Four Decades of Earth Observation Data Related to Mining Activity and Changing Hydrology in Mongolia

The U.S. Geological Survey has submitted a proposal to the NASA 2013 Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES) Program to evaluate the rapidly changing hydrology of Mongolia related to the recent mining boom. The goal of the proposal is to create new knowledge through a suite of state-of-the-art maps and models demonstrating the status of mining and its impacts on water and land resources using 40+ years of multi-sensor, multi-date remote-sensing data from MODIS Terra/Aqua, GRACE, and Landsat. Observations have demonstrated that the volume and quality of Mongolia’s water resources are in a state of rapid decline. In an assessment report from 2012, Mongolia’s government identified declines of over 100 meters in many of the region’s groundwater resources. They have also seen about 15 percent of their known lakes, streams, and spring resources dry up or stop flowing. These unprecedented changes are significantly impacting both human and ecosystem water availability and needs. The root cause of these declines remains poorly understood, but an initial assessment by the USGS indicates that there are likely four primary stressors: land-use change, urbanization, regionally changing climate, and the recent mining boom. This project seeks to create a spatial data and knowledge storehouse using Earth Observation data to enable informed decision making through a suite of decision support tools that will make it possible to provide predictive assessments of the water resources and land use impact of future mining in Mongolia as well as in other countries. The products and knowledge gained through this project in Mongolia will be of immense benefit to understanding environmental and ecological impacts of mining globally. The Mongolian government and the international research and development community can use this information to ensure sustainable development, protect resources, and support mitigation programs as mining and other industrialization activities continue to develop.