Characteristics of forecasting meteorological conditions of air pollution over Odesa

Formulation of the problem. The level of atmospheric air pollution in large cities is influenced by a number of factors, among which the most important are the emissions of pollutants into the air, the characteristics of the sources of admixtures, the landscape features, synoptic and meteorological conditions (Vystavnaya, Zubkovych 2014). The influence of the latter is associated with the scattering, washing out and transformation of harmful substances in the atmosphere, as well as the significant variability of their concentrations in space and time. The characteristics of the wind regime (wind direction and velocity), temperature inversions, and formation of low-troposphere currents are among the meteorological factors that most influence the concentrations of contaminants in the layer of atmosphere near the surface (Ivus 2017), (Agayar 2018) Shevchenko 2020). The purpose of the article is to develop and improve methods of forecasting meteorological conditions of atmospheric pollution over industrial areas of Odesa, as well as characterize the variability of meteorological values over the Northwest Black Sea. Methods. the data of four-time observations (01, 07, 13, 19 hours) for the main pollutants on the network of eight stationary posts for the February, April, July and October of 2011 are used as the initial materials. The catalog of typical synoptic processes over the territory of Ukraine for the period of 2011-2015 is compiled at the Department of Meteorology and Climatology of the OSENU. To clarify specific synoptic situations, synoptic maps of all levels (ground-level, AT-925, AT-850, AT-700 and AT-500) from the archive of the ARMSin (‘automatic forecaster workstation’- program for processing synoptic maps that is applied in Ukraine. Results. 1. CO concentrations in the city of Odesa increase with distance from the coastal strip in to the depth of land with maximum values in places with high traffic load, regardless of the season; 2. Absence of industrial facilities and meteorological conditions contribute to the low level of air pollution around post N 8. Exceedance of the maximum allowable concentrations of carbon monoxide is observed in 6 out of 8 observation posts; 3. Favorable conditions for the accumulation of admixtures are formed in peripheral processes with low-gradient pressure fields, in front parts of cyclones and in low-motion and small cyclones with the same air mass; 4. Temperature inversions almost always accompanied the accumulation of harmful admixtures in the ground layer of air above Odesa. Scientific novelty and practical significance. In this article we have analyzed influence of meteorological conditions on the level of atmospheric air pollution in Odesa region. For these purposes the more nuanced-based method of forecasting was adapted. We have demonstrated that its use has efficiency at the present time for improvement of operative prognostic units work for the Northwest Black Sea region. Such conclusions may be identified as a result of empirical findings

The 2022 drought needs to be a turning point for European drought risk management

The 2022 European drought has underscored critical deficiencies in European water management. This paper explores these shortcomings and suggests a way forward for European drought risk management. Data for this study was gathered through a continent-wide survey of water managers involved in this event. The survey collected 481 responses from 30 European countries and is comprised of 19 questions concerning sectorial impact in the 55 regions of the responders and drought risk management practices of their organizations. Information from the survey is enriched with climate-related information to offer a comprehensive overview of drought risk management in Europe. Our research focuses on four key aspects: the increasing risk of drought, its spatial and temporal impacts, current drought risk management approaches, and the evolution of drought risk management across the continent. Our findings reveal a consensus on the growing risk of drought, which is confounded by the rising frequency and intensity of droughts. While the 2022 event affected most of the continent, our findings show significant regional disparities in drought risk management capacity among the various countries. Our analysis indicates that current drought risk management measures often rely on short-term operational concerns, particularly in agriculture-dominated economies, leading to potentially maladaptive practices. An overall positive trend in drought risk management, with organizations showing increased awareness and preparedness, indicates how this crisis can be the ideal moment to mainstream European-wide drought risk management. Consequently, we advocate for a European Drought Directive, to harmonize and enforce drought risk management policies across the continent. This directive should promote a systemic, integrated, and long-term risk management perspective. The directive should also set clear guidelines for drought risk management at the national level and for cross-boundary drought collaboration. This study and its companion paper "The 2022 Drought Shows the Importance of Preparedness in European Drought Risk Management " are the result of a study carried out by the Drought in the Anthropocene (DitA) network