Quantitative assessment of drought severity in mining-influenced regions: a case study of lignite and copper extraction areas

Abstract

Droughts occurring in open-pit mining areas are becoming increasingly significant, primarily due to decreased water availability. This poses a danger because it threatens the stable development of society and agricultural production and contributes to increased dust emissions that may interfere with mining operations. Climate change further intensifies these threats. Therefore, research into water availability, continuous monitoring, and environmental health indicators is vital, as the water cycle greatly impacts these factors. The paper aims to investigate drought severity in two large open-pit lignite mines in Turów and Bełchatów, and Legnica–Głogów Copper District (LGOM). The Combined Climatological Drought Index (CCDI) was used, alongside the water budget (WB), to characterise drought at the study sites. High consistency between the indices was observed throughout most of the studied period until 2018. Notably, significant reductions in water availability were recorded from 2018 onwards in the areas of the three studied mines.