Work

Spatio-temporal assessment of mining-induced environmental changes using remote sensing: a case study of the Talcher Coalfield, Angul District, India

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: This study evaluates the spatio-temporal impacts of coal mining on environmental conditions in the Talcher coalfield region, India, using multi-temporal Landsat data (2000, 2014, and 2023) at 30 m resolution. Land use land cover (LULC) was derived using supervised classification (Maximum Likelihood Algorithm), while vegetation dynamics and thermal characteristics were assessed using the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Land Surface Temperature (LST). In addition, atmospheric column densities were incorporated to analyze key atmospheric pollutants SO₂, NO₂, and CO and to assess air quality variations associated with mining activities. The integrated assessment highlights substantial environmental changes associated with mining and land-use transformation. The LULC analysis (2000–2023) reveals a decline in forest cover (41.33% to 37.37%) and agricultural land (45.62% to 45.04%), accompanied by an increase in built-up areas (6.84% to 8.54%) and mining areas (2.12% to 4.94%), indicating intensified anthropogenic pressure. LST and NDVI analyses (2014–2023) show changes in surface thermal conditions and vegetation characteristics. LST results indicate higher maximum and mean temperatures in mining and built-up areas, with changes between 2014 and 2023 varying among land-use classes, with mining areas showing the highest thermal values, where mean summer LST increased from 42.97 °C (2014) to 46.28 °C (2023), and mean winter LST increased from 38.67 °C to 41.81 °C. NDVI analysis indicates a decline in maximum NDVI values over the study period. The results show a spatial association between LULC changes, NDVI, and LST, with areas of mining and built-up expansion generally corresponding to lower NDVI and higher surface temperatures. Analysis of satellite-derived atmospheric column densities indicates higher SO₂, NO₂, and CO values in mining and industrial regions, with higher values observed during winter.

Source: Scientific Reports

DOI: 10.1038/s41598-026-74815-7

Authors: Sk Riyajul Islam, Shilpa Pakhira, Abhilash Gogineni, Regasa Yadeta Sembeta

Institutions: Central University of Karnataka, Indian Institute of Science Bangalore, Graphic Era University, Mattu University

Language: English

Topic: Remote Sensing and Land Use

Subfield: Geography, Planning and Development

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Climate action, Life on land

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,690