Effects of coal mining and climate-environment factors on the evolution of a typical Eurasian grassland

Lijing Fang; Ruizhong Gao; Xixi Wang; Xu Zhang; Yinlong Wang; Tingxi Liu

doi:10.1016/j.envres.2023.117957

Effects of coal mining and climate-environment factors on the evolution of a typical Eurasian grassland

Environ Res. 2024 Mar 1:244:117957. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.117957. Epub 2023 Dec 20.

Authors

Lijing Fang¹, Ruizhong Gao², Xixi Wang³, Xu Zhang¹, Yinlong Wang¹, Tingxi Liu¹

Affiliations

¹ College of Water Conservancy and Civil Engineering, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, 010018, China.
² College of Water Conservancy and Civil Engineering, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, 010018, China. Electronic address: ruizhonggao@imau.edu.cn.
³ Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, 23529, USA.

PMID: 38128603
DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.117957

Abstract

Coal mining can significantly impact vegetation evolution, yet the limited information on its patterns and driving factors hampers efforts to mitigate these effects and reclaim abandoned mines. This study aimed to 1) examine vegetation evolution in a semiarid steppe watershed in northeast China; and 2) characterize the driving factors behind this evolution. We analyzed the impact of twelve selected driving factors on fractional vegetation coverage (FVC) from 2000 to 2021 using a dimidiate pixel model, Sen's slope analysis, Mann-Kendall trend test, coefficient of variation analysis, and Geodetector model. At a significance level of α = 0.05, our findings revealed a south-to-north decline pattern in FVC, a significant decrease trend in proximity to coal mines, and a notable increase trend adjacent to river channels. Approximately 37% of the watershed exhibited low FVC, while the overall temporal trend across the watershed was deemed insignificant. Areas surrounding the mines experienced a substantial reduction in FVC due to coal mining activities, while FVC variations across the watershed were linked to precipitation, temperature, and soil type. FVC predictions improved notably when interactions between multiple two-way factors were considered. Each driving factors displayed an optimal range (e.g., precipitation = 63-71 mm) for maximizing FVC. Given the study watershed's status as a national energy base, understanding vegetation responses to coal mining and climate-environment changes is crucial for sustaining fragile terrestrial ecosystems and socioeconomic development. Achieving a long-time balance between coal extraction and ecological protection is essential. The study outcomes hold significant promise for advancing ecological conservation, vegetation restoration, and mitigation of environmental degradation in semiarid regions affected by extensive coal mining and climate fluctuations. These findings contribute to the strategic management of such areas, promoting sustainable practices amidst evolving environmental challenges.

Keywords: Driving factor; FVC; Fractional vegetation cover; Geographic detector; Mann-Kendall; Trend analysis.

MeSH terms

China
Coal
Coal Mining*
Ecosystem
Grassland
Temperature

Substances

Coal