Spatiotemporal Patterns of Vegetation Evolution in a Deep Coal Mining Subsidence Area: A Remote Sensing Study of Liangbei, China

This study aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the impacts of high-intensity coal mining on vegetation in Liangbei Town, a typical deep coal mining area in central of China. Using Landsat remote sensing data from 2000 to 2023, processed by the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform, the study calculates the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). Temporal and spatial distribution patterns of vegetation were assessed using LandTrendr algorithm, Sen’s slope estimation, the Mann–Kendall test, the coefficient of variation, and the Hurst index. Vegetation growth dynamics were further analyzed through transfer matrix and intensity analysis frameworks. Driving factors influencing vegetation trends were evaluated using local climate data and surface deformation variables from SAR imagery. Temporal Dimension: From 2000 to 2023, the annual NDVI in Liangbei Township showed an upward trend with a growth rate of 0.0894 (10a)⁻¹, peaking at 0.51 in 2020. Spatial Dimension: The NDVI distribution in Liangbei Township displayed a pattern of being lower in the center and higher around the edges, with values concentrated between 0.4 and 0.51, covering 50.34% of the total area. Trend of Change: Between 2000 and 2023, 83.28% of the area in Liangbei Township experienced significant improvement in the NDVI, with vegetation growth trends shifting primarily from slight to significant improvement, encompassing a total area of 10.98 km². This shift exhibited a marked tendency. Driving Factors: Deep mining in Liangbei Township is concentrated in the eastern part, with SAR imagery indicating a maximum surface subsidence of 0.26 m. As surface subsidence increases, the NDVI significantly decreases. The findings suggest that in the future, 91.13% of the vegetation in Liangbei Township will display an antipersistent change trend. The study offers critical insights into the interaction between mining activities and vegetation cover can serve as a reference for environmental evolution and management in similar mining areas.