Recovery Dynamics of Mining-Altered Natural Ecosystems by Satellite Data
S. P. Ostapenko, S. P. Mesyats
Mining Institute, Kola Science Center, Russian Academy of Sciences, Apatity, 184209 Russia
Keywords: Apatite-bearing ore, processing waste stockpiles, damaged natural ecosystems, surrounding natural landscape phytocenosis, recovery dynamics, satellite observation data, vegetation index, underlying terrain temperature, pan sharpening
Abstract
The authors have developed a procedure for estimating recovery dynamics of natural ecosystems damaged by mineral mining using the satellite observation data. The procedure uses the vegetation index of phytocenosis and the temperature of underlying terrain. The case-study of apatite-bearing ore processing waste revealed the time series of the vegetation index and the underlying terrain temperature of the incipient phytocenosis as compared with the phytocenosis of the surrounding natural landscape. It is found that the recovery of the natural ecosystems by generation of a biologically active medium activate the test factors to reach the values of phytocenosis of the surrounding natural landscape. The justification is provided for usability of the retrospective earth remote sensing data on ground surface in the objective estimation of recovery dynamics of natural ecosystems damaged by mineral mining in the Arctic conditions without undertaking land exploration.
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