Atmospheric self-cleaning coefficients as indicators of the atmospheric ability to dissipate pollutants in Ukraine

Air quality is determined by the level of air pollution, which depends on the concentration of pollutants and meteorological conditions conducive to their transport, dispersion and washout from the atmosphere. If emission variety is poor, the pollution level depends only on meteorological conditions. This article considers the atmospheric ability to dissipate pollutants in Ukraine, and the various features of this ability in different regions, through the comparative analysis of modifications of the atmosphere’s self-cleaning index – the special mathematical formulas that formalize the influence of basic meteorological parameters on the content of impurities in the air. In Ukraine, in accordance with the atmosphere self-cleaning coefficient (K), meteorological conditions mostly lead to the dissipation of contaminants. But there are also allocated buffer zones, where meteorological conditions are favourable to a limited extent; it is very likely these areas will increase due to climate change. Based on analysis of the improved integrated meteorological index (UMPA), all territory of the country has steadily favourable conditions for the dissipation of pollutants, without limitedly favourable areas. The component analysis, however, showed that it is fully true only for the thermal component. Analysis of precipitation and wind coefficients has shown that the steppe zone has a sufficient, but unstable wetting, which ensures only partial opportunities for the atmosphere’s self-cleaning and only a small part of Ukraine has good airing conditions. Taking into account the fact that results are not consistent and that the UMPA was developed for physical and geographical conditions of the north of the Russian Federation, we propose priority actions for adapting it for Ukraine.