A geospatial assessment of bio-thermal influence around Çatalagzı power plant region

Abstract

Combustion of coal in thermal power plants poses significant threat to surrounding ecology, by the release of harmful effluents. This study assesses the bio-thermal impact of emissions from Catalagzı Thermal Power Plant Region (CTPPR). A geospatial analytical framework has been modeled, utilizing satellite-based bio and thermal indicators. Average hazardous bio and thermal influence zones around CTPPR have been found to be 1465 m and 1380 m, respectively. Bio-influence zone extent depends upon a combination of meteorological factors, whereas, the bio-hazard severity depends mainly on atmospheric temperature. Thermal influence extent is inversely related to seasonal temperature, whereas corresponding severity depends upon local heat sinks as well. Collectively, hazardous bio-thermal influence in the surroundings of CTPPR shows spatial constancy over long term. The study concludes usefulness of satellite-based economical alternatives for monitoring area under stress around CTPPR for sustainable environmental management of ecological landscapes, needed to improve the human-environment nexus.

Highlights

• Investigation of Thermal Power Plant (T P P) as source of environmental pollution

• Dynamic geospatial bio-monitoring of vegetation using satellite-based VIs is done

• Geospatial analysis reveals details of zones of hazardous bio-influence around T P Ps.

• Identified factors determining extent and severity of hazard by T P P emissions.

• Effectiveness of geospatial technology for ecological assessment is demonstrated

Keywords:

• Hazardous emissions
• satellite-based indicators
• geospatial proximity
• environmental management
• thermal power plants

Data availability statement

The datasets generated and/or analyzed during the current study are available from USGS Earth Explorer Website: https://earthexplorer.usgs.gov/.

Disclosure statement

The authors report there are no competing interests to declare.