Zhengissova et al. (2025) Analysis of spatio-temporal changes of surface water within the Semipalatinsk test site based on the Google Earth Engine platform

Identification

• Journal: BULLETIN of the L N Gumilyov Eurasian National University Chemistry Geography Series
• Year: 2025
• Date: 2025-12-24
• Authors: N. Zhengissova, Omirzhan Taukebayev, K. Temirbayeva, Aizhan Assylbekova
• DOI: 10.32523/3107-278x-2025-153-4-106-121

Research Groups

• Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Almaty, Kazakhstan

Short Summary

This study analyzed the spatio-temporal dynamics of surface water bodies within the Semipalatinsk Test Site using remote sensing data on the Google Earth Engine platform to support landscape planning. It found that over 60% of water bodies are temporary, with their extent strongly dependent on climatic variability, showing largest areas during cold, snowy winters and smallest during warm, low-snow periods.

Objective

• To analyze the dynamics of spatio-temporal changes in water bodies within the Semipalatinsk Test Site using remote sensing data based on the Google Earth Engine platform.
• To develop a map of surface water and irrigation systems to support landscape planning of the area.

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: Semipalatinsk Test Site (STS)
• Temporal Scale: Approximately 1996-2024, with specific years (1996, 2000, 2010, 2012, 2024) highlighted for extreme conditions.

Methodology and Data

• Models used: Modified Normalized Difference Water Index (MNDWI) for water surface extraction; Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform for data processing and analysis.
• Data sources: Landsat satellite imagery, Sentinel-2 satellite imagery, ERA5-Land climatic data, SRTM digital elevation model.

Main Results

• The largest extents of surface water were observed in years with cold and snowy winters (e.g., 2000 and 2010).
• The smallest extents of surface water occurred during warm and low-snow periods (e.g., 1996, 2012, and 2024).
• The proportion of temporary water bodies exceeds 60%, indicating an unstable hydrological regime and strong dependence on climatic variability.
• The Google Earth Engine platform proved effective for identifying spatio-temporal changes in water bodies and holds potential for water resource management and dynamic assessment.

Contributions

• Provides a detailed spatio-temporal analysis of surface water dynamics in the environmentally sensitive Semipalatinsk Test Site, a region with historical significance.
• Quantifies the high proportion of temporary water bodies and their direct link to climatic variability in the study area.
• Demonstrates the effective application of the Google Earth Engine platform and remote sensing data for environmental monitoring and landscape planning in former test site areas, particularly for agricultural development.

Funding

Not specified in the provided text.

Citation

@article{Zhengissova2025Analysis,
  author = {Zhengissova, N. and Taukebayev, Omirzhan and Temirbayeva, K. and Assylbekova, Aizhan},
  title = {Analysis of spatio-temporal changes of surface water within the Semipalatinsk test site based on the Google Earth Engine platform},
  journal = {BULLETIN of the L N Gumilyov Eurasian National University Chemistry Geography Series},
  year = {2025},
  doi = {10.32523/3107-278x-2025-153-4-106-121},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.32523/3107-278x-2025-153-4-106-121}
}