Methodological approach to characterizing pollution of natural water bodies using satellite data with account of aggregation of finely dispersed mineral processing waste

The level of the environmental impact of the mining industry specifies the urgency of ecological management of the natural resources based on the satellite monitoring data. The high content of the suspended mineral particles in the industrial waters and the requirement to reduce their access to the natural water reservoirs determine the need to characterize the mininginduced pollution that can be carried out correctly with due account of the aggregate stability of dispersions. In spite of the theoretical concepts, prediction of the particles aggregation is limited by a lack of data on their interaction parameters. In order to parametrize the interactions in the mineral-water-mineral system it is proposed to use experimental data on aggregation of finely dispersed particles, obtained by the laser diffraction method in the equilibrium conditions. For this purpose the procedure of the experimental appraisal of the effective Hamaker constants has been elaborated using ores of developed deposits of the Kola mining complex as an example. The authors have studied the conditions of the surface layer of natural water reservoirs in the most industrially developed central part of the Murmansk region and defined characteristics of pollution with finely dispersed by-products of the mineral raw material treatment, according to the satellite observation data of the spatial distribution of the normalized difference turbidity index. The authors have established that the least propagation of the pollution into the natural water reservoirs is observed in the case of the apatite-nepheline ores processing by-products, which is explained by the effective aggregation of the finely dispersed nepheline particles. The proposed approach to apply data on mineral particles aggregation for interpretation of the satellite observations does not require carrying out in-situ observations and makes it possible to identify the mining-induced pollution of natural water reservoirs in industrial territories using suspended particles.

Estimating recent forest losses in Bosnia and Herzegovina by using the Copernicus and Corine land cover databases

The analysis of data from the first two decades of the 21st century shows that the area under forests in Bosnia and Herzegovina is gradually decreasing. In order to gain a detailed insight into this process, the paper will analyse the forest databases of the European satellite monitoring program Copernicus. This program, among other things, monitors the condition of forests in 39 European countries by using the High Resolution Layer (HRL). The HRL Forests database consists of 3 types of (status) products, and additional change products. The status products are available for the reference years 2012, 2015, and 2018. The status layers provide information on the Dominant Leaf Type and the Tree Cover Density at pixel level for the reference year 2018 in 10 m resolution. The Forest Type layer largely follows the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) forest definition. Also, the paper will use the data on forests from the CORINE Land Cover project for 2000, 2006, 2012 and 2018. The time-series includes a land change layer, highlighting changes in land cover and land use. The CLC Changes database will be analysed separately for three periods: 2000-2006, 2006-2012 and 2012-2018, due to more accurate data on forest losses. The results of the research show that forests in Bosnia and Herzegovina were reduced by 2.95%, in the period 2012-2018, where 2.55% of them were coniferous. Forests are primarily endangered by the process of conversion to transitional forest / shrub and fires.

Analysis of air pollution in Primorsky Krai in 2019-2020 according to GMAO/NASA satellite monitoring

The results of modeling variations in atmospheric pollutants over Primorsky Krai in 2019 and 2020 based on GMAO/NASA satellite monitoring data are analyzed. It is shown that average annual concentrations of pollutants in 2020 decreased as compared to 2019: by 20–35% for sulfur dioxide; by 5–20% for sulfates; by 8–20% for carbon monoxide; by 25–40 % for particulate matter PM (1, 2.5, and 10 μm). One of the reasons for the air pollution decline in Primorsky Krai in 2020 is the reduction of anthropogenic load in the context of a decrease in industrial activity and traffic flows both in Primorye and in the adjacent areas of China. Episodes of high pollution in 2019 were formed under influence of the transboundary transport of polluted air masses. Keywords: air pollution, aerosol and chemical elements, transboundary transport, satellite monitoring, Primorsky Krai

River ice phenology and thickness from satellite altimetry: potential for ice bridge road operation and climate studies

River ice is a key component of the cryosphere. Satellite monitoring of river ice is a rapidly developing area of scientific enquiry, which has wide-ranging implications for climate, environmental and socioeconomic applications. Spaceborne radar altimetry is widely used for monitoring river water regimes; however, its potential for the observation of river ice processes and properties has not been demonstrated yet. Using Ku-band backscatter measurements from the Jason-2 and Jason-3 satellite missions (2008–2019), we demonstrate the potential of radar altimetry for the retrieval of river ice phenology dates and ice thickness for the first time. The altimetric measurements were determined to be sensitive enough to detect the first appearance of ice and the beginning of thermal breakup on the lower Ob River (Western Siberia). The uncertainties in the retrieval of ice event timing were within the 10 d repeat cycle of Jason-2 and Jason-3 in 88 %–90 % of the cases analysed. The uncertainties in the river ice thickness retrievals made via empirical relations between the satellite backscatter measurements and in situ observations, expressed as the root mean square error (RMSE), were of 0.07–0.18 m. A novel application of radar altimetry is the prediction of ice bridge road operations, which is demonstrated herein. We established that the dates of ferry closing and ice road opening and closing in the city of Salekhard can be predicted with an accuracy (expressed as RMSE) of 3–5 d.

Research of tools for monitoring changes in natural and anthropogenic-transformed ecosystems

Decarbonization issues are one of the main strategic directions of modern environmental development today. New technologies of agricultural use of soils are used to fix carbon in the soil in the form of humus, which ultimately helps to reduce the greenhouse effect and actively affects the amount of carbon entering the atmosphere. The use of open data of remote sensing of the Earth from space (further - RSE) together with the data of satellite monitoring of the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) can allow us to obtain new methods of carbonation analysis. In this paper, we consider the possibilities of such use of standard NDVI data together with a more accurate definition of specific boundaries of agricultural fields in order to increase the accuracy of research results. This article shows the results of processing data and images obtained using open crop monitoring data. The proposed technology is proposed by us as an additional tool for monitoring changes in the ecosystems of the regions.

Possibility of using satellite-based monitoring for large-scale mapping and research of dynamics of mud volcanic landscapes

Currently Earth remote probing to study vegetation dynamics and monitor volcanic activity is of great scientific interest. The purpose of this study is to create a large-scale outline map of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk mud volcano which will include the topography objects, mud fields of eruptions of various years and gryphons, and to perform semi-automatic classification of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk mud volcano. Work was performed with QGIS software using the following modules: «QuickMapServices», «Freehandrastergeoreference», «LatLanTools», and «Semi-AutomaticClassificationPlugin». We developed an outline map of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk mud volcano on a scale of 1:10000, which shows how the mud flows have changed directions over the last 70 years, as well as mud fields have been formed over the last 20 years. Using semi-automatic classification of satellite images from Sentinel-2A satellite in various color channel sets, we obtained two premaps of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk mud volcano vegetation on a scale of 1:50 000. Satellite monitoring of YuSMV activity allows us to track the eruptive activity of the volcano, and assess its impact on vegetation.

Cetacean Strandings From Space: Challenges and Opportunities of Very High Resolution Satellites for the Remote Monitoring of Cetacean Mass Strandings

The study of cetacean strandings was globally recognised as a priority topic at the 2019 World Marine Mammal Conference, in recognition of its importance for understanding the threats to cetacean communities and, more broadly, the threats to ecosystem and human health. Rising multifaceted anthropogenic and environmental threats across the globe, as well as whale population recovery from exploitation in some areas, are likely to coincide with an increase in reported strandings. However, the current methods to monitor strandings are inherently biased towards populated coastlines, highlighting the need for additional surveying tools in remote regions. Very High Resolution (VHR) satellite imagery offers the prospect of upscaling monitoring of mass strandings in minimally populated/unpopulated and inaccessible areas, over broad spatial and temporal scales, supporting and informing intervention on the ground, and can be used to retrospectively analyse historical stranding events. Here we (1) compile global strandings information to identify the current data gaps; (2) discuss the opportunities and challenges of using VHR satellite imagery to monitor strandings using the case study of the largest known baleen whale mass stranding event (3) consider where satellites hold the greatest potential for monitoring strandings remotely and; (4) outline a roadmap for satellite monitoring. To utilise this platform to monitor mass strandings over global scales, considerable technical, practical and environmental challenges need to be addressed and there needs to be inclusivity in opportunity from the onset, through knowledge sharing and equality of access to imagery.