Das Rheinische Braunkohlenrevier

Dworschak, Ulf; Rose, Udo

doi:10.1002/9783527678471.hbnl2009002

Cited by 3 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…Here, the lowering of topography has a similar anthropogenic signature as mountaintop mining (Ross et al, 2016). In addition, reclamation for new agricultural landscapes has also levelled the topography and produced a more gentle relief with only very weak inclination for surface runoff (Dworschak & Rose, 2014).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Mining is only possible due to the massive technological developments of large bucket wheel excavators. (Dworschak & Rose, 2014). In conclusion, the region experienced massive anthropogenic relief changes.…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The Rhenish mining area extends over an area of 2500 km 2 (Dworschak & Rose, 2014). It represents the largest lignite district in Europe and the main focus of lignite mining in Germany (95 Mt production/a), in addition to the Lusatian mining area in eastern Germany (62 Mt production/a) and the central German mining area (19.3 Mt production/a) (Alves Dias et al, 2018).…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

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Anthropogenic relief changes in a long‐lasting lignite mining area (‘Ville’, Germany) derived from historic maps and digital elevation models

Henselowsky

Rölkens

Kelterbaum

et al. 2021

Earth Surf Processes Landf

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Humans constitute one of the main geomorphological agents in modern times. As an example, post‐mining regions represent a typical landscape of the Anthropocene. Strong relief modifications are particularly obvious with open pit mining. However, many existing mining areas are lacking detailed pre‐mining information for the quantification of anthropogenic relief changes, which is a considerable challenge in regions with historic mining activities. Here, the Ville (Rhenish lignite district, Germany) is used to quantify surface mining induced relief changes in one of the oldest and currently largest lignite districts in Europe. Historical maps from first geodetic mapping in 1893 enabled construction of a historic digital elevation model to quantify the relief changes in comparison to elevation data from 2000 and 2015. The vertical accuracy of the historic data is remarkably high, with relief differences < 2 m in areas not affected by mining. In total, 49.2% of the investigated area (184 km2) shows a relief deficit and 14.5% has positive relief differences. Absolute changes account for more than 80 m heightening (dumpsites of overburden) and lowering of the natural relief (pits). Besides these altitudinal changes, overall steeper slopes are significant for the new topography, but levelling exists likewise. The spatial variabilities are discussed in the context of the regional geology and the mining techniques. Undoubtedly, such large‐scale anthropogenic relief changes persist for a very long time and will last as a human legacy far into the future. Only the detailed reconstruction of the pre‐mining relief offers the ability to clarify the dimension of humans as geomorphological agents and to understand landscape perception. Due to the fact that the impact of open pit mining has such a large vertical and horizontal extension, their consideration as part of anthropogeomorphology can significantly contribute to support future Critical Zone research in the Anthropocene.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

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Anthropogenic relief changes in a long‐lasting lignite mining area (‘Ville’, Germany) derived from historic maps and digital elevation models

Henselowsky

Rölkens

Kelterbaum

et al. 2021

Earth Surf Processes Landf

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“…The western lignite mining district in the Rhineland extends over an area of 2500 km 2 [11] and represents today the largest lignite district in Europe and the main focus of lignite mining today in Germany (lignite production in 2021: 62.6 Mt; see Table 1). The total area directly affected by mining operations is 338.4 km 2 and the recent operating area is 99.1 km 2 (see Table 1).…”

Section: Basic Facts and Figuresmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Comprehensive ecological research on faunistic and floristic colonization has been carried out particularly in the Lusatian lignite mining district but to some extent also in the Rhineland. A large part of the research in the Rhineland has been performed by a mining company owned research center (Forschungsstelle Rekultivierung) and results are only partially published in scientific papers [11]. With regard to forest development, it could be shown for the Sophienhöhe dump, that it was possible to transfer more than half of the species inventory of vascular plants of the near-natural forest community to the reclamation areas and to establish them there [89].…”

Section: Biologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Perspectives of lignite post-mining landscapes under changing environmental conditions: what can we learn from a comparison between the Rhenish and Lusatian region in Germany?

et al. 2023

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Background The decision of the German federal government to cease lignite mining until 2038 or—if possible—already earlier until 2030, will cause manifold transition processes in the remaining lignite mining districts of Germany. The two largest districts are located in geographically opposite regions: The Rhineland in the western part and Lusatia in the east of Germany. As particularly these two mining districts will experience severe changes in their socioeconomic as well environmental conditions, the federal government has adopted comprehensive economic support measures. However, the environmental changes will also cause altered ecosystem functions and services to be provided by the future post-mining landscapes. Results In this paper, the two main lignite-producing regions of Germany are compared with regard to their natural and cultural settings. The economic situation and its history are reflected and differences are outlined. Part of the disparities in the cultural development can be explained by very different natural conditions, especially edaphic factors and climatic situation. Because of dissimilar geological settings, different mining technologies were developed and are in use in the two regions with distinct effects on the resulting post-mining landscapes. Conclusion The long-standing and manifold lignite mining activities have radically restructured the landscapes in Lusatia and the Rhineland. With the ongoing decline of the mining industry and its complete cessation, presumably within the next decade, both regions will alter their faces significantly. These changes offer both challenges but also opportunities with respect to the post-mining landscapes and their ecosystem services they are going to provide. The prerequisites for a positive socioeconomic development and for sustainable land-use concepts that also consider ecological aspects are different for both regions. However, or especially because of these differences, the knowledge exchange and experience transfer between both mining regions are pivotal for the success of this extensive transformation process.

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Neuland gestalten: Die Transformationslandschaft des Rheinischen Reviers

Münderlein,

Wirth

2024

RaumFragen: Stadt – Region – Landschaft

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Das Rheinische Braunkohlenrevier

Cited by 3 publications

References 10 publications

Anthropogenic relief changes in a long‐lasting lignite mining area (‘Ville’, Germany) derived from historic maps and digital elevation models

Anthropogenic relief changes in a long‐lasting lignite mining area (‘Ville’, Germany) derived from historic maps and digital elevation models

Perspectives of lignite post-mining landscapes under changing environmental conditions: what can we learn from a comparison between the Rhenish and Lusatian region in Germany?

Neuland gestalten: Die Transformationslandschaft des Rheinischen Reviers

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