Suchergebnisse

Abstract Few studies have assessed mining-associated water pollution using spectral characteristics. We used high-resolution multispectral data acquired by unmanned aerial drones combined with in situ chemical data to assess water quality parameters in 12 relatively small water bodies located in the Tharsis complex, an abandoned mining area in the Iberian pyrite belt (SW Spain). The spectral bands of Micasense RedEdge-MX Dual and spectral band combinations were used jointly with physicochemical data to estimate water quality parameters and develop reliable empirical models using regression analysis. Physicochemical parameters including pH, ORP, EC, Al, Cu, Fe, Mn, S, Si, and Zn were estimated with high accuracy levels (0.81 < R2 < 0.99, 4 < RMSE% < 75, 0.01 < MAPE < 0.97). In contrast, the observed and modelled values for Ba, Ca, and Mg did not agree well (0.42 < R2 < 0.70). The best-fitted models were used to generate spatial distribution maps, providing information on water quality patterns. This study demonstrated that using empirical models to generate spatial distribution maps can be an effective and easy way to monitor acid mine drainage. ; This study was supported in part by the Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree (EMJMD) in Water and Coastal Management (WACOMA) with the contribution of the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union. This work was also supported by Plan Andaluz de Investigación RNM 166 Environmental radioactivity research group (LB). UAS equipment from University of Cádiz Drone Service supported by MINECO infrastructure projects (EQC2018-00446-P and UNCA-2013-1969). M.D. Basallote thanks the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation for the Postdoctoral Fellowships granted under application reference IJC2018-035056-I. The authors also thank to the editors and two anonymous reviewers for their support and comments, which notably improved the quality of the original paper.