oa Geographical Analysis of Thermals (Upward Air Flows) Using Radar Data and in Connection with the Development of Air Tourism

The geographical shell, the general object of geographical science, is characterized by fundamental laws of its functioning. One of the basic laws is determined by the cycles in it, which are carried out at the material, energy, information and other levels. The water cycle is one of them, allowing life to exist on our planet. Thanks to the emergence of radar technology, water cycles have been studied using direct methods. One of the most interesting and important objects for this purpose is the ascending air currents or thermals. Thermals can be observed and studied through their visualization on radar monitors in the form of specific lights or “angel echoes” (AE). Radars are improving, becoming cheaper, more accessible, and portable, which creates opportunities for their widespread use not only in traditional areas (maritime border protection, shipping, aviation, and traffic control) but also in scientific research, in particular to test hypotheses about the places of possible separation of water vapor from the earth and water surfaces, which are established based on the results of geographical analysis of territories, using AE. The upward air flows also form the upward branch of the water cycle. Research conducted with the help of special equipment can now be complemented by the development of new civilian areas where geographic information is used. These include aerial sports (parachuting, hang gliding) and tourism (ballooning), which take place in the air environment of the geographic shell. They require not only courage and a certain level of physical fitness, but also knowledge of the laws of the geographic envelope and the nature of thermals. This allows us to detect upward air flows and accumulate valuable scientific information about the natural environment.