Environmental Management and Landscape Transformation on Self-Heating Coal-Waste Dumps in the Upper Silesian Coal Basin

Coal-waste dumps are an integral part of the environment and shape the landscape of coal basins. This study aimed to present an analysis of environmental changes in terms of land use and changes in vegetation on self-heating coal-waste dumps of different ages. Spatial and temporal analyses of land r...

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Main Authors: Anna Abramowicz, Oimahmad Rahmonov, Ryszard Chybiorz
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2020-12-01
Series:Land
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/10/1/23
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author Anna Abramowicz
Oimahmad Rahmonov
Ryszard Chybiorz
author_facet Anna Abramowicz
Oimahmad Rahmonov
Ryszard Chybiorz
author_sort Anna Abramowicz
collection DOAJ
description Coal-waste dumps are an integral part of the environment and shape the landscape of coal basins. This study aimed to present an analysis of environmental changes in terms of land use and changes in vegetation on self-heating coal-waste dumps of different ages. Spatial and temporal analyses of land relief and land cover in the area of the investigated coal-waste dumps were performed. The investigated areas differed in size, shape, management, and land cover. Thermally active zones were identified. The results showed that the species composition of the flora is diverse, but representatives of the Asteraceae family dominate on both dumps. The diversity of flora in the investigated dumps depends on the presence of mosaic- and microhabitats (often of an extreme nature) and the nature of the vegetation in the surroundings, which is manifested by the participation of socioecological groups of flora. The pace and dynamics of succession on burning coal-waste dumps depends on the stage of the fire, the topography, and the nature of the substrate. The investigated changes in the elements of the environment are important from the point of view of application research and monitoring of postindustrial areas, which may allow for the optimal management of postmining dumps.
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spelling doaj.art-efe8f8e0485c4a9b9950bde19d99a0342023-11-21T03:01:56ZengMDPI AGLand2073-445X2020-12-011012310.3390/land10010023Environmental Management and Landscape Transformation on Self-Heating Coal-Waste Dumps in the Upper Silesian Coal BasinAnna Abramowicz0Oimahmad Rahmonov1Ryszard Chybiorz2Institute of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Silesia, Będzińska 60, 41-200 Sosnowiec, PolandInstitute of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Silesia, Będzińska 60, 41-200 Sosnowiec, PolandInstitute of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Silesia, Będzińska 60, 41-200 Sosnowiec, PolandCoal-waste dumps are an integral part of the environment and shape the landscape of coal basins. This study aimed to present an analysis of environmental changes in terms of land use and changes in vegetation on self-heating coal-waste dumps of different ages. Spatial and temporal analyses of land relief and land cover in the area of the investigated coal-waste dumps were performed. The investigated areas differed in size, shape, management, and land cover. Thermally active zones were identified. The results showed that the species composition of the flora is diverse, but representatives of the Asteraceae family dominate on both dumps. The diversity of flora in the investigated dumps depends on the presence of mosaic- and microhabitats (often of an extreme nature) and the nature of the vegetation in the surroundings, which is manifested by the participation of socioecological groups of flora. The pace and dynamics of succession on burning coal-waste dumps depends on the stage of the fire, the topography, and the nature of the substrate. The investigated changes in the elements of the environment are important from the point of view of application research and monitoring of postindustrial areas, which may allow for the optimal management of postmining dumps.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/10/1/23coal-waste dumppostindustrial landscapepostmining land usevegetation changeUpper Silesian Coal Basin
spellingShingle Anna Abramowicz
Oimahmad Rahmonov
Ryszard Chybiorz
Environmental Management and Landscape Transformation on Self-Heating Coal-Waste Dumps in the Upper Silesian Coal Basin
Land
coal-waste dump
postindustrial landscape
postmining land use
vegetation change
Upper Silesian Coal Basin
title Environmental Management and Landscape Transformation on Self-Heating Coal-Waste Dumps in the Upper Silesian Coal Basin
title_full Environmental Management and Landscape Transformation on Self-Heating Coal-Waste Dumps in the Upper Silesian Coal Basin
title_fullStr Environmental Management and Landscape Transformation on Self-Heating Coal-Waste Dumps in the Upper Silesian Coal Basin
title_full_unstemmed Environmental Management and Landscape Transformation on Self-Heating Coal-Waste Dumps in the Upper Silesian Coal Basin
title_short Environmental Management and Landscape Transformation on Self-Heating Coal-Waste Dumps in the Upper Silesian Coal Basin
title_sort environmental management and landscape transformation on self heating coal waste dumps in the upper silesian coal basin
topic coal-waste dump
postindustrial landscape
postmining land use
vegetation change
Upper Silesian Coal Basin
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/10/1/23
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AT oimahmadrahmonov environmentalmanagementandlandscapetransformationonselfheatingcoalwastedumpsintheuppersilesiancoalbasin
AT ryszardchybiorz environmentalmanagementandlandscapetransformationonselfheatingcoalwastedumpsintheuppersilesiancoalbasin