MINEO. Use of hyperspectral data for monitoring pollution from the lead-zinc mine, Mestersvig, in Northeast Greenland

Presently seven European countries are studying the opportunities for using hyperspectral data to monitor pollution from mines in different climatic and vegetational regimes. The project is called MINEO and is supported by the EU. The Greenland study site is the former lead/zinc mine in Mestersvig, Northeast Greenland, which was operated 1956–1963. Pollution is well documented and levels of a number of metals in soil and vegetation will be studied and compared with hyperspectral data obtained during an airborne hyperspectral survey in august 2000. Long term effects of pollution on the composition of arctic vegetation will also be studied at the arctic site. It is expected that use of hyperspectral data will give valuable knowledge of the extent of pollution and will be an important tool for planning of monitoring programs.