A Differential Bathymetric Dataset of Anthropogenic Postmining Lake in the Glaciotectonic Muskau Arch Geopark, Poland

Abstract

Mining has a lasting impact on the environment, not only during the active mining process but also long after operations cease. The anthropogenic landforms that remain after mining require monitoring due to the instability of the land, which may pose a threat to the local environment. This paper presents bathymetric data acquired as part of the monitoring process for postmining lakes, collected using an unmanned surface vehicle (USV). The data were gathered with a Satlab SLD-200 single-beam echosounder and a Trimble R6 GNSS receiver to measure the lakebed elevation. By comparing data from two different periods, a high-accuracy 3D representation of the lakebed was produced, enabling the detection of changes in lake depth over time. The observed elevation change suggests that the area may still be affected by mining activities that occurred decades ago. This open dataset provides valuable insights for further research on the impact of underground and open-pit mining on the environment and its degradation.