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When preparing the soil for sowing, an important agricultural operation is the harrowing and slotting of the soil. This agricultural technique is very important for areas where there is increased soil moisture during the harvesting period, since it is not always possible to prepare the soil for the future harvest in the autumn. In the Amur region, during the harvesting period, not only abundant precipitation is observed, but also such an important factor as the end of harvesting at low temperatures, and sometimes even under snow cover. All of the above factors leave their mark on the preparation of the soil for sowing. Given that harrows are not produced specifically for a particular region, they are structurally designed to use ballast in order to regulate the load on the working body, depending on the physical and mechanical properties of the soil. Also, one of the promising ways to solve the problem of increasing the required load on the working body is its automatic regulation when transferring the mass of the tractor to the harrow through the use of additional redistributing devices. The article presents the results of experimental studies on the use of heavy disc harrows with a device that allows you to adjust the load on the working body through the use of part of the mass of the energy source. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study assesses an impact of climate on the development of organic farming (wheat) in Siberian regions over the short and medium terms. To verify the results obtained, a comparative data analysis is carried out for six grain-producing regions in the Asian and European parts of Russia. A correlation analysis of eleven climatic factors influencing grain production efficiency has confirmed the premise about climate change. The variation range in the number of days when an air temperature exceeds 15°C is 43 and 48 for the Omsk and Rostov regions accordingly. The "0∼5°C temperature range" is the most risk-related of the considered indicators as it has a detrimental effect on crop plants during the growing season. Its maximum was reached in Rostov (348 days); no cold winter season was observed in Krasnodar during the study period; the extremes in the Asian part of Russia (Tyumen and Omsk) were 202 and 226 days; while the values for Voronezh and Belgorod were approximately the same, ranging 228∼302 days. The earliest date of permanent snow cover destruction was recorded on February, 20 (Belgorod and Voronezh), the latest – on April, 18 (Tyumen). Similarly, the earliest formation of permanent snow cover was recorded on October, 14 (Omsk), and the latest – on December, 13 (Voronezh). Overall, Siberian regions have the least favorable climatic situation: in view of the local climate pattern and the weather conditions for every spring, additional, short-term (3-5 years) and medium-term (5-10 years) investments are necessary to get new varieties of spring grains, replenish the seed fund of winter crops, renew sowing and harvesting equipment, and cover the cost of fuel and other consumables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large scale modelling is becoming increasingly important in hydrology, particularly to characterize and quantify changes in the hydrological regime, whose drivers are typically large-scale phenomena, up to the global scale (e.g., climate change). This can be done with distributed models by estimating spatially consistent model parameters i.e. parameters having a functional relationship with catchment characteristics. In this study we adopt the newly developed PArameter Set Shuffling (PASS) approach, based on a machine learning decision tree algorithm, for the regional calibration of the TUWmodel over North-Western Italy. The method exploits observed patterns of locally calibrated parameters and catchment (climatic and geomorphological) descriptors, to derive functional relationships between the variables. The calibration procedure is performed by including snow cover information, as captured by MODIS datasets, in the model efficiency function. The results show that the PASS regionalization procedure allows to obtain very good regional model efficiencies, without significant loss of performance when moving from training to test catchments and from calibration to verification period, confirming the robustness of the methodology. We also highlight that using snow information in the calibration procedure is helpful to obtain spatially consistent model parameters for this study area. In the spirit of "obtaining good results for the right reasons", this should be a preferred approach when performing the regional calibration of distributed hydrologic models over mountainous regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to analyze future snowmelt runoff and snow extent for the Upper Euphrates Basin (41 109 km 2) which is the most upstream basin of the water tower Mesopotamia and located in the Eastern mountainous part of Türkiye. The future characterization of snowmelt runoff and snow water equivalent is investigated taking the regional climate model projections into account through hydrological model applications. The basin is divided into two major sub-basins Karasu Basin and Murat Basin. The conceptual hydrological models, HBV and HEC-HMS have been utilized to establish a rainfall-runoff relationship. The models are calibrated and validated with observed daily total precipitation and average temperature data for the 1980–2011 period. Future projections are selected for the 2025–2100 periods using EU-CORDEX data with various global circulation models. MPI-ESM-LR and CNRM-CM5 data sets and RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 emission scenarios are used for future projections. The results indicate a decrease in snow cover extent and an increase in snowmelt runoff. The overall assessment will help us to understand how these changes will affect the operations of water resources systems (downstream reservoirs) in terms of flood control, energy production, irrigation, water supply, etc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change affects everyday life, especially extremely high temperatures and longterm droughts alternating with intense rainfall. Changes in rainfall distribution and increasing temperatures force farmers to adapt to new conditions. In our contribution, we compared temperature deviations from the climatic normal and the percentage of precipitation from the climatic normal. For the complexity of the data comparison, a 60-year normal was created for 81 stations in Slovakia. Data interpolation created maps were superimposed on each other and created new areas comparing the complex development of temperatures and precipitation in individual regions of Slovakia (Bratislava, Trnava, Nitra, Trenčín, Žilina, Banská Bystrica, Prešov and Košice region) for the decades 1961-1970, 1991-2000 and 2011-2020 and in individual months of the year. The tables show the percentage development of the area of newly created areas in individual regions and decades. To see how currently warmer and drier areas have invaded, especially in winter, when there is an insufficient layer of snow cover in the southern regions, which affects soil moisture especially in spring. With this contribution, we can help farmers visualize the evolution of temperatures and precipitation over decades, which will also indicate future developments and they can better adapt to the impacts of climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to make a comparative analysis of the state of the snow surface in East and West Antarctica, including changes in snow cover characteristics during the past two decades. To do so, we used the ASAR (Antarctic Snow Albedo Retriever) algorithm, which processes satellite data and retrieves an effective snow grain size and a fraction of rocks not covered by snow, to process the MODIS data throughout the entire period of its operation (up to now). We have chosen several test areas (approximately 30 × 30 km2) to study the state of the snow cover on Enderby Land (East Antarctica), on the coast of the Ross Sea (the Transantarctic Mountains), and the Antarctic Peninsula (West Antarctica). As a result, we have plotted and analyzed the time series of the effective snow grain size and rock fraction in these areas across the last 20 years. We have found weak negative trends for the effective grain size on the coast of Enderby Land and the Ross Sea. The rock fraction does not demonstrate any trend. The study of snow cover trends on a continental scale can contribute to the investigation of environmental changes in Antarctica. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the Republic of Buryatia, due to long winters, there is a high demand for heat energy. The production of electricity and water has the most significant impact on emissions of pollutants into the atmosphere in the region. In this article, we studied snow precipitation sampled during or immediately after the snowfall in four settlements of the Republic of Buryatia (Ulan-Ude, Kyakhta, Gusinoozersk, and Selenginsk), in order to analyze air pollution. Analysis methods included particle size analysis and chemical analysis. In four samples collected in the capital city and in towns, there is an increased proportion (more than 14.8%) of particles smaller than 1 µm. According to the results of chemical analysis of water extracts from snow samples, concentrations of several elements from the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd hazard classes exceeded the threshold values of the 24-hour concentration standard in all the analyzed samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Black carbon, also known as soot, influences the climate system by absorbing solar radiation, affecting cloud processes, and altering snow and ice cover by changing surface albedos. Previous studies show that soot, organic aerosols and sulfuric acid co-exist in the atmosphere and undergo complex interactions. In this study, the effects of various inorganic and organic ageing reactants are investigated by the scanning transmission X-ray microscopy method, where both morphology and chemistry of the fresh and aged soot particles are investigated at the same time. The results show that both the morphology and chemistry of soot are significantly altered after the exposure of sulfuric acid, but not affected by other reactants, including nitric acid, ozone and secondary organic aerosols (SOA). Moreover, the presence of ozone and SOA reduces the effects of sulfuric acid, likely due to the dilution effect or/and the scavenger effect. These results reveal that soot particles can be significantly modified by the atmospheric sulfuric acid both morphologically and chemically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a comparative assessment of the snow height (HS) in the Limited Liability Partnership "North Kazakhstan Agricultural Experimental Station" using three different approaches of calculation of Snow Cover Fraction (SCF) with the further determination of Snow Water Equivalent (SWE) from the one hand and in-situ prospective from the other. It was clear that the quadratic formula of SCF calculation provides better and reliable outcomes with an RMSE of 1.36 cm, which is followed by linear (12.06 cm) and exponential approaches (12.86 cm). The lowest water level was 9 mm, the average level was about 50 mm, and the highest level was up to 62 mm, according to the SWE map produced by the quadratic equation. In contrast, the highest, average and the lowest snow height have reached up to 28 cm, 13 cm and 5 cm respectively. Based on the results and the accuracy obtained, we strongly recommend using the given methodology in the northern and central regions of Kazakhstan and analogous territories to estimate the snow for further hydrological plans and decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The operation of laser sensors that determine distances at low temperatures is considered in the article. Laser positioning sensors are necessary for the operation of a self-stabilizing load-gripping body, which, by means of sensors, calculates the plane of the load on which guidance takes place. In the case when the plane of the load and the plane of the load gripping body are not parallel, these planes are automatically aligned. Incorrect values obtained from positioning sensors entail incorrect operation of handling equipment with possible failure and damage to the cargo. Therefore, the study of the behavior of such sensors with the subsequent creation of a trouble-free cargo handling system is an important task in the development of the transshipment process. The influence of external factors, such as ice mound and snow cover on the surface to which the distance is measured, on the correctness of the data received from the sensor is studied in the article. According to the values obtained as a result of the tests, the measurement error is calculated, which is introduced by external factors. Data processing methods are described that programmatically reduce the measurement error of positioning sensors. For comparison, data obtained from an ultrasonic sensor that was placed in similar conditions are given. In addition, attention is paid to the element base of the sensors and the method of maintaining the operating temperature range during the entire period of operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the extent and location of snow cover is crucial for studying climate, hydrology, and ecosystems. Remote sensing, such as EUMETSAT's H-SAF project, enables snow-cover monitoring using SEVIRI satellite data. This study analyzes the spatial variability of snow cover in the southern Balkans over the past five years, focusing on the H10 product. Results reveal distinct seasonal dynamics, with limited snow cover during autumn and extensive cover during winter. January and February exhibit the highest snowfall probability and better snow cover persistence compared to autumn. Winter exhibits greater extent, duration, and quality of snow cover (>80% in December and January, ~70% in February). These findings contribute to regional climate understanding and water resource management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The diatoms diversity at an elevation of about 4000 meters has been recorded from the Sach pass glacier located in Peer Panjal range of Himachal Pradesh, India. This area is known for its remoteness and remained cover with snow in most parts of the year. The samples were collected from five different sites of Sach Pass and then after measuring their physicochemical properties, the samples were processed for Light Microscopic examinations by using standard procedures. 45 species of diatoms have been reported and most of the diatoms species were recorded first time in the region. At the mouth of the glacier, the diatoms species were found least distributed while more at spring and pools. The hypothesis of our study is based on the fact that only selected diatoms communities could able to survive in higher altitudes with harsh temperature conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scientific research using advanced observation technologies and mathematical models aimed at estimating seasonal snow cover and its water equivalent (SWE) helps to reduce the costs of snow cover monitoring and improve the management of the soil-water-crop system. Following the above goals, this paper analyzes two approaches - the Community Land Model (CLM) producing own calculated data, and the ESA GlobSnow v.3.0 product based on the European Space Agency (ESA) GlobSnow project satellite data. The studies were carried out in the period 2016-2020 for the Sought Central Region of Bulgaria. The results indicate a significant reduction of snow. The SWE results of the CLM model (covering the whole study area) are compatible with the SWE data produced by the GlobSnow product, which is easy for use, but applicable only for non-mountainous areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Analysis of the air environment and atmospheric emissions is an efficient method for assessing the ecological situation in cities. Assessment of the chemical composition of deposit environments (soil, snow) shows long-term contamination. The snow cover (SC), being a natural accumulating plate, reflects environmental contamination with heavy metals (HM) caused by entry from various sources. The work aims to study the three-dimensional dynamics of large city contamination with HM. Sampling (in 2019 - 100, in 2020-100, in 2021 - 280) was performed in the first decade of March. The samples were analyzed for the HM content by atomic absorption method on apparatus AAS 3. Simultaneously, the content of Cd, Cu, Zn, Pb, Cr, Ni, and Mn in the solid residue (mg/kg of dust), along with the HM fallout density per unit area for dissolved and solid phases (mg/m²) during winter period were calculated. The average daily dust load on the city territory was confirmed by relatively weak temporal variation, the difference in dust release during the winter seasons of the years 2019-2021 did not increase by 20%. In 2019, the SC dust level was characterized mainly as low (85.5 kg/km²/day). High dust level was observed only at the sites adjacent to large industrial enterprises (816 kg/km² •day). In 2020, the dust level of the city of SC was the lowest (40.8 kg/km²/day). Along with the decrease of the total dust weight, which entered the SC, a decrease of HM entry as part of dust was registered too. The element-by-element analysis showed that Fe (80-87%), Zn (5-6.8%), Mn (3.45-3.6%), and Cu (1.3-2.7%) made the highest proportion in the dust. Ranking in value of the concentration coefficient (Cc) was as follows: Cd 327 > Cu 51 > Zn 38 > Pb 18 > Cr 13 > Ni 11 > Mn 1.3. The spread of Cd data in selected measurement points in dust fallouts on SC was achieved 900 times. In urbanized systems, the Cd behavior is regulated by the transformation of hydrocarbons, which involves the structure of atmospheric emissions in the city of Kazan. Correlation between the HM content as part of liquid and solidphases of the city SC indicates a statistically significant relationship with their technogenic entry into the atmosphere from one or several sources, and the composition of HM geochemical association in SC depends largely on the set and relationship of elements in other components of the urban environment. The assumption of the integrity of Cd, Pb, Cu, and Zn source of entry (Spearman correlation coefficient 0.55-0.92) was confirmed. Data on the SC contamination not only deepen our knowledge, reflecting peculiarities of the atmospheric pollution spread, but also allow preventing the contamination of water bodies and soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change is the most pronounced in the last thirty years. In the world, but also in Slovakia, there are extreme temperatures and frequent periods of drought alternating with torrential precipitation. Neither of these two options is suitable for the country. The aim of this article was to determine the distribution of precipitation in the period 1991-2020. Using the Mann-Kendall trend analysis, it was determined a statistically significant increase or decrease in precipitation in individual months of the year for 75 stations in Slovakia. The results showed that a statistically significant decrease in precipitation is in April. The lack of precipitation causes low moisture in the soil and thus the growth of agricultural crops is limited. A statistically significant increase in precipitation occurred in January. However, this does not mean an increase in snow cover. On the contrary, due to the higher temperatures in the winter months, the snow cover will not last long, especially in the south. As a result, moisture cannot gradually flow to the soil from the snow cover, but the water in the liquid form will flow away from the land. This result with the lack of precipitation in the spring cause prolonged droughts. Based on the data processed, it is proven that despite the increase in precipitation in January, the decrease in precipitation in April is significant over the last thirty years and it is necessary to create measures to collect water in order to use it in the spring months. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the results of studying effectiveness of technology of growing spring wheat using winter sowing in conditions of the zone of dry steppes of Southern Urals. A technology has been developed for sowing seeds in frozen soil until a snow cover is established to a depth of 1-3 cm and a good preservation of their germination in winter period has been revealed. Podzimny sowing of spring wheat allows you to get early shoots in spring and shift its vegetation 3-4 weeks earlier compared to spring sowing, which ensures passage of critical phases of crop development in more favorable hydrothermal conditions. The early vegetation of wheat helps to reduce unproductive losses of soil moisture for physical evaporation in spring before start of spring sowing and increase the efficiency of rainfall use in autumn-winter period. The use of winter sowing compared to spring sowing ensured better development of spring wheat plants, reduced infestation, a significant increase in yield by 0.92 t/ha, or 2.9 times, and improved grain quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper addresses the relevance of studying the driving conditions under which the utility vehicles travel on soils covered with snow. The research is devoted to physical and mechanical properties of soil-and-snow surfaces with different percentages. Different mixtures, such as "Mixture-0", "Mixture-25", "Mixture-50", "Mixture-75", "Mixture-100" have been analysed, with the numbers referring to the sand percentage. The paper presents samples of field tests performed to determine the traction coefficient with IKSp portable measuring device. Traction coefficient curve has been obtained for different driving conditions. For snow (Mixture-0), it is 0.22. For sand (Mixture-100), this value is 70% higher. A regression equation has been obtained, which reflects the correlation between the traction and the sand percentage coefficient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The on-going warming of climate affects the Indian Himalaya's cryosphere. It increases the risk of hazards caused by snow avalanches to the living creature and ecosystems. Snow avalanche is a downward flow of an unexpected amount of snow from hill top to the valley. A check can be put on snow avalanche by measuring the snow surface temperature (SST). Therefore, there is a need of thermal sensor system to be installed on high snow covered locations to monitor SST. The optical fiber sensors (OFS) could be a promising technology in these situations because OFS are light weighted, not prone to electromagnetic interference and easy to install. In OFS, the fiber Bragg grating (FBG) based sensors has most suitable sensor systems for the measurement of low temperatures like SST. In this review paper, the eligible FBG based sensor systems have been discussed which can be installed to monitor the SST as well as the avalanche activities in the snow covered mountainous ranges. The bare FBG sensors do not respond efficiently at low temperatures, so bare FBG based sensor has been excluded from this study. Therefore, only the substrate coated FBG sensors, dual end fixed surface mounted and embedded sensors have been included in the review. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The organic matter composition of the snow and soil covers sampled in the adjacent grounds around the "Tomskneftekhim" oil refinery (TFPR) is analyzed via gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Among the organic compounds isolated from snow and soil samples, n-alkanes, naphthenic hydrocarbons, petroleum hopanes, steranes, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, oxygen-containing organic compounds represented by carboxylic acids, methyl, ethyl and propyl esters of these acids, aldehydes and ketones are identified. The predominance of tetra- and pentacyclic PAHs over lighter ones is established in the soil, which indicates a significant contribution to the pollution of the soils under study from substances of pyrogenic origin. Sources of these substances can be a flare or torch for burning light industrial wastes at the TFPR itself, a thermal power plant CHPP-3 located to the EAST in the immediate vicinity of the enterprise, and a building industry complex in the south. Alkanes and carboxylic acids predominate in snow samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Snow cover is an indicator of the fluctuating climate, resulting from the change in the regime of winter precipitations and air temperatures. Our previous study has revealed significant decreasing of the snow cover in the high altitudes of Vitosha mountain. The current sturdy is now focused on these two meteorological variable - the type and amount of the winter precipitations and the seasonal change of the air temperature. Monthly and seasonal values of precipitation amounts, number of days with different type of precipitation and mean air temperature from 6 meteorological stations in Vitosha and Stara planina have been used in this survey. The main period of investigation is 1960-2021 and the stations altitudes range from 1000 up to 2376 m. Statistical analysis is performed in order to assess the variability and possible differences in the investigated characteristics from long-term data series for two main climatological periods 1961-90 and 1991-2020. Statistically significant decreasing tendencies in the precipitation amounts have been discovered for all stations. Increasing trend of the mean seasonal air temperature is also observed, however manifestly only for the highest regions where remarkable rising tendency could be determined in the beginning of the 1990-es. Number of days with snowfalls also shows declining behavior in agreement with the general precipitation amount tendency. Recently increasing days with rain could be find out only in the high altitude regions of Stara planina. This investigation is part of a common project for investigation of the current variability of the snow cover and winter precipitations in the mountain regions of Austria and Bulgaria and is funded by the Bulgarian National Science Fund and the Austria's Agency for Education and Internationalisation in the call of the bilateral program Scientific and Technological Cooperation between both countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shallow landslides are induced by extreme hydrological events or by events of medium intensity but prolonged over time. Such slips involve generally limited portions of land; however, they are dangerous due to the absence of warning signals and the lack of knowledge regarding their possible evolution. The aim of this paper is to study the evolution of shallow landslides affected by snowmelt and rainfall and to compare the observations done in situ by means of a statistical analysis of meteorological variables with those made in the laboratory. Few authors have addressed the role of snow to slope instabilities, nevertheless, in the context of ongoing climate change, the study of glacier and snow melt must be further explored. For this reason, this work deals with the study of in situ seasonal processes observed at a mountain closed basin nearby Champoluc in Aosta Valley region. To understand and to improve triggering threshold in snowy region, snowmelt and meteorological analyses were carried out by means of a cutting-edge weather and snowpack station. All the available data have been examined with a series of statistical analysis to define snow melting trends in relation to meteorological conditions. After that, some tests were performed at GAP2 Lecco laboratory taking into account the onsite observations to evaluate the consequence of studied atmospheric conditions on a downscaled reproduced slope covered by snow. Therefore, it was possible to observe the direct interaction between soil and snow and how infiltration process takes place under settled conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The NAO index has a strong influence on weather over West Europe and the Mediterranean basin but less prominent over the east part of Europe. The aim of this study is the assessment of the influence of the North-Atlantic oscillation on the snow cover conditions in Bulgaria. The winter (December thru March) station-based index of the NAO is used for the current survey as well as data for snow cover maximums from 10 meteorological stations, 4 of them mountainous, for the main period 1930-2020. The linear relation between the NAO index and the snow maxima has been estimated with cross-correlation analysis for the winter months. However, no significant correlation has been found for all investigated stations. One explanation could be the distance from the Atlantic region and the stronger influence of the winter cyclones in the Mediterranean Sea and the Mediterranean oscillation (MO), which could differ considerable from the North-Atlantic one. The study started in an earlier project for postdoctoral research funded by the Bulgarian National Science Fund but is also part of a common project for investigation of the current variability of the snow cover and winter precipitations in the mountain regions of Austria and Bulgaria and is funded by the Bulgarian National Science Fund and the Austria's Agency for Education and Internationalisation in the call of the bilateral program Scientific and Technological Cooperation between both countries [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing the number of cars in urban areas and the development of a variety of production technologies involving the use of fossil fuels in the urban environment are leading to a significant increase in air pollution. As air pollution with heavy metals and other chemical elements increases, air quality is deteriorating. Poor air quality, in turn, causes a number of different problems for human health, causes poor feeling and reduces life quality in total. The method of analysis of snow samples is one of the methods for monitoring air pollution. Using this method, it is possible to detect air pollution with a variety of chemical elements, including heavy metals. The aim of this research is to identify of air pollution distribution intensity for 2019 in Jelgava city urban area. The study collected 180 samples, 60 different sites. Three samples were collected in each of the sites selected. Fifty nine sampling sites were located in Jelgava and 1 outside it in Mezciems (representing a natural environment without pollution sources) so that the data can be compared. The volume of each sample collected reaches 1.0 to 1.5 kilograms of snow. To determine the degree of contamination of heavy metals, 180 samples of molten snow were acidified along with dust, then filtered out. In conclusion, the concentration of chemical elements in snow water was determined using an induction coupled plasma spectrometer (ICP-OES). The following metals were analysed at work: aluminium (Al), calcium (Ca), iron (Fe), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), sodium (Na), barium (Ba), cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), silicon (Si), strontium (Sr), vanadium (V), zinc (Zn). The study used a hierarchical cluster analysis method for data processing to analyse the concentrations of heavy metals identified in the samples and their relationships. In the Jelgava city urban area are identified four air pollution groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents data on the composition of the microbial community of the snow cover and soil around the "Tomskneftepererabotka" oil refinery. Snow and soil covers differ in the abundance of microflora and the structure of microbial communities. The ammonifying microflora in a smaller abundance dominates in the snow cover, while in soils the prevalence of microflora using organic matter without nitrogen is observed. The soil microflora is characterized by a high count of the main groups that form fertility, sufficient species diversity, and the absence of clearly dominant species. This suggests a low technogenic load on the biocenosis and its high potential of self-restoring in the case of low degrees of oil pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Results of monitoring accumulated snow cover in upstream areas of the Transboundary Pyanj River (Central Asia) are presented. It is found that the formation of the snow cover and the spatial distribution of atmospheric precipitation in the Mountain Pamir is determined by the orography of the terrain. Orography influences air mass movement in mountain areas, which contributes in different climatic zones to a shift in periods when the maximum amount of snow is falling. Completely different scenarios for the development of meteorological variables in the western and eastern parts of the Gunt River Basin were found, due, firstly, to the influence of the mountainous area orography and, secondly, to the penetration of various air masses. It is observed that in the western part of the basin the average annual precipitation remained almost unchanged over the period 1944–2014, whereas there is a decreasing trend in the eastern part. Assessment of the climate change impact on the formation of the Gunt River water flow was made by comparing the trend in the change of discharge using data from two observation periods 1940–1970 and 1986–2016. Calculations show a decrease of the Gunt River discharge by 5 % over a period of more than 70 years. The influence of climate warming on the river flow is indicated by comparison of river hydrograph in two periods 1940–1970 and 1986–2016. The hydrograph of the Vanch River in the earlier-mentioned periods shows a shift in the maximum of the monthly discharge towards the left, indicating an earlier melting of snow and glaciers in the upstream regions of the river and a significant increase in discharge in the period 1986–2016. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The chemical composition of 122 samples of snow cover(collected during 2018-2020) was measured for the representative points of the Almaty agglomeration(AA). Mean values of acidity show the absence of large-scale processes of acidification of snowfall over the study area. The analysis of the temporal variations of these parameters indicates their relative stability. The high values of suspended solids are characteristic of the mountainous territory, the Almaty city, including in the area of large highways.The concentration of organic substances (by permanganate oxidizability) varied over a wide range from 3.90 to 12.6 mgO/dm³. Their greatest values are recorded in the core of the agglomeration and the smallest were in the mountainous part.The average salinity of snow cover is 111 mg/dm³ and it has a sodium bicarbonate composition throughout the agglomeration. The low salinity of the snow cover was observed in the southwestern part of the agglomeration, as well as most of the Almaty city,while the flat territory is characterized by higher salinity values.The maps of the determined indicators (using ARCGIS) provided an opportunity to assess the distribution of the chemical composition of the snow cover over the Almaty agglomeration and to identify foci of their high levels for the entire research period. It is important to monitor pollution of the snow cover annually, especially in urban areas, as pollutants enter the landscape with its melting. This study can be used to develop strategic planning and policies to control air pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

was carried out o For the explanation of snow cover formation and spatial distribution on the north-eastern macro-slope of Chornohora, the highest mountain range of Ukrainian Carpathians, the methodology of physical-geographical analysis was applied. The temporal pattern in distribution of the snow cover in its dependence on elevation and the landscape pattern in the upper Prut river catchment was found. In our investigation we used data collected during our field measurements of the snow cover along the profile from 928 m a.s.l. up to 1749 m a.s.l. as well as data from Pozhyzhevska weather station of Hydro-meteorological Service of Ukraine (1450 m a.s.l.) and Chornohora Geographical Research Station of the Ivan Franko National University of Lviv (998 m a.s.l.). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among the organic compounds isolated from snow and soil samples, sampled in the adjacent grounds surrounding the oil refinery, n-alkanes and aromatic hydrocarbons, oxygen-containing organic compounds represented by carboxylic acids, aldehydes and ketones, tocopherols, steroids, pentacyclic terpenoids, oil hopanes and triphenyl phosphates are identified. In addition, cyclic biomolecules are identified in the snow. Methyl and isopropyl esters of carboxylic acids are identified in the soil. Maximum concentrations of oil-contaminating components are identified in the snow and soil sampled to the north and to the east of the refinery. This is due to the location of the oil loading terminal and the trains of petrol tank vehicles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents the results of the long-term monitoring of beta-radiation flux density in the background atmosphere in Tomsk Observatory of Radioactivity and Ionizing Radiation by using beta-radiation detectors installed at different heights up to 35 m from the earth's surface. Analysis of seasonal variations of beta-background and characteristics of snow revealed that the specific of decreasing of beta-radiation flux density is similar to specific of increasing the snow water equivalent. Seasonal minimums of beta-radiation flux density, regardless of the height of measurement, better correspond to the maximums of snow water equivalent then to snow cover thickness. As a result of investigation a BetaSnow method for estimating the moisture content of snow cover based on measurements of the atmospheric beta-background was developed and described in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Predictive ground temperature modelling at permafrost sites rely on calibrated computational models that are inherently dependent on all inputs, including climate data. In a perfect case, a local weather station that measures all inputs required to calculate the surface boundary condition are readily available including air temperature, wind speed, relative humidity, albedo, vegetation thickness, solar radiation, and snow depth. However, if one or more of these inputs are not measured, then assumptions are often, if not always, required. Snow cover, in particular, is one such input for which assumptions are required in many cases. At elevated sites in the eastern Canadian Arctic the ground is covered by snow for most, and occasionally all, of the year which increases albedo and insulates the ground against seasonal heat flux. In this paper the effect of four snow cover functions is examined on near-surface and deeper ground temperatures over a six-year model period. The results show that the snow depth and cover duration play a significant role in the modelled ground temperatures. If snow remains year-round, ground temperatures remain below zero throughout the modeled profile. With zero snow cover, nearsurface ground temperatures vary widely in accordance with the uncovered surface boundary. Between the two extremes the maximum ground temperature profiles are similar to the 'no snow' scenario, while minimum ground temperatures vary based on the depth and duration of snow cover. The results show snow cover assumptions significantly affect temporal and spatial variation of ground temperatures and need to be carefully selected for predictive modelling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Illisarvik Lake basin was experimentally drained in 1978 to study growth of permafrost in the lake-bottom sediments ab initio. Ground freezing began during the first winter after drainage and led to the development of permafrost throughout the lake basin, except beneath a residual pond. This paper reports the range in near-surface ground temperatures in the basin 40 years after drainage. In summer 2016, vegetation and soil characteristics were determined throughout the basin. Snow surveys were conducted in April 2017. Since drainage, seven principal vegetation communities (units) have developed in the basin: bare ground, sparsely vegetated soil, grass meadow, sedge marshes, and three shrub types. Characteristic snow depths in these units and in tundra surrounding the basin were 16, 27, 38, 62, 52-127, and 47 cm, respectively. Illisarvik's coastal location ensures that there is abundant snow to fill the high snow retention capacity created by tall shrubs and basin topography. Mean annual ground temperatures (Tg) at 25 cm depth were recorded by miniature data loggers in 2016-18 in the different vegetation units at 10 sites within the basin and the surrounding tundra. Tg in 2016-18 ranged from -0.1 °C beneath tall dense willows to -5.6°C in bare ground. Tg in tundra surrounding Illisarvik was -5.2°C. The factors most strongly associated with the variations in temperature were snow depth and soil moisture. Although near-surface ground temperatures at Illisarvik initially decreased as permafrost was established after drainage, the basin soils are no longer cooling due in part to increases in snow depth with the growth of vegetation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The results of the field studies of heavy metals in snow cover presented in this work for urbanized territory of Almaty agglomeration first time. Seventy-five samples were collected during the period from February 5 to March 10, 2018 at 25 permanent monitoring sites. Samples of snow were analyzed for heavy metals (Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd) using ААS-7000 (Shimadzu). The obtained quantitative data were used to assess the nature of the spatial distribution of metals in the snow cover of the study area and based on them were plotted maps in ArcGIS. The territory of the agglomeration is experiencing a serious technology impact, most of the pollutants exceed the permissible standards were defined. Emissions related to the presence of a large number of transport, use of coal at Thermal Power Station (TPS) during the heating period, the role of which increases significantly. An important role is hydrometeorological conditions and orographic features of the location, which contribute to the accumulation of pollutants in the snow cover. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the results of the studies (in 2018 and 2019) of the level of accumulation of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) – the most toxic compounds from the number of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in the snow cover (SC) of the territory of Almaty agglomeration, area of about 940 thousand hectares. The contamination of PCB SC has been established, especially in urban areas and adjacent to large industrial hubs. In snow samples up to 29 individual PCB congeners are identified, which is an indicator of the presence of various sources of pollution of these pollutants of the region’s natural environment. In samples of snow with a wide spectrum of congener composition, strictly controlled «marker» (indicator) and highly toxic dioxin-like congeners are registered. The main sources of PCB contamination in the agglomeration area are identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atmospheric-soil measuring complex (ASMC) contains ten-meter mast with five temperature and humidity sensors in the radiation protection at altitudes of 1, 2, 4, 6 and 10 m. In addition, a wind speed, wind direction and total solar radiation sensors are installed on the mast. Also a solar battery and an antenna for a cellular modem are installed on the mast. Near the mast there is a snow cover height sensor and a liquid precipitation sensor on a two-meter tripod. The soil part of the stationary variant for monitoring studies of soil regimes contains a soil temperature profile probe with digital sensors at levels 0; 2; 5; 10; 15 cm below the soil surface. In principle, the probe length and the number of sensors may vary with monitoring conditions. The probe is made in the form of a three-wire printed circuit board with high-precision digital thermometers soldered to it, protected by a heat shrink tube. To measure the profile of volumetric soil moisture, several soil moisture sensors are provided. A specialized sensor is used to measure water conductivity. Data from the measuring complex is transmitted through a cellular communication channel to a specialized computer for further processing. Using specialized software, the parameters of forest fire danger are calculated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spatial distribution and temporal variations of snow cover and snow precipitations carry important information about available water resources, snow load estimations, the plant vegetation period, habitat change and etc., which is crucial for many environmental, ecological, hydrological and technical issues. This study is focused on the tendencies in the regime of the snowfalls and the snow cover in Strandzha region during the period 1961-2017. The monthly values about number of days with snow cover and snow precipitation; maximum snow cover; precipitation sums and precipitation sums only from snow is calculated, using the information from all meteorological stations in region with continuous measurements during the whole period of investigation. Statistical analysis is performed in order to assess the variability and possible differences in the days with snow parameters from long-term data series. The results for the last 27 years (1991–2017) are compared with the referent 30 years period (19611990). For whole region an increasing tendency in the number of days with snow cover is observed, while at the same time the measured maximum of snow depth during the 57 years of investigation shows a decreasing statistically insignificant trend. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Snow cover is an important climatic factor and its changes have a strong influence on water resources and water balance in Bulgaria, as well as on the development of agriculture, tourism, transport and others. The main objective of this study is to analyze the long-term time series of snow cover depth and snow or mixed precipitation types, as well as to summarize the results for each administrative district in Bulgaria. Data from 246 weather stations of the meteorological network of the National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology for the period 1961-2015 are used. All stations are divided into two groups according to their elevation – lowlands (up to 800 m altitude) and mountainous (above 800 m altitude). The frequency distribution of 24-hour precipitation amounts (snow or mixed types) is calculated in 20 mm increments, and then averaged for each of the 28 administrative districts. The precipitation amounts up to 20 mm have the highest frequency, while only individual cases of snowfall over 80 mm are observed. For lowlands, the mean maximum snow cover depth varies between 19.5 cm and 39.4 cm. In North West Bulgaria, the change of long-term average of the maximum snow cover depth is more smoothed, but the absolute maximums are lower than those for Central North and North East Bulgaria. For South Bulgaria the largest range of variation is observed in some districts of southeastern parts of the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the plain area of Timis County, compar()ed to other regions of Romania, the phenomena specific to the cold season of the year do not have a special intensity, because the submediterranean influences make the snow layer shorter, the thickness of the layer is shorter, the periods of frost have a shorter duration and the phenomenon of blizzard is present especially on the mountain ridges. In this paper we want to highlight the abundant episodes recorded in Banat in the last ten years and the deviations of the thermal regime from the studied period. It should be noted that in December 2018 the snow depths in Timisoara reached 42 cm, a situation that can be compared with the snow episode of February 2012, when it was recorded 40 cm of snow . The peculiarity of that situation is that in 2012 there were two consecutive fronts. The first front appeared from 02 February to 06 February and the maximum layer was 37 cm in Timisoara on February 5. The second frontal passage has been manifested since February 12, the maximum layer at Timisoara on the morning of February 14 being 40 cm. Regarding the thermal values, we have to notice the years 2016 and 2017, when the minimum temperature was up to -150C, the minimum of December being registered in 2009, on the 21st of December, the value being -21.40C. For the analysis of the snowfall cases recorded in the studied years we used the forecasts of the ECMWF model (COSMO), a model run in the National Meteorological Administration and satellite images in water vapor and WV RGB at wetterzentrale.de, copyright: EUMETSAT 2018. At the same time, the NMA archive maps for daily snow cover, daily deviations of average temperatures and minimum temperatures were used in this paper. The episodes analyzed in this work were noted by the intensity of the snow phenomenon, were periods of uninterrupted snowfall of more than a day and a half, through the great thickness of the snow layer, its persistence and low temperatures. Meteorologists have warned early, the central and local authorities on the basis of forecasting materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study is verification of theoretical models, previously suggested by the authors for calculating rut depth and snow compaction under influence of forestry vehicles. The study bases on methods of field experiment design and methods of statistical data processing and uses wheeled forwarder John Deere 1210G as experimental set. Field tests were conducted on experimental skidding roads with loose snow, where the snow cover depth was approximately 50 cm, and on skidding roads with slightly compacted snow with a cover of approximately 30-35 cm. Experiments were carried out when equipping the forwarder with EcoTrack bogie-tracks, as well as without them. Travel load of the forwarder was 0, 50% and 100% of its capacity (contact pressure in the range of 0.026-0.071 MPa). Analysis of the data shows that the maximum difference between theoretical values of loose snow density after the vehicle passage from the experimental ones does not exceed 6.5%, for slightly compacted snow the difference does not exceed 7%. The maximum difference between theoretical values of the rut depth and the experimental ones on loose snow is 12.5%, on slightly compacted snow the difference is 14%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Statistical analysis of the monitoring data of industrial enterprises influence zones is an important part of the researches related to natural environment changes. In present study, a cluster analysis of the elemental composition of the snow cover in the vicinity of a copper mine was carried out. The data were obtained as a result of the chemical analysis of the snow samples collected during annual environmental monitoring in the region of Rezh town (the Middle Ural of Russia), where Safyanovsky Copper Mine and Rezhevsky Nickel Plant are located. The elements identified by chemical analysis were grouped according to the strength of the correlation bond. The cluster analysis of these groups made it possible to identify and separate the influence zones of the Plant, Mine and other industrial objects located in the area. The obtained results became the basis for adjusting the snow cover monitoring scheme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Remote sensing is the only feasible data source for distributed modelling of snow in mountain regions on medium to large scales, due to the limited access to these areas together with the lack of dense ground monitoring stations for snow variables. Observations worldwide identify snow cover persistence together with snowfall occurrence as the most affected variables by global warming. In Mediterranean regions, the spatiotemporal evolution of the snow cover can experiment quick changes that result in different accumulation-ablation cycles during the cold season. High frequency sensors are required to adequately monitor such shifts; however, for trend analyses, the Landsat time series constitute the only available source of data, being their frequency low for this regime, especially when cloudy conditions limit the available images. On the other hand, the MODIS daily series provide more than 15 years of continuous snow maps, despite the spatial resolution may pose a constraint in areas with abrupt topography; several approaches have been done to improve their spatial resolution from combining different information. This work presents a methodological approach to validate the improved MODIS daily snow cover maps from Notarnicola et al. (2013a, b), with 250 m spatial resolution, in Sierra Nevada (southern Spain), from a reference data set obtained by spectral mixture analyses of Landsat TM data by Pimentel et al. (2017b). This reference time series of fractional snow maps, with 30 m spatial resolution, were validated from high resolution local time series of snow maps obtained by terrestrial time-lapse cameras. The results show a significantly high correlation between the two snow map products both on a global and basin scales in the Sierra Nevada area. Selected areas and time periods are shown to address the convergence and divergence between both products and assess the development of a fusion algorithm to retrieve daily Landsat-resolution snow maps on a long term basis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Snow blizzards and snow drifts have recently proven as major winter threat for the road traffic, communications and social life in northeast Bulgaria. The geographical location of these regions with respect to the tracks of the winter Mediterranean cyclones and cold advections from north and northeast makes them indeed prone to this risk, but one would like to know if there is a significant rise in their number and severity. The main goal of the current study is exactly the investigation of the contemporary tendencies in the regime of the characteristics of the snow cover in northeast Bulgaria. This includes examination and assessment of the following climatic characteristics of the snow cover and their tendencies: mean, maximal, mean maximal snow cover depth, mean monthly and seasonal number of days with snow cover greater than specific height (15 30 cm) and the character of the snow cover, i.e. the presence of snow drifts. These climatic characteristics have been assessed for a period of more than 50 years (1962-2015) using 36 station in the following administrative districts: Targovishte, Shumen, Silistra, Razgrad, Dobrich and Varna. Spatial attention is paid to the recent snow blizzards cases where the wind conditions have been investigated also. This has been done for the period 1991-2015. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The snow cover is a climatic element, which exerts significant influence on the energy balance and the water circle of the Earth. The exact description of its characteristics is important in each meteorological, climate, hydrological and surface models and especially when assessing the snow water equivalent (SWE) and the threats which it poses. Snow accumulated in the mountain regions from early autumn to late spring is an important water resource, feeding lakes, rivers, reservoirs, groundwater and hydroelectric industry throughout the country and plays a key role as the essential resource for the winter tourism. However, snow is also a relevant hazard - e.g. as avalanches and significant load on buildings and constructions. Snow is also an indicator of the fluctuating climate, resulting from the change in the regime of winter precipitation and air temperature. The geographical location of Bulgaria, the peculiarities of the atmospheric circulation, the varied relief and other factors, including the contemporary climate variations, set the patterns for an interesting and varying climate regime of the snow cover on the territory of the country and especially in the mountain regions. The goal of this study is to estimate any possible change in the density of the fresh fallen and accumulated snow in Bulgaria. Snow density is the primary factor which determines the SWE and the snow cover stability on mountain slopes. This paper summarizes the preliminary results based on data from 6 meteorological stations (one mountainous and one coastal among them) with regularly measurements of the snow density for a period of at least 40 years. The density of the fresh fallen snow was estimated also by an indirect methods based on the precipitation amount and the height of the snow cover. This method would allow extension of the new snow density estimation to any stations with no direct density measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Avalanches are undesirable phenomena, represented by the sliding or floating on the slopes of mountains snow masses. The snow masses sometimes train in motion stones, rocks, and shrubs. The avalanches are dangerous because they do human victims. In Romanian mountains, avalanche victims are mostly tourists, skiers or climbers. Avalanches can also cause disasters, covering roads and blocking access to some localities, and last but not least, human victims. They are also the most unexpected and most spectacular aspects of mechanical erosion resulting from the direct action of the gravitational force on snow masses that are in an unstable balance and with poor depth of cohesion. Romania is not among the avalanche-record countries, neither in size nor as material damage. But, paradoxically, the number of victims is higher in Romania than in countries with an activity of snow on the slopes more intense. The avalanche study can also be done using GIS tools in order to achieve this study, we created maps in ArcMap 10.1 software which subsequently assisted us to make a risk map for Făgăraş Massif avalanches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modeling of spatial distribution of pollutants in the urbanized territories is difficult, especially if there are multiple emission sources. When monitoring such territories, it is often impossible to arrange the necessary detailed sampling. Because of this, the usual methods of analysis and forecasting based on geostatistics are often less effective. Approaches based on artificial neural networks (ANNs) demonstrate the best results under these circumstances. This study compares two models based on ANNs, which are multilayer perceptron (MLP) and generalized regression neural networks (GRNNs) with the base geostatistical method - kriging. Models of the spatial dust distribution in the snow cover around the existing copper quarry and in the area of emissions of a nickel factory were created. To assess the effectiveness of the models three indices were used: the mean absolute error (MAE), the root-mean-square error (RMSE), and the relative root-mean-square error (RRMSE). Taking into account all indices the model of GRNN proved to be the most accurate which included coordinates of the sampling points and the distance to the likely emission source as input parameters for the modeling. Maps of spatial dust distribution in the snow cover were created in the study area. It has been shown that the models based on ANNs were more accurate than the kriging, particularly in the context of a limited data set. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Last winter, with respect to the most recent ones, was marked by severe cold spells and uncommon accumulation and persistence of snow cover in the non-mountainous areas of the country in January. These weather events provoked an intense media interest and raised up the debate about global warming. Actually, what type was the winter season of 2016-2017 compared to the previous years - normal, severe or extreme? In the presented climate assessment, a set of indicative climatic characteristics is explored on the basis of data for months December, January and February in the period 1961-2017 from the meteorological network of the National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (NIMH-BAS). The temperature indices selected from the European project STARDEX (Statistical and Regional Downscaling of Extremes) are used for the winter severity evaluation and analysis of seasonal tendencies. Also, the peculiarities of circulation conditions and their relationship with the temperature anomaly and heavy snowfall in January are commented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main parameter for calculation of waterway openings of bridges and pipes, as well as cross sections of water-draining meliorative ditches, is maximum water flow rate. So, the reliable calculation of this parameter is essential for selection of appropriate design solutions. Snow melt flood volume is mainly determined by the volume of water stored in the snow cover when melting begins, and flow rate -- by the rash of spring snow melt flood. In its turn, snow stock is considerably depends on the degree of coverage of the watershed area with forest, especially in taiga, mixed forest and forest steppe zones. Due to the reasons said above, studying the conditions of snow cover formation and its distribution over river drainage basins becomes an issue of the apparent research and practice interest. The purpose if this research is to estimate influence of forest on snow accumulation for the purpose of engineering road structures analysis. The methodology applied is based on the statistical analysis of hydrological and weather data collected over years. It was shown, that snow stock calculation requires correction of the standard techniques. The calculations showed, that influence of forest leads to reduction of spring snow melt runoffs, which tend to decrease as afforestation grows. It was noticed, that man-made impact on landscapes leads to the change of forest-covered areas, forest species composition and canopy density, drainage density and, as a result, the change in snow accumulation in river drainage basins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A differential equation showing the cold wind current flowing over the mountain ridge crest and its movement down the inclination covered with snow as a cold density current (wind). In order to obtain the explicit expression of the law of the wind velocity variation to obtain the desired expression, an approach different from the traditional one to solve quite a complex equation is developed and the law of the wind velocity variation depending on the relevant parameter is obtained. The value of aerodynamic resistance playing a role of a shift force for the upper surface of the snow cover is obtained. It is the component of the gravity force acting on the slope surface, which, together with the forces of seismotechnical origin and snow melting filtration forces (or individually), can cause a shift of the snow cover and origination of a snow avalanche. In addition, a formula to calculate the distance from the mountain top to the site on the sloping, near which the impact of the tail wind velocity is virtually imperceptible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research analyzes known metamorphic processes in the snow from the point of view of energy approach. A list of these processes is complemented with the processes associated with runoff of a quasi-liquid layer from snow granules. The experimental results of studying the heat generation from the snow cover and the temperature gradient at the depth of the snow cover are presented. It is emphasized that snow cover is not merely a passive conductor of heat but also it is a heat generating medium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We consider the space-time distribution of heavy metals (microelements) in the precipitation over the territory of Kazakhstan. It is shown that the areas of maximum concentrations are located above the areas of industry, i.e. their main source of income is the emissions of local businesses. At the same time, cross-border transfers denominated fixed both on the territory of Kazakhstan, for example, from the area of the Urals region to the North Kazakhstan and from Kazakhstan in the southeast of Western Siberia, China, and others. Some reduction of heavy metal concentrations in the precipitation as compared to their concentrations in the seventies of the last century due to rising temperatures and a slight increase in precipitation cannot regarded as proved, although the impact in this area is not excluded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]