Ecological and geochemical studies of soil cover of the valley of Svisloch River within the water-green diameter of Minsk showed that the content of heavy metals and oil products, with the exception of cadmium, is below the average value for the city. In some local areas soil contamination with zinc and oil products as well as cadmium and lead is observed. In the central part of the city the concentrations of chemical substances increase from 1.3 times for lead to 3.7 times for oil products in comparison with the peripheral territories. In the lower section of river valley the concentrations of lead, nickel and manganese increase while the concentrations of oil products, cadmium, copper and zinc decrease. Along the line of transverse profile 1 cadmium is accumulated in soils. Nickel is also accumulated in soils of eluvial landscape and lead is accumulated in transeluvial landscapes. The soils of profile 2 are characterized by an increased content of cadmium and manganese in eluvial and transsuperaqual landscapes, zinc – in transsuperaqual landscapes. In the water sample taken downstream of profile 2 a high content of oil products was found – 2.3 times higher than the MPC. Concentrations of copper, zinc, lead and manganese exceed the natural background content from 1.5 times for copper to 40.6 times for zinc.

Detailed lithological and stratigraphic characteristics of typical outcrops of the Zhelon Regional Stage, exposed in basins of the Saryanka and Rositsa Rivers, are provided in the paper. A new local stratigraphic unit, the Degtyarevo Formation, is distinguished. Its composite section, consisting of a series of exposures, is given. In some of outcrops of the Degtyarevo Formation the deposits enclose abundant palaeontological material: skeletal elements of various representatives of ichthyofauna and sparse invertebrates (scolecodonts, fragmentary inarticulate brachiopods, and fine carbonified plant remains). On the basis of palaeontological data and lithological composition it was possible to clarify the geological age of the studied deposits and suggest a precise correlation of the Degtyarevo Formation (Zhelon Regional Stage). The provided data will be applicable for the future refinement of the current Stratigraphic Chart of the Devonian deposits of Belarus (2010).

The estimation of transbounding influence on water resources and water quality is important for intergovernmental coordinated decision-making in the field of water use and water protection. According to estimation of transbounding influence on the rivers in the Republic of Belarus we can make following conclusion: source information (data) about the river’s drain which is necessary for the quantitative estimation is rather steady; the transboundling influence on the water resources is not significant. The estimation of influence on quality water is very difficult. Source information (data) about the concentration of polluting substances in transboundary river station are rather changeable. The relations between maximal values of an average annual concentration and their minimal values on some components reach 10 and over. Share holding of the contiguous states in transboundary pollution on all components is essentially differing on years and source’s information as well.

The article presents the results of studies to assess the possible impact on surface water of especially hazardous pollutants with the wastewater of enterprises. Conclusions are drawn about the principle possibility of especially dangerous pollutants entering the environment based on the analysis of technological processes of the Belarusian enterprises, chemical analysis of wastewater and surface water.

The dairy industry in the Republic of Belarus is strategic, export-oriented and has a stable dynamics of increasing production capacity. The production is characterized by significant volumes of water consumption with high requirements for the quality of source water for industrial needs, as well as significant volumes of generated wastewater, which are discharged both into the municipal sewage system and into the environment.

In recent years the role of hydropower has been growing along with other renewable energy sources. It is based on the use of environmentally friendly energy of water flows and helps to solve comprehensively such problems, as water supply, irrigation, flood protection, while significantly reducing environmental emissions. The publication presents the results of studies on assessment the hydropower potential of medium and small rivers in the Western Dvina, Dnieper and Pripyat river basins.

 

One of the most vulnerable plant cell systems under various stress factors is the photosynthetic apparatus. Plants perform a number of important functions, such as recreational, sanitary and hygienic, so monitoring the state of their development conditions provides a basis for predicting the consequences of technogenic effects on changes in their vital parameters. In addition, the study of plant adaptation reactions to technogenic conditions is one of the key problems of landscape geochemistry. In this regard, the aim of the work was to study the ecological-geochemical situation in the city (on the example of Gomel) and to compare the content of photosynthetic pigments in the leaves of wood plants of different age groups growing at its individual sites. According to the results of ecological-geochemical assessment of vegetation growing conditions in the territory of Gomel, it is possible to note technogenic contamination by heavy metals of soils of industrial zones in the west and north of Gomel city, which has a point character with isolated cases of excess of MPC/ODC, which can lead to negative impact on wood vegetation. In the eastern and southern parts of the city, the content of the studied elements is reduced, and in some places the plants may lack trace elements (Cu, Mn, Ni, Cr). In the study of photosynthetic pigment content in birch Betula pendula Roth. leaves, growing near plant produce agricultural machines and thermal power plant, it was found that members of the age category under 20 years of age showed a tendency of increased amount of chlorophylls and carotenoids compared to the group after 30 years in May and September, while in July their amount decreased. In addition, members of the group under 20 were characterized by an increased amount of pigments in May compared to September, and groups after 30 years, on the contrary, in September compared to May. In general, in most variants there was a lower content of photosynthesis pigments compared to the control area in samples taken near plant produce agricultural machines. Given the absence of excess heavy metals of MPC/ODC in the area, emissions to atmospheric air containing volatile organic compounds such as xylols and butylacetate had a negative effect on vegetation.

This paper investigates the changes in humidification characteristics and aridity of climate in Belarus during the period from 1961 to 2019 on the base of average daily values of rainfall, air temperature and monthly values of number of clear days and average cloudiness. The parameters analyzed included yearly and seasonal precipitation, extremity of precipitation, total cloud cover and hydrothermic coefficient by G. T. Selyaninov (HTC). Temporal structure of precipitation, cloud cover and HTC data series for 1955–2019 was analyzed using Spectral Singular Analysis (SSA). Average yearly precipitation amount in Belarus in 1991–2019 increased to 650 mm, which is 2–2.5 % higher than average amount for 1961–1990. The most significant increase in precipitation amount has been observed in winter and spring months (8–10 % in average); in summer total precipitation amount has decreased. Precipitation growth rate appeared to be 5–6 times lower than temperature growth rate. Extremity of precipitation has increased; most significant increase has been observed in number of heavy rains in 1991–2019 (total precipitation amount of 10 and 20 mm/day). Total cloud cover on the territory of Belarus has increased in 1991–2019. Changes in number of clear days illustrate this better than actual characteristics of cloudiness. Changes in HTC values show that aridity of climate increases in all regions of Belarus. Average HTC value for the territory of Belarus in 1991–2019 is 1.33, which is lower than average for 1961–1990 by 0.11. By this time, about a third of the country, predominantly Polesie and surrounding regions, has insufficient water supply (average HTC values are below 1.3).

The unusual behavior of surface ozone revealed in April’19 over some Belarusian cities has been analyzed. Here, the first and third decades of the month were featured by a high amplitude of the diurnal ozone course, yet, in the second decade, its sharp decrease was observed. Among possible reasons for this occurrence, one has treated changes in aerosol amount, varying meteorological conditions and levels of anthropogenic air pollution in cities. The results of the analysis indicate that the main cause of the strange behavior of surface ozone was a decrease in the vertical stability of the atmosphere leading to a more intense dispersion of pollutants and, thus, to a decrease in their concentrations in surface air. This contributed to the inhibition of the processes of surface ozone generation and destruction.

The features of modern climate changes in Belarusian Polesia for 1989–2018 are estimated. An assessment of the moistening of the territory of Belarusian Polesia is given according to the main moistening criteria: precipitation, moisture coefficient of Selyaninov’s GTK, moisture reserves. The reserves of productive moisture in the 0–20 cm layer on permanent sites with sod-podzolic soil types of different textures of Belarusian Polesia were estimated according to the data of the points of the state network of hydrometeorological observations. The duration of soil droughts and the recurrence of years with soil droughts for decades and months is estimated. The dynamics of the number of soil droughts on the territory of Belarusian Polesia is given.

Plastic waste of electronic and electrical equipment (EEE), being a valuable secondary resource, requires a special approach to management due to the possibility of containing brominated flame retardants, including polybromodiphenyl ethers (PBDE). PBDEs are persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and have been listed under the Stockholm Convention on POPs. In accordance with international obligations it is necessary to identify contaminated waste and prevent its recycling. In the article the results of assessing the volume of plastic waste of EEE in Belarus formation by urban and rural population, taking into account the types of equipment, is presented. The total volume of EEE waste in 2018 is estimated at 9.3 thousand tons, of which approximately 2.3 thousand tons may contain PBDEs. It is shown that about 25 % of their total volume is formed in Minsk, 25 % – in large cities. Within the most of the territory of Belarus (in 67 % of administrative districts), the volume of plastic waste of EEE is relatively small and varies from 10 to 50 tons; their contribution is 18.3 %. It was found that only 23 % of the generated plastic waste of EEE with a range in administrative areas from 10% (in Grodno) to 31% (in Gomel) is recycled. Technical guidelines are needed to manage of plastic waste of EEE to prevent the circulation of hazardous substances.

In order to fulfill the obligations of the Republic of Belarus under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, it is necessary to conduct an annual inventory of emissions from sources and removals by sinks of greenhouse gases, the quality of which shall be constantly improved. А national CO₂ emission factor for stationary combustion of natural gas has been developed, allowing the transition to the Tier 2 methodology. Transition to the Tier 2 methodology and using a national CO₂ emission factor from stationary combustion of natural gas will improve the accuracy of estimates of GHG emissions, reduce uncertainties and reduce national emissions lavel in relation to the base year.

The article presents the author’s adapted methodology of the Scientific Research Economic Institute of the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Belarus to identify regions of the country that are lagging behind in terms of socio-economic development, used for assessing the competitiveness of administrative-territorial units (hereinafter - ATE) of the level of regions of the Republic Belarus and Minsk. In comparison with the basic methodology, the author expanded the list of indicators under study for a more comprehensive representative assessment of the competitive advantages of the regions under consideration. The paper presents the results of testing the author’s methodology, in which the studied regions of Belarus were ranked according to the results of identifying their level of competitiveness with identifying their key problems, a system of measures was developed to overcome factors minimizing the development of the economy in problem regions in order to achieve an average republican level.