Relationships between the normalised difference vegetation index and temperature fluctuations in post-mining sites

The effects of age, vegetation density (normalised difference vegetation index [NDVI]) and vegetation type on temperature fluctuations were studied in post-coal-mining sites in the Czech Republic. NDVI and surface temperature were obtained from an airborne multispectral aerial photograph and FLIR infrared camera. The difference between morning and afternoon temperature was assumed as a measure of the temperature buffering ability of the ecosystem. Buffering increased with increasing NDVI but also depended on the type of vegetation, reclaimed sites have significantly higher buffering than unreclaimed sites. In contrary to grasslands, woody vegetation gradually increased temperature buffering capacity with plot age. Topsoil application substantially increased buffering capacity.