In the coming weekends, weather conditions will be determined by influence of warm, moist unstable air masses from the Ukraine. Erratic weather conditions with intermittent thundery rains are expected, however rains will be spread unevenly throughout the country and with varied intensity. Temperature will rest elevated. At the beginning of the week (Monday-Tuesday, 20-21 Fugust) weather patterns will not change significantly. Precipitations with increase of atmospheric pressure will stop by the end of the working week, temperature will be substantially different between south and north parts of the country. At the beginning of third decade of August decrease of water levels will be registered on most of the rivers in Belarus. As at 17 August, according to data of state network of hydrometeorological observations, there is balanced running of water levels and its small decrease with the intensity 1-12 cm per day on the rivers of the Republic. Unfavourable conditions for river transport are observed on the Zapadnaya Dvina near Vitebsk, on the Neman near Grodno, on the Dnieper near Mogilev, Zhlobin and Rechitsa, on the Berezina near Bobruysk, on the Sozh near Krichev and Slavgorod, water levels here are below the marks that limit shipping. Water levels are close to marks that limit shipping on the Berezina near Svetlogorsk, on the Dnieper near Loev and on the Sozh near Gomel.  Predominance of elevated temperature regime coupled with deficit pf precipitations caused loss of moisture especially from topsoil. 10 cm soil layer is in a weakly-moist state in most of the country. Topsoil is dry in some areas of Gomel and Mogilev regions, in the north of Brest region and in the west of Vitebsk region. It makes difficult soil treatment for winter crops and winter rape sowing. Past rains of mid-August refilled moist content in soil mainly in north-western half of the country. Intermittent rains did not influence significantly completion of spiked cereals harvesting, working time of combines could be reduced in Vitebsk region only. Because of reduction of moist content in soil, decline in root crops growth was registered. In this, weather conditions contribute to increase of root crops sugariness. Maize ripening is registered 1,5-2 weeks in advance in southern and western parts of the Republic. It is optimum time for harvest of maize for silage. In the coming days, expected intermittent rains refill moisture content in soil but not everywhere. Moisture deficit remains in some areas and still makes it difficult to sowing and emerging of winter rape, late agricultural crops harvesting.

Workshop on the Implementation of the International Radiation Monitoring Information System (IRMIS) was organized by IAEA during the period from 16 to 19 July, 2018. Maria Kadatskaya, chief of department for ecological information providing, took part in this event. The purpose of the event is to improve awareness and understanding of IRMIS among the points of contact and designated Data Providers for IRMIS, in particular by enhancing their knowledge of the implementation arrangements established for sharing large amounts of routine and emergency radiation monitoring data. In addition, the event will provide an opportunity to present the features and functionalities of IRMIS and share the experiences of Member States that use IRMIS as part of their emergency preparedness and response operations. Main purpose of this workshop is to gain knowledge about technical and administrative mechanisms and instruments provided by IRMIS to benefit from implementation of the data sharing platform for their national system of radiation monitoring. Participants were provided with guide for the IRMIS implementation on corresponding platforms of information technologies of country including joint use of large number of routine and emergency radiation monitoring data. Participants gained an understanding of technical requirements for radiation monitoring system of member states in collection, storage and communication of data to IRMIS using safe transmission processing protocol. Through theirs participation, participants learned about: IRMIS using for exchange of large amount of routine and emergency radiation monitoring data; Requirements for equipment and software which should be provided by IRMIS data providers for collection of radiation monitoring data; Practical applications for IRMIS and technical duties arising from country participation; Routine monitoring data preparation in accordance with format 1.0 of IRIX for reporting to IRMIS as well as General applicability if IRMIS in routine and emergency regimes including all its functions and embedded instruments.

In the coming weekends, weather conditions will be determined by influence of atmospheric fronts and moist air masses from the Baltic. Hot weather is expected, intermittent rains with thunderstorms will be registered locally in the country. At the beginning of the week (Monday-Tuesday, 6-7 August) northern part of Belarus will be influenced by moist air masses from the Baltic where intermittent rains with thunderstorms will be in several places. Precipitations are unlikely in an increased pressure area in southern Belarus. Because of the flow of cooler air from Scandinavia, temperature will decrease especially in northern parts of the country. In the middle of the week, anticyclone from Western Europe will extend its influence to Belarus. It will bring dry and hot weather. In the first decade of August, water level decrease will be observed on the rivers of the country. As at 3, August, according to data of state hydrometeorological observation network, water levels exceed the marks of water discharge on the flood land on the Sozh near Slavgorod of Slavgorod district in Mogilev region and its river Besed near Svetilovichi village of Vetkovskiy district in Gomel region. Unfavourable conditions for river transport are observed on the Zapadnaya Dvina near Vitebsk, on the Neman near Grodno and on the Dnieper near Mogilev. Water level is below marks that limit shipping here. At the end of July – at the beginning of August as quantity of rains decreases and air temperature increases, agrometeorological conditions for after-rippening of grain crops and grain drying have improved. The farmers of the Republic increased harvest speed, Vitebsk and Mogilev regions have started mass harvest. According to recent data, moisture of harvesting grain decreased, amount of grain with conditioned moisture (12-14%) flowing to elevator increased. However, grain moisture is excessive (15-19%) in most of the observed fields, according to meteorological stations data – 21-29%. Favourable conditions for harvesting of maize, root crops, vegetables demanding of heat and cultivated in open ground, for aftergrowing of herbs are forming. Because of hot weather at the beginning of August, conditions for growing of potato tubers deteriorated. According to recent data, average temperature of soil at depth of 10 cm is +23 +28С in most of the country which is much higher than optimal (optimal temperature for growing of potato tubers is +16 +19С) Because of abundant rains in July, overmoisture of soil remains in some areas. Preconditions for appearance of disease excitants are set in the areas with excessive soil moistening, more intensive growth of weeds is observed. Frequent rains in July provoked formation and development of late blight on potato and tomato plantings. In the coming days, expected intermittent rains should not influence harvesting. At the middle of next week, dry weather will let the farmers maintain high speed of harvesting.

A total lunar eclipse will occur on July 27, 2018. The Moon will pass through the center of the Earth's shadow. This will be the first central lunar eclipse since June 15, 2011. Since it will occur near apogee, this eclipse will also be the longest total lunar eclipse in the 21st century. Totality will last approximately 103 minutes. This eclipse will be the second total lunar eclipse in 2018, after the one in January. It will be completely visible over Eastern Africa, and Central Asia, seen rising over South America, Western Africa, and Europe, and setting over Eastern Asia, and Australia. A lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes within Earth's umbra (shadow). As the eclipse begins, Earth's shadow first darkens the Moon slightly. Then, the shadow begins to "cover" part of the Moon, turning it a dark red-brown color (typically – the color can vary based on atmospheric conditions). The Moon appears to be reddish because of Rayleigh scattering (the same effect that causes sunsets to appear reddish) and the refraction of that light by Earth's atmosphere into its umbra. wikipedia.org .

Seminar «Environmental classification of surface water bodies in pilot areas EUWI+ of Belarus, Ukraine and Moldova» was held in Kiev (Ukraine) on 19 and 20 June, 2018.  The main objective of the seminar was providing support in using methodology of Water Framework Directive (WFD) in the field of environmental classification of surface water bodies. During the seminar experience of Austria and other EU countries concerning the conduct of environmental classification of surface water bodies was examined as well as connections between hydrobiological and hydromorphological classifications and some other aspects of Water Framework Directive. Different phases of environmental classification (typing, identification and stress determination, framework and requirements for field and laboratory works, requirements for calculation of biometrics and biotic indexes), methodological aspects and accesses to each phase of the classification were discussed during this seminar. Questions on completeness of observation data and its accessibility, sampling strategies, requirements and indexes used to assessment of the hydrobiological, chemical and hydromorphological state of water bodies were raised. Innovative approaches in using of laboratory equipment for collection and analysis of hydrological samples were presented at this seminar. Participants had the opportunity to become acquainted with the methodological approaches of environmental classification of water bodies used in Ukraine and Moldova. Particular attention was paid to the role of hydromorphology in the process of WFD and its connection with hydrobiology, methodological aspects of hydromorphological observations. Hands-on exercises were provided on analysis of the hydromorphological status of rivers. Characteristics of realization of the WFD principles and methods in participating countries were also discussed at the seminar. 

The Belarusian-Ukrainian hydrometeorological working group meeting was held in Belhydromet from June 12-14, 2018 The meeting was attended by: Svetlana Kuzmich - deputy head of Belhydromet, Yury Lesnichy - head of the Minsk Regional Branch of Belhydromet (the group leader), Alla Pavros - leading engineer of the hydrological monitoring department of Belhydromet (the reporter),  Elena Zubchenok - head of hydrological forecasting department (the group member), Mihail Kozyrev - head of hydrology group of Brest Regional Branch of Belhydromet (the group member), Olga Kalugina - head of hydrology department of Gomel Regional branch of Belhydromet (the group member). The Ukrainian side was presented by: Inna Vodolaskova - deputy head of the observation and hydrometeorological support department of the Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center (the gruop leader), Anatoly Prokopenko - deputy director of the Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center (the expert), Vladimir Voitovich - head of the Zhytomyr Regional Branch of the Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center (the group member), Ruslan Ovseenko - head of the Chernihiv Regional Branch the Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center (the group member). The agenda of the Belarusian-Ukrainian hydrometeorological working group meeting included following issues: 1. Information upon changes in the national hydrometeorological services of the Republic of Belarus and Ukraine. 2. The discussion of reports upon implementation of the Group's work plan in 2016-2017. 3. Harmonization of the plan for the exchange of regime-based hydrometeorological information. 4. Harmonization of the schedule of parallel and joint measurements of water discharge in transboundary areas 5. Exchange of information on the implementation of guidance documents in the field of hydrometeorology. 6. Harmonization of the changes in the Regulations on Cooperation between the Republic of Belarus and Ukraine on hydrometeorology. 7. Harmonization of the plan for the exchange of operational information. Analysis of work on the exchange of operational and forecast information during the spring flood in 2017 8. Exchange of experience in hydrometeorological support of consumers 9. Discussion of the draft work plan of the group for 2019. Preparation and signing of the minutes of the meeting and the Work Plan of the group for 2019.

 On world oceans day, 30 UN agencies promised to abandon plastic products Every year, more than eight million tons of plastic waste is released into the seas and oceans June 8-world ocean day. In his message on this occasion, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres recalled the problem of marine pollution and called for intensified efforts to save the seas and oceans from plastic. His appeal was also heeded by UN agencies. "Thanks to the oceans, our blue planet is unique in the entire Solar system, and not only visually. They help to regulate the global climate and are the primary source of water that supports all life on Earth: from coral reefs to snow - capped mountains, from tropical rainforests to mighty rivers and even deserts," - said in a message of the UN head. António Guterres warned today that due to climate change, pollution and unsustainable use of the oceans was under threat, He stressed that 80 percent of ocean pollution is due to waste, falling back from the land. Every year in the seas and oceans is about 8 million tons of plastic. This waste kills turtles and birds, whales and dolphins.  Together with the fish they get to our tables. The head of the UN warned that if you do not take decisive measures, then soon the plastic in the ocean will be more than living resources. The Secretary General urged to prevent this tragedy and strongly recommended to reduce the extent of pollution of the marine environment. He said that more than 30 UN agencies promised to abandon the use of disposable plastic products. Local residents in Kenya are involved in cleaning the coastal zone "Today, as in any day, you can change the situation for the better by doing a simple act: for example, take your own water bottle, your Cup for coffee, your plastic bags for purchases; hand over plastic products for recycling; refuse products containing microparticles of plastics; take part in cleaning the coastal zone," the head of the UN addressed to all the inhabitants of the planet. UN creates a coalition on climate change The world health organization (who), the United Nations environment Programme (UNEP) and the world meteorological organization (WMO) have announced the creation of a global coalition on health, environment and climate change, the website of the United Nations framework Convention on climate change reports. In 2017, the global average annual CO2 concentration exceeded 400 ppm and the average temperature was 1.1°C above pre-industrial levels. Climate change is affecting the economies of developing countries, and the cost of recovery from natural disasters, in particular tropical cyclones, reached a new record last year, according to WMO Secretary-General petteri Taalas. The head of WMO stressed that the world has 30 years to reduce its carbon footprint, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and switch to renewable energy. Who estimates that 7 million people die prematurely each year from air pollution-related diseases, including strokes and heart disease, respiratory diseases and cancer. Air pollution in most major cities exceeds who air quality standards. Many pollutants that are harmful to health contribute to climate change. Reducing emissions from sources such as transport, cooking equipment, agriculture and industry could help reduce global warming by about 0.5°C by 2050. The new global coalition will seek to pool expertise and improve coordination. Within the framework of the Association, WMO, who and UNEP are going to strengthen work aimed at protecting health from the risks associated with the negative impact of the environment and climate change. In particular, it is planned to organize more efficient climate services, for example, with the help of seasonal forecasts. They can be used to prepare for climate-related diseases such as cholera and malaria, or to warn of the health dangers of extreme heat. First of all, the coalition will pay attention to air quality. The Association is going to use the WMO observing network, its sand and dust storm warning Advisory and assessment system (SDS-WAS) and the global atmosphere service. Tropical cyclones slowed down speed Hurricanes in the Atlantic and the Pacific have become noticeably more dangerous to humans and nature in recent years due to the fact that global warming has dramatically reduced the speed of their movement, according to the journal Nature. "The main conclusion of our work is that the speed of movement of tropical cyclones over water and land decreased by 20% in the Atlantic, 30% in the North-West Pacific and 19% off the coast of Australia. As a result, rainfall has increased and floods have become more extreme. All this is deadly for people, " said James Kossin (James Kossin) from the NOAA weather and climate Center in Madison (USA). Over the past two years, the shores of North America have been constantly "bombarded" by powerful hurricanes, causing enormous economic damage to coastal cities and villages in America and causing great problems for populations of some rare animals, such as monarch butterflies. Only in August and September last year in the Atlantic there were just four powerful hurricanes of the fourth and fifth categories of danger, Harvey, Irma, Jose and Maria, who left the island of Puerto Rico without electricity and created a potentially catastrophic situation on the Atlantic coast of the United States and Mexico. Kossin found out why tropical hurricanes and associated floods have become so destructive in recent years, analyzing how global warming and related phenomena, including rising air and water surface temperatures, have affected the behavior of typical Atlantic and Pacific cyclones.Studying the hurricanes that raged in the waters of the two oceans from 1949 to 2016, the scientist noticed that the speed of their movement gradually fell as the movement from the past to the present, generally decreasing by about 10% across the Earth. After analyzing the changes in the character of the movement of the winds and the storms in each of the regions, the climate scientist concluded that this occurred through the "fault" of global warming.His calculations show that the increase in water and air temperature has led to the fact that the wind, "conducting" migrations of hurricanes, noticeably weakened and began to move at a slower speed than before. Together with them, the cyclones themselves slowed down. As the climatologist explains, a decrease in the speed of the hurricane even by 10% leads to catastrophic consequences – the typical level of precipitation doubles, and the probability of occurrence of floods increases by several orders of magnitude. In addition, the decrease in the speed of the cyclone causes another dangerous phenomenon-due to the weakening of the "conducting" winds, the hurricane often changes the direction of "flight" and periodically returns back, which causes another series of destruction in the already flooded regions. Something similar, as Kossin notes, happened in Texas with hurricane Harvey. In the future, according To kossin's forecasts, the situation will be even more difficult. Now the average annual temperature on Earth is only 0.5 degrees higher than in the middle of the last century, while by the end of this century they can grow by 1.5-3 degrees. As a result, hurricanes will become even slower and longer-lived, making them even more destructive than they have become in recent years.

In connection with the fire on June 5, 2018 in the territory of Ukraine in the exclusion zone of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, the State institution "Republican сenter for hydrometeorology, control of radioactive contamination and еnvironmental monitoring" reports: At 09 hours on June 6, 2018, the radiation situation in the Gomel region, as well as in the whole of the republic of Belarus, remains stable. According to the data of stationary observation stations for radiation monitoring and measuring points of the automated radiation monitoring system located in the border areas of Belarus in the zone of influence of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, the excess of the dose rate levels of gamma radiation over long-term values ​​has not been recorded. The radiation background on the territory of the republic of Belarus is under constant control.

World Environment Day is considered one of the most important events of the ecological calendar. It is celebrated annually on June 5 in more than 100 countries. On December 15, 1972, the General Assembly declared June 5 World Environment Day, the purpose of which was to increase public awareness of the need to preserve and improve the environment. The choice of this date is justified by the fact that it was on 5 June, for the first time, the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment (Stockholm, 1972), which was followed by the creation of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP). World Environment Day is one of the main ways to attract world attention to environmental problems. Environmental protection is a nationwide task, the importance of which can not be overemphasized. In solving environmental problems, a great deal depends on the position of each individual person, who can significantly change both his attitude towards environmental issues, and, ultimately, the state of the environment. The celebration of each World Environment Day is organized around a theme focused on the most pressing environmental issue. The motto of the World Environment Day 2018 is "Fighting Plastic Contamination." This slogan is a call to action for each of us, a call to fight one of the greatest environmental problems of our time together. This theme appeals to each of us, offering to think about how we can change our daily lives to alleviate the overwhelming burden of plastic pollution lying on the surrounding nature, wild animals, and even on our own health. Global plastic contamination in figures: -Annually up to 5 trillion plastic bags are used -Annually 13 million tons of plastic fall into the world ocean -17 million barrels of oil are used annually for plastic production -1 million plastic bottles are bought every minute -Every year, plastic kills 100,000 marine animals -Decomposition of plastic in the environment occurs in the course of 100 years -According to studies, 90% of bottled water contains plastic particles -According to studies, 83% of tap water contains particles of plastic -50% of consumer plastic products - disposable -10% of all waste generated by mankind - plastic waste To defeat pollution by plastic, it is necessary to rethink cardinally our approach to the development, production and use of plastic products. Pollution by plastic is the main environmental problem of our time. Official events dedicated to the celebration of World Environment Day will be held this year in India. India is very encouraged by the opportunity to host celebrations on the occasion of World Environment Day, Indian philosophy and way of life have long been based on the principle of coexistence with nature. The Government of India has pledged to organize and promote celebrations in honor of World Environment Day through a series of interactive activities and events generating high public interest and involvement. From all-Indian initiatives for cleaning plastics in public places, national reserves and forests, to simultaneous cleaning of beaches - India will lead the initiative with its own example. Along with the world community on June 5, all Belarusian nature advocates, environmentalists, public figures and ecologists also celebrate their professional holiday. In our country, the Decree of the President of the Republic of Belarus marks the Day of Environmental Protection on June 5, and its celebration coincides with the celebration of World Environment Day. Reference: By the Decree of the President of the Republic of Belarus of 02.02.2000 No. 35 "On the introduction of additions and changes to the Decree of the President of the Republic of Belarus of March 26, 1998 No. 157", the list of holidays is supplemented with the Day of Environmental Protection - June 5. Traditionally on this day it is customary to hold various actions and measures to protect the environment, calling not to pass by the problems of the ecological situation, but to take the path of their solution. This year, the holiday of June 5 for the republic is of special importance, so far as 2018 in Belarus is declared the Year of the Little Motherland. The contribution to the environmental protection and Belhydromet staff of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of the Republic of Belarus is significant. Belhydromet specialists carry out monitoring of the physical, chemical and biological (for water bodies) processes occurring in the environment and provide the state administration bodies, organizations of various sectors of the economy and the population with operational forecast information. Belhydromet congratulates colleagues on the Day of Environmental Protection and expresses gratitude to all those who devote their lives to caring for the environment. We call on all to live in harmony with nature, without violating its laws and regulations, to use its wealth rationally, in order to preserve our planet for future generations.

Session of Working group WG-8 on the theme «Capacity-building and professional training» of Interstate Council for hydrometeorology of CIS member States was held in the A.I. Voeikov Central Geophysical Observatory on 28-29 May, 2018 (Saint-Petersburg, Russian Federation). The meeting reviewied the state of staff capacity of the national hydrometeorological services, identified opportunities and main areas of joint action for sustainable capacity development including  interaction with national training institutions of CIS member States which trains specialists- hydrometeorologists and works with WMO programme on capacity development. During the meeting it was decided to strengthen cooperation (in future engagement between national hydrometeorological services) in the field of staff capacity-building WG-9 is executive body of Interstate Council for hydrometeorology of CIS member States and  carries out its functions in close collaboration with  the Secretariant of CIS Interstate Council for hydrometeorology and with CIS Executive Committee. The purpose of the WG-8  is to prepare draft decisions of  Interstate Council for hydrometeorology on the organization and coordination in terms of capacity building and training schemes for national hydrometeorology services.