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B ar c el o n a, S p ai n (e-m ail: f vi c e nt e @ d ar es.t e c h; j d ur o @ d ar es.t e c h). C. L o p e z-M arti n e z a n d J. J. M all or q uí Fr a n q u et ar e wit h t h e Si g n al T h e or y a n d C o m m u ni c ati o n D e p art m e nt, U ni v ersit at P olit é c ni c a d e C at al u n y a, 0 8 0 3 4 B ar c el o n a, S p ai n (e-m ail: c arl os.l o p e z @ts c. u p c. e d u; m all or q ui @ts c. u p c. es). J. M. L o p e z-S a n c h e z a n d A. M estr e-Q u er e d a ar e wit h t h e D e p art m e nt of P h ysi cs, S yst e m E n gi n e eri n g, a n d Si g n al T h e or y, U ni v ersit y of Ali c a nt e, 0 3 6 9 0 Ali c a nt e, S p ai n (e-m ail: j u a n m a.l o p e z @ u a. es; al ej a n dr o. m estr e @ u a. es). D. Zi ół k o ws ki is wit h t h e I nstit ut e of G e o d es y a n d C art o gr a p h y, 0 2-6 7 9 Wars a w, P ol a n d (e-m ail: D ari us z. Zi ol k o ws ki @i gi k. e d u. pl). M. L a v all e is wit h t h e J et Pr o p ulsi o n L a b or at or y, C alif or ni a I nstit ut e of Te c h n ol o g y, P as a d e n a, C A 9 1 1 0 9 U S A (e-m ail: m ar c o.l a v all e @j pl. n as a. g o v). G. S ur es h is wit h t h e F e d er al A g e n c y f or C art o gr a p h y a n d G e o d es y, 6 0 5 9 8 Fr a n kf urt a m M ai n, G er m a n y (e-m ail: g o pi k a 7 7 8 7 @ g m ail. c o m). O. A ntr o p o v is wit h t h e V T T Te c h ni c al R es e ar c h C e ntr e of Fi nl a n d, 0 2 0 4 4 Es p o o, Fi nl a n d (e-m ail: ol e g. a ntr o p o v @ vtt. fi). S. G e is wit h t h e S c h o ol of El e ctr o ni c a n d O pti c al E n gi n e eri n g, N a nji n g U ni v ersit y of S ci e n c e a n d Te c h n ol o g y, N a nji n g, C hi n a (e-m ail: g es h a oji a @ nj ust. e d u. c n). J. Pr a ks is wit h t h e D e p art m e nt of El e ctr o ni cs a n d N a n o e n gi n e eri n g, S c h o ol of El e ctri c al E n gi n e eri n g, A alt o U ni v ersit y, 0 2 1 5 0 H elsi n ki, Fi nl a n d (e-m ail: j a a n. pr a ks @ a alt o. fi). Y. B a n is wit h t h e Di visi o n of G e oi nf or m ati cs, D e p art m e nt f or Ur b a n Pl a nni n g a n d E n vir o n m e nt, K T H R o y al I nstit ut e of Te c h n ol o g y, 1 1 4 2 8 St o c k h ol m, S w e d e n (e-m ail: yif a n g @ kt h.s e). E. P otti er is wit h t h e I nstit ut d' El e ctr o ni q u e et d e T él e c o m m u ni c ati o ns d e R e n n es, U ni v ersit e d e R e n n es 1, 3 5 0 0 0 R e n n es, Fr a n c e (e-m ail: eri c. p otti er @ u ni v-r e n n es 1.fr). M. E. E n g d a hl is wit h t h e E ur o p e a n S p a c e R es e ar c h I nstit ut e, E ur o p e a n S p a c e A g e n c y, 0 0 0 4 4 Fr as c ati, It al y (e-m ail: m ar c us. e n g d a hl @ es a.i nt). Di git al O bj e ct I d e nti fi er 1 0.

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Remote sensing is a suitable candidate for monitoring rapid changes in Polar regions, offering high-resolution spectral, spatial and radiometric data. This paper focuses on the spectral properties of dominant plant species acquired during the first week of August 2015. Twenty-eight plots were selected, which could easily be identified in the field as well as on RapidEye satellite imagery. Spectral measurements of individual species were acquired, and heavy metal contamination stress factors were measured contemporaneously. As a result, a unique spectral library of dominant plant species, heavy metal concentrations and damage ratios were achieved with an indication that species-specific changes due to environmental conditions can best be differentiated in the 1401-2400 nm spectral region. Two key arctic tundra species, Cassiope tetragona and Dryas octopetala, exhibited significant differences in this spectral region that were linked to a changing health status. Relationships between field and satellite measurements were comparable, e.g., the Red Edge Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (RENDVI) showed a strong and significant relationship (R 2 = 0.82; p = 0.036) for the species Dryas octopetala. Cadmium and Lead were below detection levels while manganese, copper and zinc acquired near Longyearbyen were at concentrations comparable to other places in Svalbard. There were high levels of nickel near Longyearbyen (0.014 mg/g), while it was low (0.004 mg/g) elsewhere.

Heavy metals and radioactive compounds are potentially hazardous substances for plants, animals and humans in the Arctic. A good knowledge of the spatial variation of these substances in soil and primary producers, and their sources, is therefore essential. In the samples of lichen Thamnolia vermicularis, Salix polaris and Cassiope tetragona, and the soil samples collected in 2014 in Svalbard near Longyearbyen, the concentrations of the following heavy metals were determined: Mn, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb and Hg, as well as the activity concentrations of the following: K-40, Cs-137, Pb-210, Pb-212, Bi-212, Bi-214, Pb-214, Ac-228, Th-231 and U-235 in the soil samples. The differences in the concentrations of the analytes accumulated in the different plant species and soil were studied using statistical methods. Sea aerosol was indicated as the source of Pb, Hg, Cs-137, Pb-210 and Th-231 in the studied area. A relatively high concentration of nickel was determined in the biota samples collected near Longyearbyen, compared to other areas of Svalbard. It was supposed that nickel may be released into the atmosphere as a consequence of the local coal mining around Longyearbyen.