Algorithm of Assessment of the MODIS NDVI Long-Term Variations

Разработан алгоритм оценки долговременных вариаций характеристик растительного покрова, использующий значения вегетационного индекса NDVI спектрорадиометра MODIS спутников Terra и Aqua. Алгоритм содержит процедуры предварительной обработки данных – восстановление отсутствующих значений, сглаживание фильтром Савицкого-Голея. Для анализа территорий со снежным покровом определяется минимальная длина вегетационного периода для всей длины временного ряда. Полученные после удаления сезонной компоненты значения NDVI используются для построения линейной регрессии и определения тренда. В результате применения алгоритма создана карта пространственного распределения линейных трендов NDVI с 2000 по 2016 гг. для территории Западного Забайкалья. Представлены примеры визуальной верификации изменения растительного покрова с использованием спутниковых изображений сверхвысокого пространственного разрешенияAn algorithm was developed for assessment of long-term variations of vegetation characteristics. The algorithm use NDVI data from spectroradiometer MODIS of Terra and Aqua satellites. The algorithm includes pre-processing procedures – the restoration of missing values, smoothing using Savitsky-Golay filter. To analyze the areas with snow cover the minimum length of the growing season is determined for the full length of the time series. Obtained after removing the seasonal component NDVI values are used to construct a linear regression and determine the trend. As a result of applying the algorithm the map of the spatial distribution of NDVI linear trends was created from 2000 to 2016 for the West Transbaikalia. Examples of visual verification of vegetation cover changes using satellite images of ultra-high spatial resolution are presente

Impact of Snow on Vegetation Green-Up on the Mongolian Plateau

Snow serves as a crucial water source for vegetation growth on the Mongolian Plateau, and its temporal and spatial variations exert profound influences on terrestrial vegetation phenology. In recent years, global climate change has led to significant changes in snow and vegetation start of growing season (SOS). Therefore, it is necessary to study the mechanism of snow cover on vegetation growth and changes on the Mongolian Plateau. The study found that the spatial snow cover fraction (SCF) of the Mongolian Plateau ranged from 50% to 60%, and the snow melt date (SMD) ranged from day of the year (DOY) 88 to 220, mainly concentrated on the northwest Mongolian Plateau mountainous areas. Using different SOS methods to calculate the vegetation SOS distribution map. Vegetation SOS occurs earlier in the eastern part compared to the western part of the Mongolian Plateau. In this study, we assessed spatiotemporal distribution characteristics of snow on the Mongolian Plateau over the period from 2001 to 2023. The results showed that the SOS of the Mongolian Plateau was mainly concentrated on DOY 71-186. The Cox survival analysis model system established SCF and SMD on vegetation SOS. The SCF standard coefficient is 0.06, and the SMD standard coefficient is 0.02. The SOSNDVI coefficient is −0.15, and the SOSNDGI coefficient is −0.096. The results showed that the vegetation SOS process exhibited differential response characteristics to snow driving factors. These research results also highlight the important role of snow in vegetation phenology and emphasize the importance of incorporating the unique effects of vegetation SOS on the Mongolian Plateau

Environmental Conditions Of Zakamensk Town (Dzhida River Basin Hotspot)

Ecological problems of Zakamensk town are associated with sand deposits that were formed as a result of mining activities of former Dzhidinsky tungstenmolybdenum plant. Sands are accumulated in large quantities and they contain dangerous concentrations of heavy metals. Desertification in an urbanized area is manifested locally, but it differs from agricultural desertification by a profound and comprehensive destructive change in the components of the environment. Maps of soils, vegetation, types of lands, as well as ecological zoning maps of Zakamensk were created. The basis for the creation of electronic maps using GIS were stock, archive and own materials, topographic maps and remote sensing data. Urbanized desertification in Zakamensk is caused by chemical contamination of sandy eluvium, the spreading of pollutants by water flows and wind currents. Erosion occurs both in the form of flat flushing and linear erosion. The most intensive is gully erosion. Quantitative parameters of temporal variability of the erosive rainfall potential for the Zakamensk town are received. The quantitative characteristics of loads of pollutants on the territory of the town are determined on the basis of the erosion-deflation models. The calculations showed that 204 tons/ha of contaminated sand annually falls into the settlement area with water-erosion flows (Pb – 3.7 tons, W – 4.3 tons). Moreover, active wind activity led to the deposition of more metals (Pb – 5.6 tons, W – 6.5 tons) in the town.</jats:p

Environmental Conditions Of Zakamensk Town (Dzhida River Basin Hotspot)

Ecological problems of Zakamensk town are associated with sand deposits that were formed as a result of mining activities of former Dzhidinsky tungstenmolybdenum plant. Sands are accumulated in large quantities and they contain dangerous concentrations of heavy metals. Desertification in an urbanized area is manifested locally, but it differs from agricultural desertification by a profound and comprehensive destructive change in the components of the environment. Maps of soils, vegetation, types of lands, as well as ecological zoning maps of Zakamensk were created. The basis for the creation of electronic maps using GIS were stock, archive and own materials, topographic maps and remote sensing data. Urbanized desertification in Zakamensk is caused by chemical contamination of sandy eluvium, the spreading of pollutants by water flows and wind currents. Erosion occurs both in the form of flat flushing and linear erosion. The most intensive is gully erosion. Quantitative parameters of temporal variability of the erosive rainfall potential for the Zakamensk town are received. The quantitative characteristics of loads of pollutants on the territory of the town are determined on the basis of the erosion-deflation models. The calculations showed that 204 tons/ha of contaminated sand annually falls into the settlement area with water-erosion flows (Pb – 3.7 tons, W – 4.3 tons). Moreover, active wind activity led to the deposition of more metals (Pb – 5.6 tons, W – 6.5 tons) in the town

Impact of High Water Levels in Lake Baikal on Rare Plant Species in the Coastal Zone

This paper presents an assessment of potential losses and damage costs to rare coastal plant species of Lake Baikal (UNESCO World Heritage Site) as a result of inundation at high water levels. The lake’s ecosystem is characterized by an exceptional diversity of rare and endemic animal and plant species. The construction of a hydroelectric power plant caused an increase in the water level of Lake Baikal, resulting in the inundation of low-lying coastal areas, the destruction of the coastline, alterations to the hydrological regime, etc. However, there are practically no works devoted to water-level modeling and the assessment of its impact on riparian vegetation, including rare species. We conducted fieldwork to determine the abundance of four vulnerable species and identified inundation zones at different high water levels on the basis of digital elevation models based on aerial photography data. The analysis revealed that at the maximum level of inundation, the number of plant species affected would total 5164, amounting to a financial loss of biodiversity estimated at 3098.4 thousand rubles. To mitigate the projected losses, it is imperative to implement measures that restrict water-level fluctuations above the 457.00 m threshold. The absence of flora as an object of state environmental monitoring, which is not specified in the regulatory legal document, must be rectified in a timely manner

Atlas of Sustainable Development of North Asia in the context of the project “One Belt, One Road”

The article presents the project of creating the Atlas of Sustainable Development of North Asia as a fundamental cartographic work that provides integrated mapping of the territory to increase the efficiency of socio-economic development processes and the region’s competitiveness in the global economic system. The main geopolitical aspect of the Atlas is a reflection of the China’s “One Belt, One Road” initiative. A system of territorial-administrative levels and a large-scale series for mapping the natural, social and economic processes of the studied territory, including state, administrative, municipal and local spatial levels, have been developed. The technological basis of the Atlas is the problem-oriented GIS of sustainable development of North Asia. The spatial base of the GIS is the topographic base on a scale of 1 : 1 000 000, created on the basis of digital and analog materials of Roscartography, cartographic services of Mongolia and China. The thematic basis of GIS and Atlas maps is the vector layer “territorial-administrative division of North Asia”. The informational basis of GIS is the Bank of socio-economic data, which includes databases on economics, demography and agriculture. Databases are formed on the basis of state statistics of the three countries according to the developed system of unified indicators of natural, social and economic dynamics. The GIS telecommunication module is a cartographic service on the open “Geonode” platform, through which access to GIS materials is organized. The structure of the Atlas is proposed from 7 blocks — introductory and 6 thematic: the natural conditions of sustainable development; resource factors of sustainable development; socio-economic factors of sustainable development; environmental transformation; medical and environmental situation; environmental protection.</jats:p

Comparative Analysis: Resource Consumption and Environmental Pollution by Subsoil Users in Northern Asia (Russia)

This article examines resource use issues and the anthropogenic impact on the environment of companies operating in the mineral resource sector of northern Asian regions. The research aims to comprehensively analyze resource consumption and environmental intensity indicators for leading companies in mineral extraction. A set of indicators reflecting the necessary parameters for mineral resource consumption and pollution intensity due to their production activities is constructed based on quantitative and cost indicators. A pollution intensity assessment is carried out based on environmental intensity indicators. The sectoral and corporate-level indicators are of the most interest in industrial production. The study identified seven critical northern Asian companies that play a decisive role in the mining industry, which were examples for analyzing material resource consumption and production greening pace. Reducing resource use and environmental impact is a crucial task for sustainable development. This study emphasizes the importance of evaluating resource consumption and environmental impact for companies in the mineral resource sector, providing valuable insights for companies, government bodies, and international organizations working towards the region&rsquo;s sustainable development and efficient resource management

Icings in the Selenga River basin

In this study, we present a GIS dataset and map of icings formed in the transboundary Selenga River basin (largest tributary of the Lake Baikal). The GIS dataset of icings is compiled using Landsat and Sentinel-2 satellite images, as well as materials from the field expedition studies. It contains 29,054 individual icings with a total area of 1154.2 km2 (0.25% of the entire basin area), including at least 56 giant icings with an area ≥ 1 km2. Icings are widespread throughout the basin, but the highest icing coverage is found on the northern slopes of Hangayn ridge in the southeastern part of the basin, where most of the giant icings are located. The highest density of icings (more than 200 per km2) is found in the eastern part of the basin. Since icings can indicate climate-driven changes in streamflow and permafrost, the presented dataset will form the basis for future studies of these transformations

Algorithm of Assessment of the MODIS NDVI Long-Term Variations

Разработан алгоритм оценки долговременных вариаций характеристик растительного покрова, использующий значения вегетационного индекса NDVI спектрорадиометра MODIS спутников Terra и Aqua. Алгоритм содержит процедуры предварительной обработки данных – восстановление отсутствующих значений, сглаживание фильтром Савицкого-Голея. Для анализа территорий со снежным покровом определяется минимальная длина вегетационного периода для всей длины временного ряда. Полученные после удаления сезонной компоненты значения NDVI используются для построения линейной регрессии и определения тренда. В результате применения алгоритма создана карта пространственного распределения линейных трендов NDVI с 2000 по 2016 гг. для территории Западного Забайкалья. Представлены примеры визуальной верификации изменения растительного покрова с использованием спутниковых изображений сверхвысокого пространственного разрешенияAn algorithm was developed for assessment of long-term variations of vegetation characteristics. The algorithm use NDVI data from spectroradiometer MODIS of Terra and Aqua satellites. The algorithm includes pre-processing procedures – the restoration of missing values, smoothing using Savitsky-Golay filter. To analyze the areas with snow cover the minimum length of the growing season is determined for the full length of the time series. Obtained after removing the seasonal component NDVI values are used to construct a linear regression and determine the trend. As a result of applying the algorithm the map of the spatial distribution of NDVI linear trends was created from 2000 to 2016 for the West Transbaikalia. Examples of visual verification of vegetation cover changes using satellite images of ultra-high spatial resolution are presente