SNUDY OF THE TIME DYNAMICS OF THE NDVI INDEX IN THE TERRITORY NEAR AKTAU CITY

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to analyze the temporal dynamics of the normalized relative vegetation index (NDVI) in the territory adjacent to the city of Aktau, while simultaneously assessing its potential as an indicator of the accumulation of heavy metals in the soil cover. The main focus is on assessing the impact of anthropogenic activities on the marine area and the coastal zone of the Caspian Sea, which is an ecologically significant and vulnerable natural system. Aktau city, located on the coast of the Caspian Sea, is considered as a representative facility for conducting comprehensive geoecological research. As part of field and laboratory work, the content of humus, heavy metals, and other physico-chemical parameters of the soil was determined. Laboratory analyses of the humus composition and chemical characteristics of the soil layer revealed that the increased content of heavy metals in the upper soil horizon clearly correlates with the levels of anthropogenic stress, which indicates a significant impact of anthropogenic factors on the environment.