence of an above-average content of one of the oxides, the whiteness of kaolins is significant. The conducted studies reveal cause-and-effect relationships between the geological and tectonic structure of the deposit, the zoning and material composition of the weathering crust, the relief of the top and bottom of kaolins, their thickness and quality parameters. Conclusions. The structural-lithological model shows cause-and-effect relationships between the geological and tectonic structure of the deposit, the zoning and material composition of the weathering crust, and the quality parameters of kaolins. The created structural-lithological model is an instrument of information support for further development of the field, as well as the basis for assessing the conditions of education, occurring and quality of raw materials of kaolins of this genetic type.

Formulation of the problem. The feasibility of the study is explained by the need for a clear understanding of socio-economic realities and problems of the occupied territories that arose on the eve of full-scale Russian aggression. This will contribute to the reconstruction and further development of the territory in the post-war period, taking into account the previous problems. The purpose of the article is to identify the state and spatial differences in the level of automobile transport accessibility of the territory of Zaporizhzhia region after the reform of the administrative-territorial system and on the eve of the Russian military aggression. Methods. The study used the topological methods of calculating the level of road transport accessibility of the region and its administrative districts, the comparative analysis of assessment results, and the methods of district typification according to the configuration of road networks. Results. The analysis of graphs and matrix of the shortest distances of the transport networks of Zaporizhzhia Region and its administrative districts as of 2021 was presented. It was revealed that the transport networks of Zaporizhzhia, Melitopol, and Pologiv districts belong to the monocentric radial type, while those of Berdiansk and Vasylivka districts have a cyclical appearance. Based on the calculations, an assessment and comparative analysis of the level of road transport accessibility of administrative units of the Zaporizhzhia region was carried out using topological methods with the determination of the following indicators: absolute accessibility index, Koenig number, Bavelash index, Beauchamp index and indicators of network connectivity (α-, β-, γ -indexes). The analysis of the graph of the transport and geographical position of district centers of the Zaporizhzhia region in terms of absolute and relative indicators testifies to a sufficiently rational configuration and connectivity of the road transport network. The best position in terms of accessibility on the territory of the region is occupied by the regional center of the city of Vasylivka. According to these indicators, the regional center occupies an intermediate position. The connectivity of community centers in the district transport networks of the region varies from low to medium level. The best indicators of connectivity are typical for Berdiansk district with a cyclic network configuration. The ways of improving the road transport accessibility of the territory of the administrative districts of the Zaporizhia region were proposed; they involve the improvement of the configuration of district transport networks and reconstruction of roads. Scientific novelty and practical significance. The assessments of the level of transport accessibility of new administrative districts of Zaporizhzhia region, by the topological methods, were determined; the ways of improving transport accessibility of administrative districts of the region in the post-war period were proposed. The obtained data can be used to optimize the territorial management of the region, to forecast its further development, to develop strategies for socio-economic development.

Formulation of the problem. In recent years, interest in the atmospheric river (AR) phenomenon is growing, as more and more researchers associate it with extreme precipitation. Relatively few works are devoted to the assessment of the influence of atmospheric rivers on precipitation in Eastern Europe. The purpose of the article is to assess the occurrence of atmospheric river events during extreme precipitation in the western regions of Ukraine (Lviv and Volyn regions) and to analyze the geographical features of the spatial distribution of atmospheric river bends during extreme precipitation. Methods. We used the catalog of atmospheric rivers identified according to the methodology of D. Walliser and B. Guan to analyze the occurrence of atmospheric river events on the territory of the western part of Ukraine. Also, we used the sample of days with extreme precipitation (greater than 95th percentile for each meteorological station and each month) in the Lviv and Volyn oblasts of Ukraine to match it with AR episodes. It is shown that in most cases extreme precipitation events were accompanied by the atmospheric river phenomenon detected on the territory of Ukraine or the bordering territories. Results. The typical shape of atmospheric river bends during extreme precipitation most often is arc-shaped while the typical spatial coverage stretched from North Africa through the Mediterranean Sea and Turkey to the territory of Ukraine. Less often, the form of detected AR area had the form of a meridional bend extending from the eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea towards Ukraine. However, the analysis showed that the presence of atmospheric river phenomenon is not the exceptional reason for extreme precipitation. Part of the extreme precipitation events is associated with specific synoptic situations (precipitation caused by cold fronts or occluded fronts) whereas conditions for atmospheric river detection are not fulfilled (bend size, meridional flow component, flow intensity). Atmospheric river episodes were not observed at most of the days of general sample (on average 72.36%) within the study area based on the period of 1991-2020. At the same time, precipitation events in the absence of AR were recorded on average in 32.2% of days (relative to the total number of days). In the presence of AR, precipitation was not recorded in about a third of cases. In the sample of days in the absence of AR and in the presence of AR, the proportion of precipitation of different gradations is as follows: for 10-20 mm is 2.73% and 2.64% respectively; for 20-50 mm is 1.37% and 1.63%; more than 50 mm is 0 .19% against 0.16%. In the spring, there is a certain consistency with the negative daily value of the NAO index and the AR axis orientation from the southwest to the territory of Ukraine. Thus, within 5 days before the localization of AR on the territory of Ukraine, values of the NAO index

It is indicated that surface water resources under the conditions of growing technogenesis and the consequences of military actions (military, geochemical pollution of catchment landscapes, destruction of treatment facilities, etc.) are classified as polluted and dirty (IV, V quality class). Underground water resources of Ukraine amount to 22.5 billion m3, of which up to 70% are protected or conditionally protected artesian waters of drinking quality, the transition to the use of which determines the relevance of the article. The purpose of the article is to analyze the potential factors of regional development of dangerous geofiltration processes of water use in underground water basins of Ukraine. The scientific novelty of the article lies in the assessment of the degree of influence of the complex of dangerous lithodynamic processes (HLDP), which have a hydrogeofiltration origin, on the qualitative characteristics of groundwater, the stability of the upper part of the rock massif, and the safe operation of water intake facilities. Practical significance. It is shown that with any scheme of depression funnel formation, the diffusion-convective movement of salts and microcomponents from the pore solutions of the poorly permeable (separating) layer is a stable spatio-temporal factor affecting the hydrogeochemical composition of water in operational aquifers. It has been proven that the hydrogeochemical evolution of the composition of water at most water intakes in Ukraine requires changes in approaches to the justification of well location schemes and the amount of allowable decreases in levels in operational horizons. It is estimated that engineering-geotechnically significant filtration compression of the aquifer occurs when the level drops by tens of meters or more. The results of spatio-temporal monitoring of filtration and compression subsidence of the earth's surface in the areas of depression funnels of water intakes and drainage and drainage systems of quarries and mines on the territory of Ukraine indicate that, in general, the amount of subsidence of the earth's surface is correlated with a decrease in the level in the operational aquifer, and in in most cases it is 1.0-2.5% of its value. It has been established that the subsidence of the earth's surface in the zones of depressions of underground water intakes is often accompanied by flooding and waterlogging of the territory, deformations of buildings and structures of engineering communications. It is stated that the active role in the development of the suffusion process during the operation of water intakes and drainage systems is played by the interlayering of fissured (crack-karst) sandy, multi-grained aquifers. This contributes to the formation of zones of increased hydraulic gradients and accelerated movement of hydrogeofiltration flow at the contacts of cracked and sand-dust layers and, as a result, activation of suffusion along the cracks. Calculations prove that the dangerous development of the suffusion process in the near-filter zone of the production well on the aquifer in multi-grained sands reaches 10-15 m. In the central zone of the depression funnel of a group or linear water intake, under the condition of the interaction of local well depressions, the distance of the development of suffusion deformations of the earth's surface increases significantly (up to 3-5 times) and worsens the engineering and geotechnical stability of production wells, pumping equipment, etc.

Introduction. The perception of the landscape as a space for living has led to the formation and development of a special group of anthropogenic landscapes, namely garden and park landscapes, which are characterized by a wide range of functions from utilitarian to aesthetic and spiritual. Currently, approximately 30% of cultural heritage sites are in disrepair, and 80% require serious restoration work. Therefore, the revitalization of the landscape structure of historical garden and park landscapes is an urgent scientific problem and meets two sustainable development goals (goal 11 Sustainable cities and communities and goal 15 - Life on land). The purpose of article. To substantiate the concept of revitalization of regular landscape compositions of the park-monument of landscape gardening art of national importance "Sharivskyi" and to provide a graphic 3D model of architectural, planning and volumetric-spatial solutions of the proposed concept of revitalization of regular compositions of the studied landscape. Research methods. Method of historical analysis: with a focus on the period of the highest embodiment of the artistic compositional intent of the restored space, when the estate belonged to the successful sugar producer Leopold Koenig. The graphic presentation of architectural, planning, and three-dimensional solutions of the proposed revitalization concepts for the studied landscapes was achieved through the use of QGIS 3.28.3-Firenze 2022-08-31, Sketchup, and Realtime Landscaping Architect software tools. Main findings. In order to preserve the original idea and characteristics of the landscape compositions, the concept of revitalization of the White Garden was proposed, which was suggested by the "Genius loci" of the historical landscape of Sharivsky Park. Using the QGIS geographic information system, OSM standard map and Google Satellite Hybrid map, the 3D authentic relief of regular landscape compositions of the Sharivsky Palace and Park Complex was modeled. Using the Sketchup 2020 software tool, a graphical representation of the architectural, planning, and three-dimensional solutions of the studied historical landscape was made. The Sketchup 2020 software tool was also used for the graphic 3D reconstruction of numerous architectural details that adorn the palace, including balustrades, windows, doors, and towers decorated with ornaments. The dendrological plan was developed using species and cultivars of ornamental plants with identified historical and aesthetic value to ensure the continuity of new and preserved plant elements of landscape compositions. Scientific novelty and practical value. The proposed vision of preserving the sustainable features of the place, the selection of plants with identified historical and substantiated aesthetic value can be used in the complex reconstruction of regular garden and park landscapes of the Sharivskyi Park, a monument of landscape gardening art of national importance.

State of the problem. In the article, it is justified that the provision of a green economy based on environmentalization, modernization, innovation and new technologies in the production and processing of agricultural products leads to a radical improvement of production, protection of natural capital and ecosystem services, and reduction of pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. It was noted that the regulation of agricultural production systems in the country requires the expansion of agricultural practices that increase productivity and production, contribute to the protection of ecosystems, adaptation to climate change, extreme weather events, droughts, and floods. Research object. It is the production, processing, consumption and export of agricultural products of Azerbaijan. The purpose of the study is to promote the production of ecologically clean and export-important consumer products in Azerbaijan and the stimulation of its export. Introducing the country to the world with branded products, attracting foreign investments to this field, increasing the population's interest in the agricultural field, and attracting innovative technology to the field are also considered important. It is the determination of the damage caused by the impact on the agricultural sector and nature due to the degradation of the growing environmental components. Minimizing losses at this stage and optimizing the development of the agro-industrial complex is one of the main factors. Methodology. Generalization, historical, statistical, systematic analysis and comparison methods were used in the preparation of the article. Scientific novelty of the research. Implementation of the production and processing of ecologically clean agro-industrial products that do not harm human health and the environment, regular monitoring of the ecological condition of the soil, and the provision of increasing the production and assortment of ecologically clean export-oriented food and light industrial products. Research results. In the article, it is explained that the development of the green economy in Azerbaijan is an integral part of the state policy, and it occupies an important place in the state administration, on the example of export-oriented food and light industrial products. It is noted that the sustainability of the development of the green economy acts as a criterion for the production of competitive products of the state, which contributes positively to the provision of people's vital needs.

Introduction. Considerable attention of scientists at the current stage of development of society is given to the theory of formation and assessment of the state of the nature reserve network and its ability to ensure biodiversity. The upper part of the Pripet River basin in the Volyn region is marked by various nature-reserved objects that belong to the pan-European, national and regional eco-networks. The objective of the work is the assessment and territorial distribution of NRF within the Pripet River basin in Volyn. Methods. The research used a complex and systematic approach, as well as mathematical, cartographic and comparative descriptive methods. Results. The river basin contains 314 objects of the nature reserve fund (NRF) with a total area of 164,735.7 hectares. The actual area is 149,186.4 hectares as a number of objects that are included in the total area of the nature reserve fund are actually located within the boundaries of other NRF objects, much larger in area. There are more than 40 such objects in the Pripet river basin. Such objects located within several river basins are also found within the basins of the main tributaries of the Pripet – the Vyzhivka, the Turia, the Tsyr, the Stokhid, the Styr rivers. In the upper Pripet River basin, there is an uneven distribution of protected areas across the territory, which indicates the need to increase their size in the Styr, Turia, Vyzhivka, and Korostyanka river basins to achieve an optimal ratio of areas and conserve species biodiversity based on a basin approach. The results of the calculation of the insularity index of the NRF of the Volyn region and of the degree of protection within the river basins are presented. The effectiveness of the nature reserve fund of the Pripet River basin was assessed, where the actual area of the protected area is 149,186.4 ha, the density of objects is 2.14 per 100 km2, the degree of protection (Spro) is 10.17%, and the insularity index (I) is 0.32. Twelve species of flora included in the International Red Lists were identified (Daphne cneorum L., Cypripedium calceolus L., Aldrovanda vesiculosa L., Salvinia natans (L.) All., Jurinea cyanoides (L.) Rchb., Tragopogon ucrainicus Artemczuk., Silene lithuanica Zapal., Liparis loeselii (L.) Rich., Pulsatilla patens (L.) Mill., Saxifraga hirculus L., Galanthus nivalis L., Crataegus ucrainica Pojark.), the areas of distribution of which are protected areas located in the Pripet River basin. Conclusions. Prospectively, a successful expansion of the NRF area of the basin will make it possible to develop a national and pan-European eco-network, as well as to expand the area of wetlands of international importance.

Formulation of the problem. The transition from territorial-administrative to basin-based water resources management in Ukraine requires an assessment of the load of water bodies with pollutants from diffuse and point sources. Among the various components of the chemical composition of water entering water bodies, organic matter and nutrients are the most important. The Danube is the second largest river in Europe, with a basin covering the territories of 19 countries and is an important transportation waterway. Within Ukraine, the Danube is divided into the Lower Danube sub-catchment and the Tisza, Prut, and Siret River basins within the Carpathian region. The scientific results presented in this paper were obtained during research within the framework of state budgetary research works of the UHMI, the implementation of which will contribute to the further development of knowledge in the field of hydrometeorology. The results presented in the publication are important for supplementing information when writing the Danube River Basin Management Plan, which is being developed in accordance with Ukraine's obligations under the Association Agreement with the European Union. Aim of the study. To calculate the supply of nutrients and organic matter from diffuse sources to the rivers of the Danube basin within the Ukrainian Carpathians. Methods. Monitoring data of organic substances and nutrients provided by the Danube Hydrometeorological Observatory (the state surface water monitoring network of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine) for 2018 were used for calculations. To assess the load of water bodies by diffuse sources, a conceptual scheme was developed that allowed to take into account the main pathways of substances supply, i.e precipitation; water runoff from arable land, forests, meadows and pastures, built-up areas, rock outcrops, as well as from the population of rural regions without sewage systems. Scientific novelty. For the first time: the load of nutrients and organic matter in the Danube rivers within the Ukrainian Carpathians by the sources of their income was evaluated; it was found that agricultural land is the main source of emissions of inorganic nitrogen and phosphorus compounds. Practical value. The analysis of the diffuse load by nutrients and organic matter in the Danube rivers can be used as an important part of the River Basin Management Plan. The results of the calculations can also be used to develop measures to achieve certain environmental objectives. Results. The main source of organic matter in the water of rivers of the Carpathian region ere agricultural enterprises locating within rural settlements that are not equipped with sewage systems. Surface water of Prut and Tisza River basins is the most polluted by organic matter. By source, the nutrient emissions are distributed as follows. For the Tisza and Prut rivers, more than 50% of the total nitrogen compounds emissions come from agricultural land, while for the Siret River the source of nitrogen compounds are forests (46% of the total nitrogen emissions). Accordingly, the total phosphorus runoff for the Tisza and Prut rivers was distributed as follows: the dominant share (up to 45%) comes from agricultural land, the load caused by population not connected to the sewerage systems is 36%. For the Siret River, agricultural land and forested areas are of equal shares (33%) among the sources of phosphorus compounds.

Introduction. Domestic waste management is an extremely important issue for all countries of the world, especially for the countries of the former Soviet Union, as the current state of solid waste disposal in Ukraine is extremely unsatisfactory. According to the European Commission, the amount of waste in the European Union has increased in recent years to more than 2.5 billion tons per year. The results of the Waste Atlas report on the world's 50 largest landfills show that 64 million people are affected by the 50 largest landfills every day. Ukraine has a total of 6045 landfills and dumpsites. The general trend in Ukraine, in contrast to European countries, is a low level of recycling and utilization of solid waste and a high rate of landfill disposal. The vast majority of landfills (80 to 90%) operate in overload mode. Landfills, in particular solid waste landfills, are the main pollutants of the atmosphere, hydrosphere and soil. Therefore, determining the level of environmental hazard of heavy metals in the soil as a result of the impact of landfills and solid waste dumps is very important. Objective. The purpose of the article is to determine the impact of solid waste landfills on public health due to soil contamination with heavy metals. Methodology. In order to determine the level of environmental hazard of household waste storage at landfills and dumps, the paper assesses the risk to public health from soil contamination in the area of the Hrybovychi landfill (Lviv oblast), Rohan landfill (Kharkiv oblast), and Novovodolazhske landfill (Kharkiv oblast). The risk to public health from soil contamination at solid waste landfills was assessed using the traditional US EPA method and a new method for determining the potential risk to public health from soil contamination with heavy metals. Results. The article compares two fundamentally different methodological approaches to determining the level of environmental hazard of soil contamination with heavy metals. The risk to public health from soil contamination on the territory of solid waste landfills according to the US EPA method corresponds to hazard class 5 (extremely high hazard level) according to all calculations. The results of the assessment of the potential risk to public health from soil contamination using the new method at solid waste landfills correspond to hazard classes 2-4. Comparison of methodological principles for assessing the risk to public health from soil pollution has shown the advantages of using the new method of potential risk assessment. The use of the new method of assessing the potential risk to public health from soil pollution will help improve science-based management of household waste and direct financial resources to reduce the environmental hazard of soil and land pollution in Ukraine. Scientific novelty. The article presents an improved method for assessing the risk to public health from soil pollution, which represents the scientific novelty of the work Practical significance. Determining the environmental hazard of soil pollution due to the impact of landfills and solid waste dumps makes it possible to prioritize the implementation of environmental protection measures and will contribute to the implementation of environmentally sound environmental management, so the research is of practical importance.

The purpose. The aplitoid biotite granites with traces of rheomorphic transformations lying among gneisses and crystalline schists of the Central-Priazovska series of the Ukrainian shield, as well as the anatomy of accessory crystals of zircon and monazite from these granites, were researched. Method. The time of granite intrusion was determined by the uranium-lead isotope dating method based on multi-grain measurements of accessory monazite. The anatomy of zircon crystals was studied in artificial slices by optical microscopy methods. The results. The age of monazites was determined by multigrain weighing based on the 207Pb/206Pb isotopic ratio. The interest in these granites is related to the fact that they form a vein that breaks through the gneisses and crystalline slates of the Сentral-Priazovska series, discovered by the Oldcrimean granite quarry. The structure of the granite is heterogeneous, with grain sizes ranging from 0.1 to 3.5 mm. Based on the ratio between mineral grains and their shapes, the structure is identified as allotriomorphic and flattened. The configuration of the grains and their relationships indicate the coexistence of relict primary magmatic structure with dynamoblastic and brittle-plastic features caused by rheomorphism. These elements include granuloblastic phenomena and the flattening of quartz crystals; granuloblastesis of primary plagioclase grains; myrmekitization of early and crystallization of newly formed feldspars; microclinization of relict orthoclase and crystallization of newly formed microcline, and deformation of biotite flakes. Currently, the granites consist of (in %) acidic plagioclase - 30, microcline + orthoclase - 25, quartz - 45, chloritized dark mica - 1-5. Secondary transformations include biotite chloritization, as well as sericitization and pellitization of newly formed plagioclase. Accessory minerals are represented by zircon, monazite, apatite, possibly magnetite, and rutile, which forms during the replacement of biotite by chlorite. Weathering minerals include clay minerals, iron hydroxides, and carbonates. The anatomy of accessory zircon and monazite crystals has been studied. According to mineralogical research, zircon crystals have a complex structure. Zircon in synpetrogenic granites grows on heterogeneous cores of relict zircon, usually in the form of thin shells. A small number of crystals without cores are also present, consisting exclusively of fine-zonal zircon shells.The monazite is represented by two varieties: large (>0.1 mm) brownish-brown, dark brown to nearly black unevenly colored opaque crystals and small light brown, brown-yellow transparent crystals. Scientific novelty and Conclusions. The age of the granite was determined using the uranium-lead isotope method on multi-grain samples of dark opaque monazite crystals. The weighted average age, based on the 207Pb/206Pb isotope ratio, is 1978.8 ± 6 million years. The age obtained from multi-grain samples of light brown and brown-yellow transparent crystals is 1959 ± 18 million years and theoretically represents the minimum timing of rheomorphism processes.

Formulation of the problem. Studies of trends in the minimum 30-day winter runoff of rivers flowing out of the lake. Sevan has acquired great practical importance and significant interest from the point of view of calculating the ecological flow, due to the increased use of water resources for various types of economic activities, in particular, in connection with the development of the economy, hydropower, irrigation, population growth and improving living standards. Calculations of the minimum runoff are especially relevant in relation to solving the problems of water supply to settlements, industrial and agricultural enterprises, as well as assessment of irrigation norms of agricultural plots. The aim of the work. Analysis and assessment of trends in the minimum 30-day winter runoff of rivers flowing out of the lake Sevan. Methods. The following methods were used in the work: mathematical-statistical, correlation, cartographic, extrapolation, interpolation, spatial analysis, analogy. Results. During the research, the characteristics of the winter minimum 30-day water consumption for the entire observation period were calculated for hydrological posts on the rivers of the lake Sevan basin, which have a number of observations for 40 years or more. Supply curves are constructed, the values of the winter minimum 30-day runoff are estimated, with security of 90, 95 and 99.5% for 12 sites. The values of the flow rates, its coefficients of variation (Cv) and asymmetry (Cs) are determined. The analysis of the temporal distribution of the studied hydrological characteristics was carried out, the coefficients of the linear trend of the minimum 30-day winter runoff were determined. Close correlations have been obtained between the values of the average monthly minimum water consumption and the minimum 30-day winter water consumption. These dependencies can be used to predict the minimum 30-day winter water consumption of the rivers of the territory under consideration. It is established that for the rivers of the lake Sevan basin is characterized by synchronicity of fluctuations in annual and winter runoff. It was revealed that most of the rivers flowing into the lake Sevan (by more than 58% of posts), there is an increase in the amount of winter runoff, i.e. a positive trend in its change. Based on the results obtained, a distribution map of the linear trend coefficients of the minimum 30-day winter runoff in m3/sec / 10 years with an observation period from december to march was constructed.

Statement of the general problem. The article provides an analysis of the geological and tectonic factors that influenced the formation of deposits of the Krosnenskaya zone of the Outer Carpathians. The authors considered several questions related to the stratigraphy and tectonics of this zone. In the geological structure of the Krosnenskaya cover, we distinguish two separate cover units - the Turkivskaya and Bitlyanskaya subcovers, based on their lithologic and facies characteristics. The problems of finding hydrocarbon deposits in this region are associated with an insufficient understanding of their structure. This problem was solved with the emergence of the concept of scaly-thrust structure of the Krosnenskaya zone. Productive horizons with unstable tides are revealed in the Oligocene sediments of Golovetsk. These horizons are not currently developed. We believe that it is possible to obtain stable industrial gas flows from such collectors. Research materials and methods. The history of the study of the geological structure of 7 deposits located on the territory of Poland and Ukraine within the considered and adjacent regions is presented: Borynskyi (well 1, 2), Hryniavskyi, Khaschiv-Lopushanskyi, Pobuk, Sanok, Strahotsina and Grabovnica. In total, 13 measurements of the composition of gas mixtures were included in the calculation. The depth range for the considered samples is within 875-5077 m, which allowed us to draw conclusions about changes in geochemical coefficients with depth. Presentation of the main research material. The analysis of the history of the evolution of organic matter was carried out using the method of geochemical coefficients and thermodynamic modeling using the methods of independent chemical reaction constants and entropy maximization. According to the results of the analysis, it was established that tectonic criteria directly affect thermobaric conditions, control the evolutionary processes of destruction of organic matter. We discovered that the source of gases in the deposits of the Krosnenskaya zone is only kerogen. On the other hand, part of the deposits of the zones adjacent to Krosnenskaya show deviations from this regularity, and we assume that part of the gases in these deposits are formed because of oil cracking. The article shows that the values of the i-C4/n-C4 coefficient vary slightly for the deposits of the considered region. Obviously, this indicates that the evolution of organic matter for the considered deposits took place in close conditions, both in terms of thermobaric conditions and in terms of the composition of the parent material. This conclusion is confirmed by the results of calculations of the formation depths of equilibrium gas mixtures both by entropy maximization and by the method of constants of independent chemical reactions. Conclusions. Geochemical analysis of kerogen depletion by the methane generation rate proved that the kerogen deposits of the region are not completely depleted and retain the potential for further evolution with the formation of hydrocarbon gases. Based on the above considerations, we believe that the oil and gas potential of this region has not been studied enough and requires additional analysis, including the laying of new exploratory wells.