Free Satellite Imagery for Monitoring Reclaimed Sulphur Mining Region Tarnobrzeg, Poland

The aim of the paper is the analysis of new free satellite images of mining area. Test study is located in south-east Poland near Tarnobrzeg city, where in the past sulphur was intensively mined on the large area. Sulfur was developed in open-pit mine Machów and by using drilling technology in Jeziórko. During the mining activities, soils on the mining area were polluted by sulfur. Moreover, it has changed water conditions due to the continuous drainage of the area around the mine. As a result of reclamation the plant succession can be observed. Since 2006 when the drainage was stopped, the groundwater flooding occurs in large area. Application of the new satellite images, nowadays free of charge, for the vegetation succession and flooding process monitoring was analyzed. New and archive satellite images were obtained (Aster, Landsat, Sentinel) and few indices were tested for monitoring and for delimitation of flooding area.