Integrating research in ecological and climate change educational process: assessment of atmospheric pollution over Ukraine due to military actions

Abstract. Since the beginning of the aggression of the Russian Federation in Ukraine, education in many Ukrainian universities has been suspended due to security reasons for a certain period. But the war affected not only the forms of education, but also the content: military issues are increasingly reflected in educational courses and research projects. This applies directly to the bachelor's and master’s training program in the field of Ecology of the National University of Kyiv–Mohyla Academy. Therefore, the practice of integrating new methodological approaches into educational courses related to the assessment of the impact of hostilities on the natural environment, the assessment of ecological damage, and the restoration of disturbed natural systems has become widespread. Students are also involved in conducting research as part of their bachelor's and master’s theses. In this work, we present the results of the assessment of the impact of hostilities on atmospheric air, which was carried out as part of teaching the courses "Meteorology and Climatology", "Geoinformation Systems", "Environmental Monitoring" and others.

Faculty researchers and students extensively analyzed the profound direct and indirect environmental effects of the war in Ukraine. These effects can be attributed to changes in the optical characteristics of the atmosphere, atmospheric pollution caused by the emission of missile and shell detonation products, and the increasing release of greenhouse gases and gas-aerosol impurities. Satellite data were used for this purpose.

Satellite observation of atmospheric concentrations of formaldehyde, aerosol, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, and sulphur dioxide from the Sentinel–5P satellite was an important research method integrated into the educational process. Daily satellite observation data were analyzed using the Google Earth Engine platform for the period 2019–2022. Data were monthly and yearly averaged within the boundaries of rayons (second–level administrative units of Ukraine). It helped to register the dynamic of air pollution in the conditions of war. A full–scale war in Ukraine caused the suspension of many enterprises that were the main sources of gas emissions into the atmosphere, especially in the eastern and southern parts of Ukraine. Therefore, in recent months, the content of pollutants in the atmosphere over these regions is mainly tent to background values and as a result of hostilities. However, massive shelling, the use of military heavy equipment, and fires caused additional emissions of a number of pollutants into the atmosphere. It should be noted that in certain regions and certain months during the active phase of hostilities, these emissions were exceeded by several times compared to the average for the period 2019–2021.