Using radar images from ERS-1 and ERS-2 satellites to detect environmental changes: A case study of Kujawy and the Dobrzyń Lake District: a potential to use for PV panels

Abstract

This article presents the use of radar images from the ERS-1 and ERS-2 satellites to detect environmental changes in the Kujawy and Dobrzyń Lake District region, covering an area of approximately 3012 km² in central Poland. The aim of the analysis is to identify spatial changes (e.g., shifts in object boundaries) and physical changes (e.g., terrain moisture) resulting from natural and anthropogenic factors. The ERS satellites, as the first European platforms for environmental monitoring in the microwave spectrum, enable observations independent of weather conditions, which confirms their usefulness in detecting surface changes. The methodology includes processing images from 1995 and 1998, including filtering, geometrization, and multi-temporal composition (difference/1995/1998), classification into unchanged and changed areas, taking into account land cover (CORINE Land Cover), soils, and geomorphological forms. The results indicate that most of the area has undergone changes, mainly due to more intense rainfall in 1995, affecting the moisture content of forests, meadows, and arable land. The most sensitive areas are sandy plains, hilly marginal zones, and undulating moraine uplands. The analysis confirms the occurrence of environmental changes in the region, such as droughts and desertification, consistent with climate observations. The conclusions emphasize the value of color composition in facilitating interpretation, enabling the detection of changes in moisture and terrain roughness. This technique has potential in monitoring floods, land subsidence, and land cover, providing a basis for creating thematic maps.The paper contains a comprehensive summary of potential sCO2 cycle applications being considered for power generation. The authors give examples of different sCO2 based cycles used in combination with conventional energy sources like fossil fuels or nuclear as well as renewable energy sources like solar. The article presents sCO2 recompression cycle simulation model results and – using this example, cycle flexibility and parameters – discusses potential application of the cycle. 
Keywords: environmental changes, radar images, ERS-1, ERS-2, remote sensing, Kujawy Dobrzyń Lake District, multi-temporal composition, change analysis, terrain moisture, geomorphology, soils.