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Tariffs for energy and energy resources are the main factors determining the sustainable development of the economy. The aim of the paper is to determine and compare the dynamics evolution of the tariffs for thermal energy and the evolution of the gross domestic product (GDP).The data on the heat consumption and tariff change in the city of Chisinau were examined in monetary terms and in relative units compared to the base year 2009. The higher the tariffs, the more part of the GDP, characterized in the economy by the volume of "Output", is spent on "Intermediate consumption (PP)". The difference between "Output" and "Intermediate consumption" volumes is the "gross added value (VAB)", which is the main component of GDP. The analysis of the changes in the real GDP volume of the Republic of Moldova and the increase of the tariffs for the years 2009-2017 (taking into account the GDP forecast for 2018) show that the increase in the tariffs for thermal energy significantly exceeded the real GDP growth. Considering that the planned GDP growth is 4,7% and taking into account the change in the consumer price index (inflation rate), the calculated reduction of the thermal energy tariff in Chisinau is estimated at 28% compared to the existing value, so to 803 lei / Gcal compared to the currently regulated value of 1122 lei / Gcal. The conclusion was reached on the opportunity of applying the proposed methodology to justify current tariffs and in the near future not only extends to thermal energy tariffs, but also for other types of energy, material resources and services in the field of production and social sphere.

The paper presents the assumptions for the computer simulation of a forest fire in accordance with digital topographic map of forests and short-term weather forecast. To conduct the simulation, a software has been created. The software includes deterministic mathematical model of a forest fire. Input data have been extracted from the short-term weather forecast and the digital forest maps. The application range covers both planning of a controlled fire, e.g. in cases when the fires are intentionally started by the forest services to get rid of accumulated forest material, as well as to plan extinguishing actions and to plan appropriate disposal of resources during the extinguishing of a forest fire. Creation of the described simulation environment arises from the need of optimum planning of the extinguishing actions in local fire service centers. The initial risk assessment in the stage of planning the extinguishing action, will allow efficient management of equipment by the local units. It also prevents from repeating wrong decisions made in the early stages. This need imposes limiting the use of equipment platforms to medium class PC’s. The outcomes of the paper provides accessibility of a tool supporting the decision making process and assessing the damages in the high risk conditions of a forest fire. Furthermore, conducting a simulation allows to estimate the need for fire fighting equipment in the case of total and border extinguishing of a fire, for different weather conditions, considering fire density. В работе представлены рекомендации для компьютерной симуляции лесного пожара, основанной на цифровой топографической информации о лесах и краткосрочном прогнозе погоды. Для проведения симуляции было создано программное обеспечение, содержащее детерминированную математическую модель лесного пожара. Входные данные были получены из краткосрочного прогноза погоды и цифровых карт лесов. Область применения симуляции планирование контролируемого пожара, намеренно вызванного лесными службами с целью удаления избытка собранного лесного материала, а также планирование пожаротушащих работ и распределение ресурсов во время тушения лесного пожара. Создание данного инструмента симуляции обосновано необходимостью оптимально планировать пожартушащие работы в местных центрах пожарной службы. Ранняя оценка риска на этапе планирования пожаротушащей работы позволит эффекитвно рапределять средства местными центрами и предотвратить ошибки при принятии решений на ранних этапах. Вышеуказанная необходимость вынуждает ограничить применение оборудования до персональных компьютеров среднего класса. Результат работы обеспечивает доступность инструмента, поддерживающего принятие решений и оценки потерь в условиях повышенной угрозы лесного пожара. Кроме того, симуляция позволяет оценить необходимое количество средств для тушения целой территории, охваченной пожаром или только её края при разных погодных условиях, с учётем огневой нагрузки данного участка.

In the contemporary world, the anthropogenic effect is increasing. At the same time, the quality of life of the population is strongly associated with the environmental quality, as there is growing understanding that rising economic income does not ensure the humanity’s well-being. In this regard, issues connected with analysing the influence of the anthropogenic factor on changes in the quality of the life of the population become relevant. We believe that existing approaches to assessing the quality of life poorly reflect the current situation related to the speed of the environmental changes due to an increase in the scale and intensity of its pollution. Therefore, for assessing the quality of life, we suggest taking into account the environmental and energy components of the anthropogenic factor. To this end, the classification of anthropogenic factors is supplemented by the “industrial production” group, distinguished by the “source of impact” indicator, which allows analysing the group’s influence on changing parameters of the quality of life of the population. The methodological basis of the study is a comprehensive approach to assessing the quality of life. Based on it, we structured the stages of the evolution of approaches to measuring and assessing the quality of life of the population. Moreover, we described key features of these approaches, and identified the fourth stage that substantiates the priority of environmental and energy criteria in assessing the quality of life. We propose to improve the methodology for assessing the quality of life of the population by introducing additional environmental and energy characteristics. The article presents the results of using this improved methodology. We tested it on the examples of the Sverdlovsk and Chelyabinsk regions. The obtained values of the integral indicators of the quality of life of the population show that the Sverdlovsk region has lower index values. That happened due to a more developed industrial sector and, as a result, the more deteriorated environmental situation. The proposed methodology for assessing the quality of life of the population can be used by regional leaders for making decisions related to the regional development aimed at improving the quality of life of the population. © 2019 Institute of Economics, Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved. Рассмотрена систематизация подходов к определению и оценке качества жизни. Показаны этапы эволюции подходов к измерению и оценке качества жизни населения. Проанализировано влияние антропогенных факторов промышленного производства на качество жизни населения Свердловской Челябинской областей.

One of the important problems of the environmental economics is the development of methodology for quantifying the assimilative capacity (AC) of a territory. The article analyzes the existing approaches to determining and assessing the AC of a territory. We justify the advantages of using the energy approach. The authors' method consists in using the maximum permissible energy load (MPEL) for quantitative assessment of the AC of a territory. MPEL is a value that the ecological and economic system can withstand for a long time without changing its properties. We determine MPEL on the basis of data on the ability of various categories of land to absorb greenhouse gases (GHG), as well as the specific GHG emissions per ton of conventional fuel. Further, we compare the calculated value of MPEL in fuel equivalents with the actual consumption of fuel resources for the needs of the national economy. These values ratio can serve as a standard for measuring and balancing the environmental and economic system. The authors have validated the described method on the example of the Sverdlovsk region, which is characterized by a high level of man's impact. Calculations show that the actual consumption of fossil fuels in the region exceeds MPEL. That indicates an imbalance in the ecological and economic system and may lead to further deterioration of the environmental quality in the region. The proposed methodological approach and calculations can be used when developing strategic planning documents for a territory, including its energy strategy. Рассмотрены существующие подходы к определению и оценке ассимиляционного потенциала территории. Предложен методический подход, особенностью, которого является применение для количественной оценки ассимиляционного потенциала территории предельно допустимой энергетической нагрузки, которую может на протяжении длительного времени переносить эколого-экономическая система без нарушения своих основных свойств. Апробация методики расчета предельно-допустимой энергетической нагрузки проведена на примере Свердловской области, территория которой подвергается высокому антропогенному воздействию.

В статье раскрывается характеристика лесосечных отходов. При анализе выявлено, что на заготовку, храненние и направление использования лесосечных отходов оказывают существенное влияние объём, размер, прочность и загрязненность. The article contains characteristics of forest residues. In the analysis it was found that the billet, chernivsti and usage of logging residues has a significant influence the volume, size, strength and contamination.

The occurrences of Cambro-Ordovician organic-rich black shale and their metamorphosed Precambrian and Lower Palaeozoic analogues have been known in Fennoscandia for a long time. These rocks show high concentrations of U, Mo, V, Zn, Pb, Ni and other metals. For example, Estonian uranium reserves have been estimated at 6.6 million tons (U 3O 8). Apart from commercial interest, there are environmental aspects related to black shale. Early mining in Sweden and Estonia caused significant damage to environment. Black shale emanates radon, and the weathering of shale releases harmful elements into the soil and groundwater. As the Fennoscandian and Baltoscandian black shale provides a large lithological and geochemical variety of shale and meta-shale, there is need for a new and updated assessment and re-evaluation of this resource. Our proposal is to feed geological, geochemical and environmental information into the Fennoscandian-Baltoscandian Black Shale Database (FBSD) with browser-based visualization possibilities. The database gathers data on both Paleozoic and Precambrian rocks, and includes shale stratigraphy, resource, metal/element distribution, environmental impact assessment, soil and groundwater impact, etc. Some visualizations have been presented using Estonian graptolite argillites as an example.

Условия роста древесной растительности заметно влияют на образование гемицеллюлоз, целлюлозы и лигнина. В этом исследовании мы проанализировали климатические реакции основных полимеров клеточной стенки березы извилистой (Betula Tortuosa Ledeb.) Нами были исследованы 35 годичных колец (1980–2015 гг.) деревьев березы извилистой, произрастающих в альпийской лесотундре Кузнецкого Алатау, с помощью пиролической газовой хромато-масс спектрометрии (Пи-ГХ/МС). Анализ корреляционной связи между показателями, полученными методом Пи-ГХ/МС, и средними значениями температуры воздуха и осадков показал, что, главным образом, погодные условия июня-августа определяют компонентный состав древесины березы. Основным фактором, лимитирующим формирование «уникальной» полимерной композиции клеточной стенки березы извилистой, произрастающей в экотоне горной лесотундры, является дефицит тепла. Осадки в конце сезона вегетации оказывают преимущественно отрицательное влияние на формирование основных полимерных компонентов клеточной стенки березы. Кроме того, выявлено, что ароматическая компонента годичных колец оказалась более чувствительной к изменяющимся климатическим факторам, чем углеводная. По нашему мнению, с использованием метода Пи-ГХ/МС открывается перспектива количественного прогнозирования последствий современного климатического тренда в развитии лесных экосистем Сибири. Woody vegetation growth conditions have marked effects on hemicellulose, cellulose and lignin formation. In this study, we analyzed the climatic responses of these major cell wall polymers in Betula tortuosa. We studied 35 annual rings (1980–2015) of Betula Tortuosa Ledeb. trees growing in the alpine forest-tundra of Kuznetsk Ala Tau using and pyrolysis gas chromatography mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS). Our analysis of the correlation of the resulting spectra and Py-GC/MS values with mean air temperature and precipitation showed that the polymeric composition of Betula Tortuosa Ledeb. was mainly determined by June-August climate. The major factor limiting the development of the “unique” cell wall polymer composition of Betula Tortuosa Ledeb. found in alpine forest-tundra of Kuznetsk Ala Tau was a deficit of heat. At the end of the growing season, precipitation had largely a negative impact on polymer formation in Betula Tortuosa Ledeb. cell walls. We believe that Py-GC/MS is an effective approach to quantifying the consequences of current climate trends for Siberian forest ecosystems.

The purpose of the work was to study the basic constructional, energetic and technological features of electrochemical reactors (activators) used in processing of whey – a dairy by-product, but also a biologically very valuable liquid. The choice of optimal regimes for processing of various types of whey is specified, aimed at raising the efficiency of isolation of whey protein fractions in the protein-mineral concentrates while reducing energy intensity. It is also demonstrated that it is necessary to reasonably select such constructional features of electro activators as the distance between the electrodes and between the electrodes and the membrane as well as their geometric shape so as to avoid appearance of “dead” areas and to assure a high efficiency of the process. It was also important to find the most appropriate option of electric parameters and processing regimes (periodic or continuous). Besides, the account was taken of the ratio of the whey volume to the main electrode area; of the membrane type; of the initial content of dry matter in each whey type, i.e., its protein compositions; the concentration and composition of the anodic (secondary) liquid. The results of the investigation are of importance in the development of a wasteless technology of by-products processing.