1 Bull. Min. Res. Exp. (2021) 166: 1-18 Citation Info: Kalyoncu Ergüler, G., Bayındır, M. F., Dağlıyar, A. 2021. Investigation of the effect of fy ash released from Kütahya thermal power plants by using remote sensing methods. Bulletin of the Mineral Research and Exploration 166, 1-18. https://doi.org/10.19111/bulletinofmre.946782 *Corresponding author: Güzide KALYONCU ERGÜLER, guzidek.erguler@mta.gov.tr Keywords: Ash Vegetation Interaction, Landsat 8, Seyitömer, Tunçbilek, Fly Ash. Received Date: 23.05.2020 Accepted Date: 22.05.2021 ABSTRACT In order to determine the long-term effect of thermal power plants, the satellite images of Seyitömer and Tunçbilek Thermal Power Plants and their vicinities were analyzed by using the software of ERDAS IMAGINE v9.1 and PCI Geomatica 2017. The normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) was determined by using red and near-infrared bands of Landsat satellite images, and areas containing vegetation were revealed in the images. In order to obtain the temporal change in the vegetation areas, the relevant image change detection analysis was applied and the one-year and thirty-year temporal change of vegetation cover is for r = 4 km, r = 12 km, r = 50 km. In the remote sensing mapping studies, it was determined that as the diameter of the assessment area increases, the dominant wind loses its effect, and geomorphological conditions are more prominent. Investigation of the effect of fy ash released from Kütahya thermal power plants by using remote sensing methods Güzide KALYONCU ERGÜLER a* , Fatma Melis BAYINDIR b and Ayşe DAĞLIYAR b a General Directorate of Mineral Research and Exploration, Department of Environmental Research, Çankaya, Ankara,Turkey b General Directorate of Mineral Research and Exploration, Department of Geological Research, Çankaya, Ankara, Turkey Research Article 1. Introduction Our country is foreign-dependent because of energy needs and has to provide 95% of this need from neighboring countries. On the other hand, with high-speed train technology and increasing industrialization, it also provides some of this need with domestic resources. Fossil fuels such as lignite, especially in the western Anatolia found in the Neogene basins, have been used for many years. Despite climate change caused by greenhouse gases caused by the use of fossil fuels such as lignite and coal, and air pollution that directly affects human health, its use in global electricity generation continues both in our country and internationally. In their analyzes and evaluations based on the information obtained from different sources, Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL, 2018) stated that 65% of global electricity was generated from fossil fuels in 2016 and in Turkey, as of November 2018, lignite was used in 16 of 27 thermal power plants in operation and 52% of 19.9 GW coal-based installed power. Consider the factors that may cause a decrease in vegetation; cases such as the effect of population, mining activities, climate, etc. come to mind frst. While an increase is expected in the cultivated area as the population increases, there is a decrease in cultivation areas due to the reduction of population in the provinces such as Kütahya, which gives large numbers of immigrants. Due to the production methodology in mining activities, especially in open- pit mining, a reduction in vegetation areas is likely due to the removal of the cover soil. However, it is possible to see partial increases in vegetation areas with re-rehabilitation works in areas where production is completed. The impact of climate change can be http://bulletin.mta.gov.tr BULLETIN OF THE MINERAL RESEARCH AND EXPLORATION CONTENTS Foreign Edition 2021 166 ISSN : 0026-4563 E-ISSN : 2651-3048 Bulletin of the Mineral Research and Exploration