Use of magnetic susceptibility index for mapping heavy metal pollution of urban soils in Yakutia

DOI: 10.35595/2414-9179-2025-2-31-399-407

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About the Author

Aleksey A. Alekseev

Institute of Biological Problems of Cryolithozone of SB of Russian Academy of Sciences,
41, Lenina str., Yakutsk, 677027, Russia,
E-mail: alex3.fromru@gmail.com

Abstract

The relevance of this work lies in the need for continuous monitoring of the state of natural environments in view of increasing industrialization in the cities of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). This study is especially relevant due to the increase in anthropogenic impact on a fairly small territory of these cities. Heavy metals in the form of industrial and motor transport emissions fall on the surface of urban soils together with dust into the human body. The aim was to determine the degree of anthropogenic pollution of soil cover in the studied territories with the help of geographic information systems (GIS-technologies). In this work we used the urban soil kappametry as a predictive and search method for detecting the presence of heavy metals in soil. The obtained data were statistically processed, average values and degrees of their variability were determined. GIS-technologies through QGIS 3.20 software were used for map construction. The results of measuring the volumetric magnetic susceptibility of soil surface in the territory of Yakutsk (295 points), Aldan (232 points) and Neryungri (49 points) are presented. Average, minimum and maximum values of magnetic susceptibility of urban soils were determined. The territories with high automobile traffic as well as territories near industrial enterprises are characterized by increased values of soil magnetic susceptibility. With the help of statistical methods of data interpretation, coefficients of variation, limits of the obtained data were revealed. The constructed maps-charts of spatial distribution of magnetic susceptibility maxima showed that the territories adjacent to highways and streets with intensive automobile traffic can be considered as the most polluted with heavy metals. In this case, GIS-technologies clearly reflect the areas that need increased attention to address heavy metal problems in the soil.

Keywords

urban soils, environmental assessment, magnetic susceptibility, cartography, GIS

References

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For citation: Alekseev A.A. Use of magnetic susceptibility index for mapping heavy metal pollution of urban soils in Yakutia. InterCarto. InterGIS. Moscow: MSU, Faculty of Geography, 2025. V. 31. Part 2. P. 399–407. DOI: 10.35595/2414-9179-2025-2-31-399-407 (in Russian)