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Article · ES Energy & Environments · January 1, 2026

Assessment of Air Ecosystems in Conditions of Industrial Development in the Ust-Kamenogorsk (Republic of Kazakhstan) using Remote Sensing Methods

Baitak Apshikur, Marzhan Yessenbekovna Rakhymberdina, Gulzhan Daumova, Eugene Levin, Роман Володимирович Шульц, Zhanna Aleksandrovna Assylkhanova

Baitak Apshikur
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Abstract

This study presents a comprehensive research of the environmental condition of the Ust-Kamenogorsk city based on the integration of satellite remote sensing data (Sentinel-2, Sentinel-5P) and geoinformation analysis.An improved Air Quality Remote Sensing Ecological Index (AQRSEI) was developed and applied, combining indicators of air pollution (API), vegetation cover (NDVI), moisture (WET), dryness (NDBSI), and land surface temperature (LST).The analysis was conducted for the summer period (June-August), when cloud-free satellite data are most frequently available and when the maximum variations of LST and atmospheric indices are typically observed in Ust-Kamenogorsk.Spatiotemporal analysis for the period 2016-2024 showed that the worst environmental situation was observed in 2022, which is associated with increased concentrations of nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) and sulphur dioxide (SO₂), unfavourable meteorological conditions and a high density of industrial sources.The proposed AQRSEI demonstrated high sensitivity to changes in anthropogenic load and natural factors, which allows it to be used for operational environmental monitoring of urbanised areas, assessment of the dynamics of urban environment quality, and development of adaptation measures in the context of climate change.

Environmental Quality and PollutionUrban Heat Island MitigationRemote Sensing and Land Useair qualityurban air pollutionnitrogen dioxide

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