Ukrhydrometcenter explained the reasons behind the deterioration of air quality in Kyiv.

As reported by the Judicial and Legal Newspaper, there was a deterioration in air quality in Kyiv on the evening of November 7.

The Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center clarified that reports of an alleged transboundary transfer of dust into Ukraine are incorrect, as what was present were water droplets suspended in the air.

They noted that such information began to circulate due to a misinterpretation of aerosol concentration data in the atmosphere.

“The supposed high concentration of aerosols suggests that a cloud of polluted air and dust is being transferred. However, experienced meteorologists quickly analyzed what type of aerosol it was. And it is nothing more than water droplets... Thus, satellites 'see' suspended water droplets in the same way as dust, which is why it is crucial to accurately analyze the available data,” explained the hydrometeorological center.

What are water droplets in the air?

The answer to this question is quite simple – it is atmospheric humidity. Currently, it is relatively high in Ukraine. When it reaches one hundred percent, it means that the air can no longer hold moisture in the form of vapor, leading to condensation into droplets, resulting in haze and fog that impair visibility. Fog was forecasted well in advance during the night and morning hours in the western regions. It is also observed in Poland. Therefore, there is no transboundary transfer of dust; it is a transfer of humid air and the formation of haze and fog, as stated by the Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center.

Why has air quality deteriorated in the capital?

The reason lies in the same synoptic conditions that led to the formation of haze in the Kyiv region.

“The air is pressed to the ground by high pressure from an anticyclone, causing small water droplets to accumulate, and there is almost no mixing of air near the surface. Consequently, any emissions in the city remain close to the ground and accumulate, primarily from transport emissions, which have locally increased nitrogen dioxide concentrations. This is clearly visible in the Sentinel satellite images,” the Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center notes.

Experts emphasize that these are standard seasonal processes when the fog season begins.