Assessment of environmental and atmospheric impacts of stubble burning in Mardin-Diyarbakır (Southeastern of Türkiye): a remote sensing approach

This study investigated the environmental, atmospheric and human impacts of a stubble-burning incident on June 20, 2024, in Köksalan village, Sürendal neighborhood, Türkiye, using advanced remote sensing techniques. Stubble burning, a prevalent agricultural practice, contributes significantly to air pollution and soil degradation, presenting serious environmental and public health risks. Sentinel-2A satellite imagery was employed to delineate the affected area, which spanned 248.77 hectares, comprising 134.40 hectares of moderate-low severity, 47.00 hectares of low severity and 67.37 hectares of unburned land. Sentinel-5P satellite data revealed a notable increase in sulfur dioxide (SO₂) concentrations, peaking at 49.6 µg/m³ during the fire and declining to 13.0 µg/m³ post-incident. Statistical evaluations demonstrated strong validation of the remote sensing approach, with a correlation coefficient (R²) of 0.86, an index of agreement (IA) of 0.89, and a mean absolute error (MAE) of 0.31 µg/m³. Wind speeds of 15 to 28 km/h, predominantly directed northward, influenced pollutant dispersion, resulting in SO₂ concentrations reaching a maximum of 67.7 µg/m³ in oak and grass-dominated areas, compared to 13.3 µg/m³ in agricultural zones. The stubble-burning incident, which caused 15 fatalities and 78 injuries, underscores the critical need for sustainable residue management practices, enhanced public awareness, and rigorous enforcement of legal regulations to mitigate the adverse impacts of stubble burning in Türkiye.