Remote sensing monitoring of mining area desertification under disturbance of ionic rare earth mining: using Lingbei rare earth mining area as the case

The destruction of surface vegetation in the process of ionized rare earth mining leads to large area soil erosion and land desertification, which brings serious ecological and environmental problems. Using 27 years of multi-temporal Landsat remote sensing imageries, The desertification of Lingbei rare earth area in Dingnan County was studied. Based on the Space Theory of Albedo-NDVI Feature, the desertification information was collected, monitored quantitatively and analyzed in desertification dynamic characteristic and constant changing among the year of 1990, 1999, 2008, 2010, 2013 and 2016 in study area. The results show that: ① Simple and easy to be accessed, Albedo-NDVI index feature space method can be used for the quantitative analysis and monitoring desertification in the rare earth region. ② The total desertification area in the study area shows a fluctuant trend between 1990 and 2016, which shows the effects of different rare earth mining patterns and reclamation measures on the desertification of the mining area. ③ In situ leaching mining technology and the series of positive measures to a certain extent curb the expansion of desertification, which are conducive to the environmental management of the mining areas.④ The analysis of desertification of the mining area shows that the exposed surface of rare earth mining is the main source for the land desertification.