A Novel Landsat-Derived Multispectral Index for Coal Dust Detection: Spatiotemporal Dispersion Patterns and Natural Driving Forces

Coal dust pollution, a major byproduct of mining, poses significant environmental and health risks. However, the temporal diffusion and spatial extent of coal dust remain unclear, complicating ecological restoration efforts and intensifying conflicts between mining and human settlements. This study...

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Main Authors: Xiaoxiao Yan, Jing Li, Yang Shao, Kewen Wang, Xingguang Yan, Jorg Benndorf
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: IEEE 2025-01-01
Series:IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Applied Earth Observations and Remote Sensing
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Online Access:https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10989583/
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author Xiaoxiao Yan
Jing Li
Yang Shao
Kewen Wang
Xingguang Yan
Jorg Benndorf
author_facet Xiaoxiao Yan
Jing Li
Yang Shao
Kewen Wang
Xingguang Yan
Jorg Benndorf
author_sort Xiaoxiao Yan
collection DOAJ
description Coal dust pollution, a major byproduct of mining, poses significant environmental and health risks. However, the temporal diffusion and spatial extent of coal dust remain unclear, complicating ecological restoration efforts and intensifying conflicts between mining and human settlements. This study develops a mining-environment coal dust index (MECDI) using Landsat imagery (1989–2022) to monitor coal dust in the Baorixile coalfield, Inner Mongolia, enhancing detection accuracy. Fluent simulations analyzed the influence of meteorological and topographic factors on dust dispersion. Results indicate that coal dust spreads beyond the mining zones, with significant reductions since 2019 due to control measures. In open-pit mines, coal dust follows a “right-skewed” patterns over time. In the underground mine area, dust diffusion increased until 2017, then stabilized, following a logistic curve in “S” shape. The highest dust concentrations were within 800 m of the mining area and along transportation routes. Coal dust accumulation is more affected by slope degree than aspect, with lower slopes more prone to dust buildup. High wind speeds and greater pressure differences facilitate dust dispersion, while low wind speeds and circulation patterns contribute to dust accumulation at the pit bottom. The proposed MECDI index introduces an innovative and scalable metric for coal dust pollution monitoring, enabling more precise assessments and informed mitigation strategies that support sustainable mining and regional environmental governance.
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institution Kabale University
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publishDate 2025-01-01
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series IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Applied Earth Observations and Remote Sensing
spelling doaj-art-9770b73eaa4a482095c7c2d96ac6dd4c2025-08-20T03:31:55ZengIEEEIEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Applied Earth Observations and Remote Sensing1939-14042151-15352025-01-0118151981520810.1109/JSTARS.2025.356746710989583A Novel Landsat-Derived Multispectral Index for Coal Dust Detection: Spatiotemporal Dispersion Patterns and Natural Driving ForcesXiaoxiao Yan0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0850-8963Jing Li1https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8095-0425Yang Shao2https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8808-7144Kewen Wang3Xingguang Yan4Jorg Benndorf5School of Geosciences & Surveying Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology-Beijing, Beijing, People’s Republic of ChinaSchool of Geosciences & Surveying Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology-Beijing, Beijing, People’s Republic of ChinaDepartment of Geography, College of Natural Resources and Environment, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USASchool of Geosciences & Surveying Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology-Beijing, Beijing, People’s Republic of ChinaSchool of Geosciences & Surveying Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology-Beijing, Beijing, People’s Republic of ChinaInstitute for Mine Surveying and Geodesy, Freiberg University of Technology, Freiberg, GermanyCoal dust pollution, a major byproduct of mining, poses significant environmental and health risks. However, the temporal diffusion and spatial extent of coal dust remain unclear, complicating ecological restoration efforts and intensifying conflicts between mining and human settlements. This study develops a mining-environment coal dust index (MECDI) using Landsat imagery (1989–2022) to monitor coal dust in the Baorixile coalfield, Inner Mongolia, enhancing detection accuracy. Fluent simulations analyzed the influence of meteorological and topographic factors on dust dispersion. Results indicate that coal dust spreads beyond the mining zones, with significant reductions since 2019 due to control measures. In open-pit mines, coal dust follows a “right-skewed” patterns over time. In the underground mine area, dust diffusion increased until 2017, then stabilized, following a logistic curve in “S” shape. The highest dust concentrations were within 800 m of the mining area and along transportation routes. Coal dust accumulation is more affected by slope degree than aspect, with lower slopes more prone to dust buildup. High wind speeds and greater pressure differences facilitate dust dispersion, while low wind speeds and circulation patterns contribute to dust accumulation at the pit bottom. The proposed MECDI index introduces an innovative and scalable metric for coal dust pollution monitoring, enabling more precise assessments and informed mitigation strategies that support sustainable mining and regional environmental governance.https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10989583/Coal dust pollutiondispersion patternsfluent simulationlandsat imagerymining-environment coal dust index (MECDI)meteorological and topographic factors
spellingShingle Xiaoxiao Yan
Jing Li
Yang Shao
Kewen Wang
Xingguang Yan
Jorg Benndorf
A Novel Landsat-Derived Multispectral Index for Coal Dust Detection: Spatiotemporal Dispersion Patterns and Natural Driving Forces
IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Applied Earth Observations and Remote Sensing
Coal dust pollution
dispersion patterns
fluent simulation
landsat imagery
mining-environment coal dust index (MECDI)
meteorological and topographic factors
title A Novel Landsat-Derived Multispectral Index for Coal Dust Detection: Spatiotemporal Dispersion Patterns and Natural Driving Forces
title_full A Novel Landsat-Derived Multispectral Index for Coal Dust Detection: Spatiotemporal Dispersion Patterns and Natural Driving Forces
title_fullStr A Novel Landsat-Derived Multispectral Index for Coal Dust Detection: Spatiotemporal Dispersion Patterns and Natural Driving Forces
title_full_unstemmed A Novel Landsat-Derived Multispectral Index for Coal Dust Detection: Spatiotemporal Dispersion Patterns and Natural Driving Forces
title_short A Novel Landsat-Derived Multispectral Index for Coal Dust Detection: Spatiotemporal Dispersion Patterns and Natural Driving Forces
title_sort novel landsat derived multispectral index for coal dust detection spatiotemporal dispersion patterns and natural driving forces
topic Coal dust pollution
dispersion patterns
fluent simulation
landsat imagery
mining-environment coal dust index (MECDI)
meteorological and topographic factors
url https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10989583/
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