Multi-sensor remote sensing analysis of coal fire induced land subsidence in Jharia Coalfields, Jharkhand, India

The subsidence in coal mines induced by surface and subsurface fires leading to roof collapse, infrastructure loss, and loss of lives is a prominent concern. In the study, satellite imagery from thermal and microwave remote sensing data is used to deduce the effect of coal fires on subsidence in the Jharia Coalfields, India. The Thermal Infrared data acquired from the Landsat-8 (band 10) is used to derive the temperature anomaly maps. Persistent Scatterer Interferometry analysis was performed on sixty Sentinel-1, C-band images, the results are corrected for atmospheric error using Generic Atmospheric Correction Online Service for InSAR (GACOS) atmospheric modelling data and decomposed into vertical displacement values to quantify subsidence. A zone-wise analysis of the hazard patterns in the coalfields was carried out. Coal fire maps, subsidence velocity maps, and land cover maps were integrated to investigate the impact of the hazards on the mines and their surroundings. Maximum subsidence of approximately 20 cm/yr. and temperature anomaly of up to 25 °C has been observed. The findings exhibit a strong positive correlation between the subsidence velocity and temperature anomaly in the study area. Kusunda, Keshalpur, and Bararee collieries are identified as the most critically affected zones. The subsidence phenomenon in some collieries is extending towards the settlements and transportation networks and needs urgent intervention. © 2021 The Author

Risks and Rights: The Challenges and Consequences of Development in Indian Coal Mining Sector

Mining has a significant impact on the economic social and environmental fabric of adjoining areas Although mining activities bring about economic development in the area at the same time the land degradation causes ecological and socio-economic problems Mining adversely affects the eco-system as a whole It is important to conduct suitable assessment studies to learn the potential adverse impact of mining on flora and fauna To overcome from the problems one should have knowledge about the various activities of environmental concern As we have seen earlier time that every mine managers keep check list giving information on environmental controls as envisaged in various mining lease conditions of the Government of India and Environment management plan Frequent review of this information may enable identification of the site-specific environmental issues at the mine Poor environmental performance may accelerate the demands for mere stringent regulatory conditions Therefore the task is to make continuous efforts towards environmental improvement by each mine authority The present paper discusses on various risks involved around coal mines activities in India It also deals with the rights of the people to live in clean environmen

Assessment of Physicochemical Properties of Flash From TISCO Power Plant, Jamadoba, Jharia Coalfields, Jharkhand, India

This paper deals with some selected physicochemical properties of fly ash collected from a TISCO power plant at Jamadoba, Dhanbad, Jharkhand, India. The physical properties such as bulk density, moisture content, specific gravity, porosity water holding capacity and grain size distribution (sand, silt, clay) were measured, being 0.94gm/cc, 0.73%, 1.84%, 60.25% 76.55% and sand 63.3%, silt 32.6%, clay 2.6% respectively. The chemical properties included in this study were pH, electrical conductivity, organic carbon, cation exchange capacity and available nitrogen. The aim of the present study is to assess the suitability of fly ash of TISCO power plant at vegetation purposes in the low lying areas or degraded land. These physicochemical properties are of also great importance in the backfilling of opencast mines, plantation and reclamation of the abandoned opencast project

Classification of fires in coal waste dumps based on Landsat, Aster thermal bands and thermal camera in Polish and Ukrainian mining regions

A self-heating intensity index (SHII) based on the highest (pixel max.) and lowest (pixel min.) values taken from satellite thermal maps of burning coal waste dumps are proposed. The index enables the classification of such fires in Ukrainian- and Polish coal waste dumps. Both in Ukraine and in Poland, varying thermal intensities during 1985–2019 are revealed, using the SHII and following thermal intensity threshold values, namely, extreme thermal activity ([7), advanced (3–7), moderate (3–1.5), initial (1.5–1), no activity (\1). The SHII shows decreasing thermal activity in the selected Ukrainian coal waste dumps during 2017–2019. It aids in reconstructing the thermal history of the dumps. Analysis of satellite images revealed a large number of burning coal waste dumps in the Donetsk Coal Basin (Ukraine) with high thermal activity. Such burning likely reflects large amounts of organic matter and sulphides in the dumped material subjected to self-heating and self-burning processes, lack of compaction of the coal waste and/or high methane contents. Comparison of SHII values calculated from satellite- and drone thermal-camera images were compared to show that SHII from drone thermal images have much higher values than those from satellite images; the former have better resolution. Thus, SHII from Landsat- and drone images should be used separately in dump heating studies

Coal fires: an environmental disaster

The mission of the Coal Fire Gang (CFG) is to spread awareness about the global issue of uncontrolled coal fires, and to highlight them as a low-hanging fruit of immediate emissions reduction. This report summarizes CFG’s research for the WERC competition, for which this topic was chosen as an open task. Beyond raising awareness, CFG modeled, developed and built an experimentation apparatus meant to prove the validity of a relatively cheap extinguishing method which was also novel to the regions in which it could be employed. The apparatus, which simulated an underground coal fire, was used to test a sand and water extinguishing method. CFG’s results on the experimental research side suggest that the sand and water approach to extinguishing coal fires, though requiring attention and labor for long periods of time (up to a few years depending on how long the coal fire has been burning prior to extinguishing activities), is very cost effective. Exact economics of a particular coal fire would have to be determined on a case-by-case basis, depending on the size and age of the fire, but those costs include only sand, water, labor, and heavy equipment to transport the sand around. The proposed extinguishing technique involves capping all exhaust vents of a fire with sand, and then saturating the sand with water. The steam created by the water on contact with the heated ground and coal then expands and flows through the cavity, flowing out of what were originally combustion air influent vents. This flow reversal could significantly reduce the oxygen intake while also removing heat. Over time, as more vents are discovered or created, they can be capped in the same manner. On the economics side, CFG proved that even at conservative estimates of the cost to extinguish fires and the cost of alternative CO2 sequestering methods, extinguishing coal fires is the for immediate global emission reduction. CFG proposes that coal fires around the world are prioritized ahead of new and expensive technology for emission reduction, and that at the very least the emissions from coal fires are drawn into some regulating system so that they can be tracked and better managed

Coal Fires: An Environmental Disaster

Coal Fires are part of an environmental disaster

Coal Fires: An Environmental Disaster

The mission of the Coal Fire Gang (CFG) is to spread awareness about the global issue of uncontrolled coal fires, and to highlight them as a low-hanging fruit of immediate emissions reduction. This report summarizes CFG’s research for the WERC competition, for which this topic was chosen as an open task. Beyond raising awareness, CFG modeled, developed and built an experimentation apparatus meant to prove the validity of a relatively cheap extinguishing method which was also novel to the regions in which it could be employed. The apparatus, which simulated an underground coal fire, was used to test a sand and water extinguishing method. CFG’s results on the experimental research side suggest that the sand and water approach to extinguishing coal fires, though requiring attention and labor for long periods of time (up to a few years depending on how long the coal fire has been burning prior to extinguishing activities), is very cost effective. Exact economics of a particular coal fire would have to be determined on a case-by-case basis, depending on the size and age of the fire, but those costs include only sand, water, labor, and heavy equipment to transport the sand around. The proposed extinguishing technique involves capping all exhaust vents of a fire with sand, and then saturating the sand with water. The steam created by the water on contact with the heated ground and coal then expands and flows through the cavity, flowing out of what were originally combustion air influent vents. This flow reversal could significantly reduce the oxygen intake while also removing heat. Over time, as more vents are discovered or created, they can be capped in the same manner. On the economics side, CFG proved that even at conservative estimates of the cost to extinguish fires and the cost of alternative CO 2 sequestering methods, extinguishing coal fires is the for immediate global emission reduction. CFG proposes that coal fires around the world are prioritized ahead of new and expensive technology for emission reduction, and that at the very least the emissions from coal fires are drawn into some regulating system so that they can be tracked and better managed

Assessment of Physicochemical Properties of Flash from TISCO Power Plant, Jamadoba, Jharia Coalfields, Jharkhand, India

This paper deals with some selected physicochemical properties of fly ash collected from a TISCO power plant at Jamadoba, Dhanbad, Jharkhand, India. The physical properties such as bulk density, moisture content, specific gravity, porosity water holding capacity and grain size distribution (sand, silt, clay) were measured, being 0.94gm/cc, 0.73%, 1.84%, 60.25% 76.55% and sand 63.3%, silt 32.6%, clay 2.6% respectively. The chemical properties included in this study were pH, electrical conductivity, organic carbon, cation exchange capacity and available nitrogen. The aim of the present study is to assess the suitability of fly ash of TISCO power plant at vegetation purposes in the low lying areas or degraded land. These physicochemical properties are of also great importance in the backfilling of opencast mines, plantation and reclamation of the abandoned opencast project

Coal Fires - An Environmental Disaster

The mission of the Coal Fire Gang (CFG) is to spread awareness about the global issue of uncontrolled coal fires, and to highlight them as a low-hanging fruit of immediate emissions reduction. This report summarizes CFG’s research for the WERC competition, for which this topic was chosen as an open task. Beyond raising awareness, CFG modeled, developed and built an experimentation apparatus meant to prove the validity of a relatively cheap extinguishing method which was also novel to the regions in which it could be employed. The apparatus, which simulated an underground coal fire, was used to test a sand and water extinguishing method. CFG’s results on the experimental research side suggest that the sand and water approach to extinguishing coal fires, though requiring attention and labor for long periods of time (up to a few years depending on how long the coal fire has been burning prior to extinguishing activities), is very cost effective. Exact economics of a particular coal fire would have to be determined on a case-by-case basis, depending on the size and age of the fire, but those costs include only sand, water, labor, and heavy equipment to transport the sand around. The proposed extinguishing technique involves capping all exhaust vents of a fire with sand, and then saturating the sand with water. The steam created by the water on contact with the heated ground and coal then expands and flows through the cavity, flowing out of what were originally combustion air influent vents. This flow reversal could significantly reduce the oxygen intake while also removing heat. Over time, as more vents are discovered or created, they can be capped in the same manner. On the economics side, CFG proved that even at conservative estimates of the cost to extinguish fires and the cost of alternative CO2 sequestering methods, extinguishing coal fires is the for immediate global emission reduction. CFG proposes that coal fires around the world are prioritized ahead of new and expensive technology for emission reduction, and that at the very least the emissions from coal fires are drawn into some regulating system so that they can be tracked and better managed

Assessment of Physicochemical Properties of Flash from TISCO Power Plant, Jamadoba, Jharia Coalfields, Jharkhand, India

This paper deals with some selected physicochemical properties of fly ash collected from a TISCO power plant at Jamadoba, Dhanbad, Jharkhand, India. The physical properties such as bulk density, moisture content, specific gravity, porosity water holding capacity and grain size distribution (sand, silt, clay) were measured, being 0.94gm/cc, 0.73%, 1.84%, 60.25% 76.55% and sand 63.3%, silt 32.6%, clay 2.6% respectively. The chemical properties included in this study were pH, electrical conductivity, organic carbon, cation exchange capacity and available nitrogen. The aim of the present study is to assess the suitability of fly ash of TISCO power plant at vegetation purposes in the low lying areas or degraded land. These physicochemical properties are of also great importance in the backfilling of opencast mines, plantation and reclamation of the abandoned opencast project