We produced the first spatially explicit, cross-border, digital map of long-term (160 years) land use in the Carpathian Ecoregion, the Hungarian part of the Pannonian plains and the historical region of Moravia in the Czech Republic. We mapped land use in a regular 2 × 2 km point grid. Our dataset comprises of 91,310 points covering 365,240 km² in seven countries (Czechia, Slovakia, Austria, Hungary, Poland, Ukraine and Romania). We digitized three time layers: (1) for the Habsburg period, we used maps of the second Habsburg military survey from years 1819–1873 at the scale 1:28,800 and the Szatmari's maps from years 1855–1858 at scale 1:57,600; (2) The World Wars period was covered by national topographic maps from years 1915–1945 and scales here ranged between 1:20,000–1:100,000; and (3) the Socialist period was mapped from national topographic maps for the years 1950–1983 at scales between 1:25,000–1:50,000. We collected metadata about the years of mapping and map sources. We used a hierarchical legend for our maps, so that the land use classification for the entire region consisted of 9 categories at the most general level and of 22 categories depending on the period and a country.

The Kherson, Mykolaiv, Odesa, and Zaporizhzhia oblasts, being adjusted to the coasts of the Black and Azov Seas, are located in the steppe zone and constitute the southern region of Ukraine. The environmental parameters and health indicators of the population of the region are sensitive to the impact of natural (e.g., climate change) and anthropogenic processes. An analysis of satellite remote sensing data (NOAA NDVI time series) for the assessment of vegetation condition demonstrates an increase in frequency and duration of drought events in the region during the last few decades. It may have a relation to climate change processes. Data analysis of local meteorological observations over the past 100 years proved alterations of some bioclimatic indexes. The Equivalent Effective Temperature (I_EET) increases in winter and summer (due to the increasing repeatability of high anomalous temperatures) and remains stable in spring and autumn seasons. The increasing number and variability of climate anomalies can provoke an increase in cardiovascular and some other diseases in the local population. At the same time, an analysis of the statistical data of health indicators of the population (such as morbidity of digestion, breathing, and the endocrine and circulatory systems) shows a tendency to decrease morbidity (contrary to the indicators of the mountain regions’ population, which have higher values of life expectancy). Interrelations between environmental, climate change, and population health indicators in the Black Sea region are being discussed.

The paper is focused on land use optimization using landscape metrics (landscape diversity indexes) in order to solve the urgent problem of biological and landscape diversity loss due to intensive agricultural activities. Besides the ecological and social values, more diverse ecosystems appear to be more productive and stable, than are less diverse landscapes, affecting the economic component. Landscape metrics applications allow objectively and expeditiously assess landscape diversity and present an appropriate model for optimized allocation of lands in agro-landscapes

Aim. To analyze and predict the climate change impact on the crop structure, yield and gross collections of grain crops in short-term (2025), mid-term (2050) and long-term perspective. Methods. Analysis of long-term series of climatic parameters based on satellite data, climatic modeling, statistical analysis of crop yield and gross collection of grain crops. Results. The positive effect of historical and current climate change on grain crop yields in Ukraine is demonstrated. It is predicted that the preservation of this pattern and the implementation of an integrated system of measures for adapting agroecosystems to warming will promote further increase in the grain crop yield and thus its gross collection. Conclusions. According to the analysis of satellite data and climatic models, further climate warming is predicted and its positive impact on grain crop productivity is forecasted. In case of developing and implementing the measures to adapt agroecosystems to climate change, the grain yield in Ukraine may increase by 25 % in 2025 compared with the current period (2015) and by 29–30 % in 2050; the gross collection of grain crops will reach 75.0 million tons (in 2025) and 79.0–80.0 million tons (in 2050). On condition of effi cient material and technical, scientifi c and informational support, further development of technical means, the reproduction of soil fertility and the improvement of irrigation technologies in the long-term perspective (by 2100), the gross grain collection may reach 92–95 million tons.

Long-time changes of the thermal continentality index; the amplitudes and the phase of the seasonal temperature variation in Ukraine

The climatic conditions of Crimea are semiarid; therefore, alternative sources of fresh water are needed. A significant increase in water use and consumption (due to the intensification of construction, industry, tourism, and militarization), along with the cessation of fresh water supplies from mainland Ukraine, has reduced the water levels in some reservoirs to critical levels, and climate change has exacerbated this situation. There has been a significant decrease in precipitation by 10–15% on the Crimean Peninsula, accompanied by an increase in surface temperature by 0.8 ± 0.1 °C per 10 years during the period 1991–2020. The analysis of satellite-driven drought severity index reveals that the vast area of Crimean steppe is exposed to moderate–high drought risk. According to Landsat satellite imagery, there is a decreasing tendency for the water mirror area of all reservoirs, with a decrease of 34% on average in 2021 compared to 2015. The retrospective analysis of satellite images for 2015–2021 showed that the water surface area of the Simferopol reservoir had decreased on average by ~20% compared to 2015. To solve the problems associated with the shortage of fresh water, a series of works on the active influences on atmospheric processes was conducted, aimed at providing additional artificial precipitation. Two situations were considered, with mixed results: In the first case, on 30 October 2016, wet soil and standing water areas were detected by radar satellite imagery in agricultural fields within a radius of 40 km of the village of Petrovka, Krasnogvardiiskyi district, potentially related to the induction of precipitation by active influences on atmosphere. Meanwhile, in the second case, the realization of atmospheric precipitation occurred over Simferopol on 29–30 September 2020, leading to flooding in the city, but an increase in the water surface area of the Simferopol reservoir after active influences was not recorded.