Temporal monitoring of coal fires in Jharia Coalfield, India

Abstract

Jharia Coalfield (JCF) in India has one of the densest congregations of surface–subsurface coal fires in the world. Evaluation of spatial dynamics and trend of coal fires propagation through ASTER thermal data has indicated that the magnitude of coal fires in JCF has been fluctuated with time from 2000 to 2009. The area located around western, eastern and southeastern parts of the JCF covering Shatabdi opencast, Barora; Sijua opencast; Godhar colliery, Kusunda; Bokapahari; Kujama; and Lodna is under intense coal fire. From 2000 to 2004, spatial extent of coal fire has shown a minor decrease of 6.74 % and then shows a substantial increase of 11.93 % between 2004 and 2009. Systematic analysis of the results has revealed that the movement of coal fire in JCF is structurally controlled. Propagation of the coal fires has been observed in Kustor, Bastacolla and Lodna collieries, and fire appears to be spreading along the strike of coal seams toward Jharia Township.