Mining impacts on air and water quality in Tonk, Rajasthan: a google earth engine analysis

Mining activities significantly alter environmental conditions by increasing atmospheric aerosol loads and degrading water quality. This study employs Google Earth Engine (GEE) to analyze spatiotemporal anomalies in Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD), PM₂.₅ concentrations, chlorophyll-a levels, and turbidity in Tonk, Rajasthan, between 2016 and 2022. Data from Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) and Landsat 8/9 Surface Reflectance (SR) were used to compute anomalies based on deviations from the 2000-2015 baseline. Results indicate a strong correlation between mining density and AOD (r = 0.82), PM₂.₅ (r = 0.69), chlorophyll-a (r = 0.76), and turbidity (r = 0.88), highlighting significant environmental degradation. Increased AOD and PM₂.₅ values were observed near active mining sites, confirming mining-induced dust emissions. Water quality analysis revealed elevated chlorophyll and turbidity anomalies, likely due to mining runoff, sedimentation, and nutrient enrichment leading to eutrophication. The findings emphasize the need for sustainable mining practices, stricter regulatory measures, and enhanced pollution monitoring to mitigate environmental degradation in the region.