DETECTION OF FOREST DECLINE IN MONCHEGORSK AREA

Forests on the Kola Peninsula in Northern Russia are growing close to the limits of the northern tree line. They are subjected to both natur al (low temperatures and a short period of biochemical activity) and a nthropogenic stress factors. The metallurgic industry complex Severo-n ickel close to the city of Monchegorsk in the central Russian Kola Pen insula is one of the major sources of sulfur dioxide (SO2), nickel, an d copper emissions in the region. The environmental impact on the surr ounding area is dramatic. In this study multispectral changes observed in landsat-MSS satellite image data from 1978, 1986, and 1992 are use d to evaluate the relevance of a mathematical model of SO2 concentrati on in ambient air as a component for assessment of forest decline. The multispectral changes detected were found to have a statistically sig nificant correspondence to the modeled (SO2) concentration levels in a mbient air. (C) Elsevier Science Inc., 1998.