Fractal Terrain Analysis Reveals How Micro-Topography Shapes Carbon Storage on Coal Mine Dumps
The analysis showed that measures of dump topography complexity, including the fractal parameters ΔD, D(1), Δα and Δf, were important correlates of the spatial distribution of both plant carbon and soil organic carbon. In other words, the ragged micro-relief of a waste dump is not just scenery; it tracks closely with where carbon ends up being stored across the site. The study’s highlights note that the carbon sink function of these dumps is driven by a combination of artificial landforms and natural succession. That distinction matters because it separates what engineers build from what ecology then does with it: the engineered slope shapes set the template, and spontaneous vegetation development fills in the carbon over time, unevenly. Subject of Research: Topographic control of soil and plant carbon storage on reclaimed coal mine waste dumps Article Title: Soil and plant carbon…
