The Upper Silesian Coal Basin faces ongoing challenges with self-heating in coal waste dumps, a problem that leads to dangerous and unpredictable subsurface fires. This study investigates the thermal dynamics and vegetation response in a coal waste dump, expanding on previous research that links waste temperatures with plant health and distribution. The study area-a small, old coal waste dump located in a highly urbanized area-was subjected to comprehensive environmental monitoring focused on various fire determinants. The findings confirm that coal waste dumps, regardless of size and complexity, experience similar fire determinants, with vegetation colonization progressing in bands starting with pioneer species in less heat-affected areas. As the distance from the fire zone increases, plant density and diversity improve, indicating a recovery in thermally stabilized zones. The study also demonstrates the repeatability of relationships between subsurface temperatures and vegetation status across different coal waste dumps, supporting the use of plants as indicators of underground fires. Elevated subsurface temperatures in thermally active zones lead to clear 'dying' and 'death' zones, where excessive heat damages plant roots, causing die-offs. In contrast, areas with moderate temperatures allow vegetation growth, even in winter, due to favourable root-zone conditions. The study highlights the need for improved monitoring and fire mitigation strategies to address thermal activity in reclaimed sites, especially those with limited historical data. These insights are crucial for preventing similar issues in the future and minimizing the long-term impacts on surrounding communities and ecosystems.

Background and aimsMining causes severe damage to forest ecosystems, and the restoration of these environments in Amazonia remains a challenge. The first step is restoring the quality of the Technosol for plant establishment. This study evaluated the effects of pit size on the chemical properties of Technosol and the performance of selected tree species. MethodsThree different pit sizes were tested: Small Pit or Control (CTR), Medium Pit (MP), and Large Pit (LP) in an area degraded by kaolin mining. Four tree species were used for each pit size. After 24 months of planting, the chemical properties of Technosol, survival, periodic annual increment (PAI) for total height (PAIHt) and diameter at soil height (PAIDSH), canopy area (CA), and aboveground biomass (AGB) were evaluated. ResultsThe study found no significant differences in the chemical properties of Technosol across pit sizes (CTR, MP and LP). Survival rates were consistently high for all treatments. MP and LP provided the best increases in PAIHt of Tapirira guianensis. Average CA values ranged from 0.41 +/- 0.19 to 1.82 +/- 0.31 m2 between species, and LP provided the highest average CA for Terminalia argentea. Furthermore, pit size influenced AGB in Moquilea tomentosa, Terminalia argentea, and Tapirira guianensis. ConclusionThe restoration technique significantly impacted Technosol properties and species performance, highlighting its role in ecological recovery. These findings offer valuable insights for enhancing forest restoration techniques in tropical regions impacted by mining.

Kerosene is widely used in various types of anthropogenic activities. Its environmental safety is mainly discussed in the context of aerospace activities. At all stages of its life cycle, aerospace activity impacts the environment. In aviation, the pollution of atmospheric air and terrestrial ecosystems is caused, first of all, by jet fuel and the products of its incomplete combustion and is technologically specified for a number of models in the case of fuel leak during an emergency landing. In the rocket and space activities, jet fuel enters terrestrial ecosystems as a result of fuel spills from engines and fuel tanks at the crash sites of the first stages of launch vehicles. The jet fuel from the second and third stages of launch vehicles does not enter terrestrial ecosystems. The fuel components have been studied in sufficient detail. However, the papers with representative data sets and their statistical processing not only for the kerosene content, but also for the total petroleum hydrocarbons in the soils affected by aerospace activity are almost absent. Nevertheless, the available data and results of mathematical modeling allow us to assert that an acceptable level of hydrocarbons, not exceeding the assimilation potential, enters terrestrial ecosystems during a regular aerospace activity. Thus, the incoming amount of jet fuel disappears rapidly enough without causing any irreversible damage.