jabbrv-ltwa-all.ldf jabbrv-ltwa-en.ldf Coal mining-induced degradation of groundwater–soil–vegetation systems: Coupling mechanisms and spatial heterogeneity in a semiarid lake-basin mining area, China

Coal mining in semi‑arid regions can severely perturb groundwater‑dependent ecosystems, leading to a range of ecological and environmental issues. However, current studies on the evolution of groundwater–soil–vegetation ecosystems in mining areas often overlook or overly simplify the complex nonlinear interactions among these components. This study takes typical basins in northern China as a case study. The evolution of groundwater-soil-vegetation system under coal mining activities and natural conditions was compared and modeled by using remote sensing inversion, hydrogeological exploration, soil habitat quality assessment, PCA-APCS-MLR, EWM, OLS and hydrogeochemical methods. The results show that groundwater in the study area is influenced by the dissolution of carbonate and sulfate rocks and cation exchange adsorption. However, compared to natural conditions, groundwater in mining areas is more strongly impacted by the dissolution of calcium-magnesium-bearing minerals. Analysis using the PCA-APCS-MLR model attributes the factors influencing groundwater chemical characteristics in the study area to four main sources: evaporation concentration, water-rock interactions and ion exchange, agricultural pollution, acid production from the oxidation of sulfur-bearing ores, and other sources. Significant spatial differences exist in groundwater( x 1 )-soil( x 2 )-FVC( y ) coupling across the study area’s lake north/south. The multiple regression models for the three variables in the mining-disturbed and naturally regulated areas, constructed using the EWM and OLS methods, are: y North =−210.246 x 1 −37.228 x 2 +124.727 ( R 2 =0.607), y South =−142.642 x 1 −60.186 x 2 +105.574 ( R 2 =0.784). The model results indicate that changes in groundwater chemical characteristics are the primary factors affecting FVC. Compared to the mining-disturbed area, changes in soil characteristics have a more significant impact on FVC in the naturally regulated area. This study can not only provide a scientific basis for the sustainable development of similar mining areas globally but also provide guidance for ecological management and the rational utilization of water and soil resources in semi-arid coal mining areas.