Analysis of Vegetation Coverage Evolution and Degradation under Coal Mine Construction in Permafrost Region

The ecological environment in permafrost regions is very sensitive to climate change and human activities. The effects of coal mining on the vegetation in permafrost regions have been poorly studied. Herein, on the basis of a field survey in the Juhugen mining area of Qilian Mountain, China, we investigated and quantified the influence of open-pit coal mining on vegetation coverage degradation in permafrost areas. According to the NDVI and field survey, the vegetation coverage was divided into five levels from low to high in the Arc GIS platform. Compared with the area not affected by coal mining, vegetation degradation was significant in the coal-mining-affected area, especially in the high-vegetation-coverage area. The vegetation coverage in Level 5 decreased from 51.99% to 21.35%. According to the conversion matrix, the transfer-out area in high coverage was larger, while the transfer-in area in low vegetation coverage was larger. The transfer-out area of five levels was significant in levels 2-5, accounting for 36.1% to 62.8% of the total area. The transfer-in area of five levels was significant in levels 1-4, accounting for 55.2% to 75.0% of the total area. Moreover, the ground surface temperature and water change were monitored in the vegetation degradation area. The results showed that the above degradation was related to an increase in the ground surface temperature and a decrease in the ground surface moisture.

Automated summary

In this study, we investigated the influence of open-pit coal mining on vegetation coverage degradation in permafrost areas based on a field survey in the Juhugen mining area of Qilian Mountain, China. The results showed significant vegetation degradation in the coal-mining-affected area, especially in areas with high vegetation coverage.