Movement Of Air Masses Research Articles

A global dataset of atmospheric <sup>7</sup>Be and <sup>210</sup>Pb measurements: annual air concentration and depositional flux

Abstract. 7Be and 210Pb air concentration and depositional flux data provide key information on the origins and movements of air masses, as well as atmospheric deposition processes and residence time of aerosols. After their deposition onto the Earth's surface, they are utilized for tracing soil redistribution processes on land, particle dynamics in aquatic systems, and mixing processes in open ocean. Here we present a global dataset of air concentration and depositional flux measurements of atmospheric 7Be and 210Pb made by a large number of global research communities. Data were collected from published papers between 1955 and early 2020. It includes the annual surface air concentration data of 7Be from 367 sites and 210Pb from 270 sites, the annual depositional flux data of 7Be from 279 sites and 210Pb from 602 sites. When available, appropriate metadata have also been summarized, including geographic location, sampling date, methodology, annual precipitation, and references. The dataset is archived at https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4785136 (Zhang et al., 2021) and is freely available for the scientific community. The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the scope and nature of this dataset and its potential utility as baseline data for future research.

Comparative Evaluation of Top-Down GOSAT XCO2 vs. Bottom-Up National Reports in the European Countries

Submitting national inventory reports (NIRs) on emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) is obligatory for parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The NIR forms the basis for monitoring individual countries’ progress on mitigating climate change. Countries prepare NIRs using the default bottom–up methodology of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), as approved by the Kyoto protocol. We provide tangible evidence of the discrepancy between official bottom–up NIR reporting (unit: tons) versus top–down XCO2 reporting (unit: ppm) within the European continent, as measured by the Greenhouse Gases Observing Satellite (GOSAT). Bottom–up NIR (annual growth rate of CO2 emission from 2010 to 2016: −1.55%) does not show meaningful correlation (geographically weighted regression coefficient = −0.001, R2 = 0.024) to top–down GOSAT XCO2 (annual growth rate: 0.59%) in the European countries. The top five countries within the European continent on carbon emissions in NIR do not match the top five countries on GOSAT XCO2 concentrations. NIR exhibits anthropogenic carbon-generating activity within country boundaries, whereas satellite signals reveal the trans-boundary movement of natural and anthropogenic carbon. Although bottom–up NIR reporting has already gained worldwide recognition as a method to track national follow-up for treaty obligations, the single approach based on bottom–up did not present background atmospheric CO2 density derived from the air mass movement between the countries. In conclusion, we suggest an integrated measuring, reporting, and verification (MRV) approach using top–down observation in combination with bottom–up NIR that can provide sufficient countrywide objective evidence for national follow-up activities.

Inferring long-distance connectivity shaped by air-mass movement for improved experimental design in aerobiology

The collection and analysis of air samples for the study of microbial airborne communities or the detection of airborne pathogens is one of the few insights that we can grasp of a continuously moving flux of microorganisms from their sources to their sinks through the atmosphere. For large-scale studies, a comprehensive sampling of the atmosphere is beyond the scopes of any reasonable experimental setting, making the choice of the sampling locations and dates a key factor for the representativeness of the collected data. In this work we present a new method for revealing the main patterns of air-mass connectivity over a large geographical area using the formalism of spatio-temporal networks, that are particularly suitable for representing complex patterns of connection. We use the coastline of the Mediterranean basin as an example. We reveal a temporal pattern of connectivity over the study area with regions that act as strong sources or strong receptors according to the season of the year. The comparison of the two seasonal networks has also allowed us to propose a new methodology for comparing spatial weighted networks that is inspired from the small-world property of non-spatial networks.

Source apportionment of SPM by positive matrix factorization and PM2.5 analysis in an urban industrial area

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to monitor suspended particulate matter (SPM), PM2.5 and source apportionment study for the identification of possible sources during the year 2018–2019 at Raipur, India.Design/methodology/approachSource apportionment study was performed using a multivariate receptor model, positive matrix factorization (PMFv5.0) with a view to identify the various possible sources of particulate matter in the area. Back-trajectory analysis was also performed using NOAA-HYSPLIT model to understand the origin and trans-boundary movement of air mass over the sampling location.FindingsDaily average SPM and PM2.5 aerosols mass concentration was found to be 377.19 ± 157.24 µg/m³ and 126.39 ± 37.77 µg/m³ respectively. SPM and PM2.5 mass concentrations showed distinct seasonal cycle; SPM – (Winter ; 377.19 ±157.25 µg/m?) > (Summer; 283.57 ±93.18 µg/m?) > (Monsoon; 33.20 ±16.32 µg/m?) and PM2.5 – (Winter; 126.39±37.77 µg/m³) > (Summer; 75.92±12.28 µg/m³). Source apportionment model (PMF) have been applied and identified five major sources contributing the pollution; steel production and industry (68%), vehicular and re-suspended road dust (10.1%), heavy oil combustion (10.1%), tire wear and brake wear/abrasion (8%) and crustal/Earth crust (3.7%). Industrial activities have been identified as major contributing factor for air quality degradation in the region.Practical implicationsChemical characterization of aerosols and identification of possible sources will be helpful in abatement of pollution and framing mitigating strategies. It will also help in standardization of global climate model.Originality/valueThe findings provide valuable results to be considered for controlling air pollution in the region.

Research of aerodynamic properties of some building models

The paper provides a brief analysis of the history of urban development, depending on the consideration of natural and climatic conditions, in particular, the movement of air masses. The construction practice is taken into account when accounting wind conditions, which primarily involves the effective placement of industrial enterprises, sanitary break zones, residential development and public space. Theoretical studies of the aerodynamic properties of two models of buildings of simple shape, based on some experimental data, are presented. Comparing the flow directions calculated theoretically with the directions measured experimentally by different authors, it is confirmed that the proposed theoretical methods well reflect the actual picture of the flow around a rectangular profile by an air flow. For the considered models No. 1 and No. 2, according to the test results, it was determined that the pressure on the windward planes (walls) of different heights depends on the ratio between the thickness of the boundary layer and the height of the building, respectively, buildings of small height are almost entirely located in the boundary layer, i.e. in the layer of air, which, touching the surface of the earth, is slowed down due to the roughness of the underlying surface, as the speed of air movement decreases as it approaches the surface of the earth, and on the surface it is zero.

Impact of crop residue burning in Haryana on the air quality of Delhi, India

Crop residue burning (CRB) over northern India is a major air quality and human health issue. The present study assesses the impact of PM10, PM2.5, NO2 and SO2, emitted during CRB activities in Haryana on the air quality of Delhi. The transition from pre-burning to burning period, in both rabi and kharif seasons, shows considerable increase in pollutant concentrations. PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations exceeded NAAQS limits by 2–3 times, while NO2 and SO2 stayed within the limits. MODIS fire observations used to estimate CRB fire counts (confidence ≥80%) shows that rabi (burning period) fires in Haryana are ~3 times higher and more intense than in kharif. Furthermore, backward trajectories shows air mass movement from Haryana, Punjab and Pakistan. Thus, pollutants emitted reach Delhi via air masses, deteriorating its air quality.Meteorological conditions influence pollutant concentrations during both seasons. Frequent dust storms in rabi, and Dusshera and Diwali firework celebrations in kharif season exacerbate air pollution. In rabi, PM10 and PM2.5 have a significant negative association with (relative humidity) RH and positive association with (air temperature) AT. High AT during pre-monsoon, accompanied by low RH, loosens up soil particles and they can easily disperse. Stronger winds in rabi season promote NO2 and SO2 dispersion. In kharif, lower AT, higher RH and slower winds exist. Both PM10 and PM2.5 have a negative association with AT and (wind speed) WS. With lower temperature and slower winds during winter, pollutants are trapped within the boundary layer and are unable to disperse. As expected, NO2 has a significant negative association with AT in Haryana. However, in case of Delhi, the association is significant but positive, and could be due to the odd-even scheme imposed by the Delhi government. More research is needed to determine the health effects of Haryana's rabi CRB activities on Delhi.

Ultra-Light Airborne Measurement System for Investigation of Urban Boundary Layer Dynamics.

Winter smog episodes are a severe problem in many cities around the world. The following two mechanisms are responsible for influencing the level of pollutant concentrations: emission of pollutants from different sources and associated processes leading to formation of secondary aerosols in the atmosphere and meteorology, including advection, which is stimulated by horizontal wind, and convection, which depends on vertical air mass movements associated with boundary layer stability that are determined by vertical temperature and humidity gradients. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the performance of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-based measurement system developed for investigation of urban boundary layer dynamics. The evaluation was done by comparing the results of temperature, relative humidity, wind speed and particulate matter fraction with aerodynamic diameter below 10 μm (PM10) concentration vertical profiles obtained using this system with two reference meteorological stations: Jagiellonian University Campus (JUC) and radio transmission tower (RTCN), located in the urban area of Krakow city, Southern Poland. The secondary aim of the study was to optimize data processing algorithms improving the response time of UAV sensor measurements during the ascent and descent parts of the flight mission.

Spatiotemporal Large-Scale Networks Shaped by Air Mass Movements

The movement of atmospheric air masses can be seen as a continuous flow of gases and particles hovering over our planet, and it can be locally simplified by means of three-dimensional trajectories. These trajectories can hence be seen as a way of connecting distant areas of the globe during a given period of time. In this paper we present a mathematical formalism to construct spatial and spatiotemporal networks where the nodes represent the subsets of a partition of a geographical area and the links between them are inferred from sampled trajectories of air masses passing over and across them. We propose different estimators of the intensity of the links, relying on different bio-physical hypotheses and covering adjustable time periods. This construction leads to a new definition of spatiotemporal networks characterized by adjacency matrices giving, e.g., the probability of connection between distant areas during a chosen period of time. We applied our methodology to characterize tropospheric connectivity in two real geographical contexts: the watersheds of the French region Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur and the coastline of the Mediterranean Sea. The analysis of the constructed networks allowed identifying a marked seasonal pattern in air mass movements in the two study areas. If our methodology is applied to samples of air-mass trajectories, with potential implications in aerobiology and plant epidemiology, it could be applied to other types of trajectories, such as animal trajectories, to characterize connectivity between different components of the landscape hosting the animals.

Spatiotemporal Dynamics of the Kinetic Energy in the Atmospheric Boundary Layer from Minisodar Measurements

Spatiotemporal dynamics of the atmospheric kinetic energy and its components caused by the ordered and turbulent motions of air masses are estimated from minisodar measurements of three velocity vector components and their variances within the lowest 5–200 m layer of the atmosphere, with a particular emphasis on the turbulent kinetic energy. The layered structure of the total atmospheric kinetic energy has been established. From the diurnal hourly dynamics of the altitude profiles of the turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) retrieved from minisodar data, four layers are established by the character of the altitude TKE dependence, namely, the near-ground layer, the surface layer, the layer with a linear TKE increase, and the transitive layer above. In the first layer, the most significant changes of the TKE were observed in the evening hours. In the second layer, no significant changes in the TKE values were observed. A linear increase in the TKE values with altitude was observed in the third layer. In the fourth layer, the TKE slightly increased with altitude and exhibited variations during the entire observation period. The altitudes of the upper boundaries of these layers depended on the time of day. The MKE values were much less than the corresponding TKE values, they did not exceed 50 m2/s2. From two to four MKE layers were distinguished based on the character of its altitude dependence. The two-layer structures were observed in the evening and at night (under conditions of the stable atmospheric boundary layer). In the morning and daytime, the four-layer MKE structures with intermediate layers of linear increase and subsequent decrease in the MKE values were observed. Our estimates demonstrated that the TKE contribution to the total atmospheric kinetic energy considerably (by a factor of 2.5–3) exceeded the corresponding MKE contribution.

Health Risk Assessment of Residents in a Tourist City: A Case Study of Nakhon Si Thammarat Province

Nakhon Si Thammarat is one of the most popular tourist destinations among the secondary tourism cities according to economic promotions. The rapid growth of the tourism industry is evidenced by increasing road traffic, especially at weekends, contributing to high nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentration. The concentration of NO2 was measured in the main tourist destinations of Nakhon Si Thammarat Province. Likewise, health risks from NO2 exposure were also evaluated for the local residents. Air mass movement was applied to indicate risk areas of non-cancer health effects from exposure to NO2. Air samples were collected over 24 hours using a passive sampling technique at 3 areas in the tourist destination on weekdays and weekends during the wet season in 2018 and 2019. Results showed that NO2 concentrations at weekends were 2 - 3 times higher than on weekdays due to increased vehicular traffic. Anthropogenic activities had a greater influence than meteorological conditions on pollutant concentration. The NO2 concentration was within the ambient air quality standard, but toxicological risk quotients for the residents were above the recommended limits for human health. Findings indicated that local residents risked non-cancer health effects from long-term exposure to NO2. Therefore, sensitive residents should avoid outdoor activities on weekends. Moreover, the tourism authority should consider controlling visitor numbers, providing a parking area, and providing public transportation systems to reduce traffic-related pollutants for sustainable tourism in Thailand.

Common‐garden experiment reveals clinal trends of bud phenology in black spruce populations from a latitudinal gradient in the boreal forest

Abstract Climate warming is modifying the movement of air masses over Northern latitudes, producing warming and cooling events across the boreal regions. These new conditions changes may mismatch plant phenology from weather conditions, and affect the growing period of trees. Understanding the processes of local adaptation in bud phenology can help to predict the response of plants to these rapid and unexpected environmental changes. Our study monitored bud burst and bud set weekly during four growing seasons in black spruce [Picea mariana (Mill.) B.S.P.] saplings planted in a common garden and originating from five provenances representing the whole latitudinal distribution of the closed boreal forest in Quebec, Canada. We compared the variance in bud phenology among populations and years, and analysed the relationships with temperatures at the origin sites. Bud burst and bud set occurred in mid‐May and mid‐July, respectively, with a large variability among provenances and between the study years. A delayed bud phenology was observed in the provenances from warmer sites, with bud burst and bud set being 1.1 and 1.4 days later for every additional degree in mean annual temperature at the origin site respectively. Populations with earlier bud bursts also showed earlier bud sets, thus the growing season was similar among provenances. The heritability of bud set was higher than that of bud burst, with estimates of 0.26 and 0.21 respectively. On average, variance in bud phenology among provenances reached 5.3%, which was higher than that within provenances (2.6%). The factor year explained 37.7%–69.7% of the variance in bud phenology. Synthesis. The findings demonstrate the evolutionary response to climate variations in the boreal biome. Endogenous and environmental components have different effects on the phases of bud burst and bud set. This complex interaction among drivers of bud phenology may prevent reliable predictions of changes in the growing season under changing climate. An earlier growth reactivation due to higher spring temperatures could result in higher frost risks to the developing buds. Despite a longer period for photosynthesis expected for the evergreen black spruce under warmer conditions, the period spent for bud development could remain unchanged.

Long-range transport of ozone across the eastern China seas: A case study in coastal cities in southeastern China

Tropospheric ozone (O3) can be transported influenced by large-scale circulation. In this study, an ozone pollution episode in 6 cities of southeastern coastal area of China (SCA) in autumn 2017 was investigated. Compared with the typical local ozone pollution, there was no significant diurnal variations in this pollution episode, the O3 concentrations maintained a stable level of about 47 ppb continuously. The WRF-CMAQ model as well as the coupled process analysis (PA) and source apportionment modules were used to simulate the formation and transport and quantify the contributions to O3. Besides, the HYSPLIT model was used to calculate the backward trajectories arriving in the cities. We find that this pollution was mainly caused by O3 transport from the eastern China seas (ECS). Under the movement of the Mongolian high-pressure, the O3 precursors emitted from Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (BTH), Northeast China (NEC) and Japan-Korea (JK) were transported to ECS then generated O3 through photochemical reactions. Due to the weak nitrogen oxide titration and the extremely weak ozone deposition on the water surface, O3 concentrations maintained high during the movement of air masses over ECS and finally affected SCA after long-range transport. The contributions of horizontal advections were significant basically all the day with hourly contribution about 10 ppb hr−1 and extended from surface to 500 m above the ground level. JK contributed the most, with multi-days averaged contribution about 5 ppb and peak up to 30 ppb. The contributions of BTH and NEC were comparable, with average about 2 ppb and hourly peak of 19 and 10 ppb, respectively. For the first time, this study clearly shows that the O3 precursors emitted from northern China and Japan-Korea contribute to the O3 pollution in SCA under certain weather conditions, which will help to better understand and predict the O3 pollution in that area.

Ground‐level muon flux variation in a cosmic ray simulation

AbstractThe oscillatory movements of atmospheric air masses have been claimed to be the origin of the muon flux variation measured at the ground level. Using a cosmic ray toolkit (COsmic Ray SImulations for KAscade [CORSIKA]), we simulate cascade scenarios in a time scale of a year and show the dependence of the muon flux pattern with a proposed oscillatory model atmosphere.

Механизмы перехвата пластиковых микрочастиц буферными зонами из макрофитов

Environmental pollution by resistant to degradation microparticles of synthetic polymer materials (microplastics) is one of the growing global problems nowadays. At the same time, research on the behavior of plastic microparticles in the environment is only at an early stage, as well as the development of methods for preventing and regulating microplastic contamination of water bodies. For the first time in world scientific practice, the author proposed to use the barrier role of macrophytes for these purposes. А number of mechanisms directly and indirectly leading to the microplastic retention by macrophytes have been identified based on field and laboratory experiments with plastic microparticles with different polymer matrix (polyethylene, polystyrene, polyethylene terephthalate, polyester) and air-water and immersed vegetation, as well as plants with leaves floating on the water surface. According to the predominance of a particular physical process, these mechanisms can be combined into four groups: (1) The appearance of additional resistance to the movement of water and air masses. Change in the kinematic structure of water and air flows promotes slowing down the movement of microparticles, their sedimentation and retention by plants; (2) Decreasing the kinetic energy of wind waves and raindrops by thickets of macrophytes prevents repeated movement of already trapped microparticles; (3) Mechanical retention of plastic microparticles occurs as a result of the existence of irregularities in the structure of plants, sieve-like structures made of interweaving of stems and leaves, the bulk of plant litter, adhesion of plant surfaces and microparticles, which is enhanced by the sticky surfaces of the periphyton; (4) The attraction and adhesion of plastic microparticles to plants and to each other occurs as a result of the interaction of electric fields.

The influence of Arctic air masses on climatic conditions of the snow accumulation period in the center of the European territory of Russia

The subject of this article is exmination of the influence of the Arctic air flow on the climatic conditions of the winter period in the center of the European territory of Russia (Moscow). In recent years, the question of the relationship between regional climatic conditions and such global circulation patterns as the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) and the Arctic Oscillation (AK) has become increasingly important. Based on the data of long-term observations of temperature and precipitation, the relationship with the AK and NAO was considered. For the winter months of the period 2014-2018, the back trajectories of the movement of air masses were computed for each date of precipitation to identify the sources of precipitation. The amount of winter precipitation that forms the snow cover of Moscow has no connection with either the North Atlantic Oscillation or the Arctic Oscillation. The Moscow region is located at the intersection of the zones of influence of positive and negative phases of both cyclonic patterns (AK and NAO), which determine the weather in the Northern Hemisphere. For the winter months, a correlation between the surface air temperature and NAO (r = 0.72) and AK (r = 0.66) was established. Winter precipitation in the center of the European territory of Russiais mainly associated with the unloading of Atlantic air masses. Arctic air masses relatively rarely invade Moscow region and bring little precipitation (their contribution does not exceed 12% of the total winter precipitation).

Propagation Analysis of Pu Radionuclides as a Result of Fire Incidents in the Exclusion Zone of the Chernobyl NPP in April 2020

In consequence of nuclear accidents that have occurred in various parts of the world, radioactive contamination of the environment is observed. The risks of spreading pollution can increase during floods, fires and some natural disasters. The lack of effective measures that aimed at eliminating possible sources of fire in the meadow zone and forest lands in the Chernobyl exclusion zone (ChEZ) leads to a high risk of fire emergence. The temporal and spatial distribution of fires shows that they occur throughout the ChEZ, including in the most contaminated areas. The risk of fires increases with climate change and measures to prevent them should be considered in emergency programs. ChEZ area is contaminated with long-lived radionuclides such as 137Cs, 90Sr, Pu isotopes (238Pu, 239 + 240Pu, 241Pu) and 241Am. As a result of forest fires radionuclides contained in wood and underlying surface are carried out into the atmosphere along with smoke. Diseases arising under the influence of ionizing radiation from Pu and 241Am isotopes pose a serious problem for human health. To assess of the spatial distribution of Pu isotopes and 241Am we used data on forest fires that occurred in the Chernobyl zone in April 2020. To evaluatе the dynamics of the release of radioactive substances into the atmosphere during fire incidents on the ChEZ territory, the following software products were used: NASA WorldView, HYSPLIT program. The HYSPLIT program allows to reconstruct the trajectories of radionuclide propagation in the atmosphere using meteorological data and to obtain a reliable picture of the distribution of radionuclides in the study area. The maps of the volumetric activity of Pu isotopes in the air and the fallout on the soil as a result of fires were obtained. It was found that the radioactivity due to the presence of this element in the air and during the fallout of radioactive particles on the soil is low (it reaches 1.0E-7...0.1 Bq/m3 in the air, 1.0E-6...1 Bq/m2 on the soil). The analysis of the propagation of Pu isotopes as a result of the movement of air masses in the places of fires in the exclusion zone of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant and the associated dangers for the population and the environment has been carried out.

КОСМОГЕННИЙ БЕРИЛІЙ-7 У ПРИЗЕМНОМУ ПОВІТРІ УКРАЇНИ

The 7Be isotope is of exclusively natural origin. This radionuclide attaches to the submicron aerosols, so 7Be can be used as a marker in the search for patterns of air mass movements. Studies of natural cyclic variations and sporadic increases in volume activity of 7Be are needed to identify of various sources of total radioactivity of near-ground air. Using the measurement data of radionuclide stations located in four regions of Ukraine within 48–51°N and 25–30°E, seasonal and annual variations in the volume activity of beryllium-7 in surface air were studied. We used both published data for 2005-2019 and new measurement results of the Main Center for Special Control in Ukraine (https://gcsk.gov.ua/), carried out in 2017–2020. This material confirms the seasonal changes in the volume activity of beryllium-7, found earlier for latitudes 45–55°N, with a maximum in April-August and a minimum in November- February. Comparison of measurements in Ukraine with the data of radionuclide monitoring of neighboring countries made it possible to choose the most reliable row of average annual values from 2005 to 2011, which was obtained from measurements in the Chernobyl zone. This data correlates with the flux of the neutron component of cosmic rays and with the height of the equipotential surface of 200 mbar.

Dependence of Variations in Black Carbon Content in the Atmosphere of Moscow on Air Mass Transport Direction

Data on black carbon (BC) concentration CBC in the air basin of Moscow, and 5-day back trajectories of air mass motion, obtained in the period of 2003–2014, were used to determine the dependence of variations in black carbon concentration in the air basin of Moscow on the direction of air mass transport, and to determine the black carbon source regions. The 12-year measurements of black carbon concentration in Moscow air are used to show that the СBC variations are determined by the character of the air mass circulation in the troposphere. Measurements of black carbon content in the Moscow air basin in June–September 2019 and 10-day back trajectories of air mass transport were used to study the effect of the latter on the air pollution level in Moscow.

Microplastics are raining down from the sky

Microplastic waste has become so prevalent in the environment that it is being picked up and transported by the wind and the rain. We linked plastic fallout rates with air-mass movements to understand where plastics are coming from, how far they are travelling, and how much of them is raining out of the sky. - submission by Janice Brahney

Using the satellite images for the territory of Ukraine

The purpose of this article is to identify the wind direction and speed using the images from geostationary satellites and through application of two-dimensional wind vectors, the magnitude and direction of which corresponds to the speed and direction of cloud masses, on a satellite image. The results may be used for making a short-term forecast of dangerous weather events within the territory of Ukraine.
 To make the technique work, it is necessary to select cloud areas on a satellite image using the threshold method. Then, based on the brightness temperature distribution between two tracking modules (parts of an image based on which two consecutive satellite images are compared), the maximum correlation coefficient for infrared brightness temperature is to be determined. The coefficient corresponds to the movement of cloud masses and sets the beginning and end of the wind direction vector.
 To determine the optimum application of the technique for the territory of Ukraine, the analysis of accuracy of tracking modules of different sizes was also performed. The analysis revealed that the accuracy of determining the wind vector direction depends on the tracking module size: the larger it is, the more accurate is the direction vector found, but given that the time interval between images is 15 minutes, the optimum algorithm to be used in Ukraine is the one with 5x5 pixel tracking module.
 The technique performance was also compared with the data of ICON and GFS forecast models. The results of the applied algorithm showed that the direction of air masses was more reliable than the data retrieved from the above-mentioned forecast models, because the algorithm analyzes the real-time movement of air masses while the forecast models assess the formation and movement of air masses in advance (with an interval of several hours up to dozens of hours). Numerical wind speed forecast of ICON and GFS models is more accurate, because the algorithm determines the wind speed based on the movement of cloud masses on satellite images whereas the forecast models consider several factors (pressure fields, development and subsequent evolution of cyclones, anticyclones, geographical characteristics etc.) which makes them more realistic.