Abstract
Long-term surface mining and land cover and use changes have been evidenced to have a critical relationship. This study conducts trend and correlation analysis by statistical tools to quantitatively evaluate this relationship in the Ptolemais (Northern Greece) coal mining area for the period 1990-2018. Firstly, based on Corine data and satellite images, a relative spatial indicator (RSI) was adopted to describe the mineral land areas. Secondly, land cover and use changes were spatially defined using Corine data and ArcGIS tools. The active mining area was then distinguished by dumping area, using Landsat satellite imagery and mining maps, and finally, mine operation parameters were statistically analyzed. The study revealed that “mineral extraction sites” present a strong correlation with “non irrigated arable land” and “transitional woodland”. The results have shown that between 1990 and 2018 the total forest area was increased by three times, mainly as a result of the dumping sites geometry. Additionally, the mine operation parameters are well correlated with the active mining area.
Highlights
Landscape changes are directly correlated with land use changes and the human factor to a certain extent [1,2]
Land cover and use changes should be reviewed, in order to investigate the relationship between landscape changes and mining, supporting land management and ecological reconstruction
The “1st period” of 1990e2000 is characterized by the rapid increase of rock excavation and lignite production rates and, as a consequence, the majority of the changes regard the transition from other uses to “Mineral Extraction Sites” (Fig. 7a)
Summary
Landscape changes are directly correlated with land use changes and the human factor to a certain extent [1,2]. Especially continuous surface mining has a significant effect on the landscape, during the active mineral extraction period and during post-mining operations. It causes irreversible changes in the environment and raises the most disputes than any other industry [5e7]. Modern surface mining techniques that include heavy equipment can produce dramatic alterations in land cover, both ecologically and hydrologically [8,9]. These alterations are a result of the land transformation induced by the mining excavations and dumps.
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