Coastal groundwater is extremely vulnerable to saltwater contamination. This study was conducted to investigate the potential contamination of saltwater into coastal groundwater temporally. Data was obtained from PT000017 monitoring well from 2006 to 2012. Nine parameters of water quality were involved for data analyses. Two main diagrams used for data analyses are piper diagram and hydrochemical facies evolution diagram (HFE-D). All parameters were plotted to produce a piper diagram that determine the water type between different seasons. During wet season, groundwater samples are located in domain III that represent mixed Ca-Na-HCO3 water type; 2007 groundwater sample was located in domain I, represent Ca-HCO3 water type and during 2008 groundwater sample was located in domain II, represent Na-Cl water type. During dry season, groundwater samples are located in domain II that represent mixed Ca-Na-HCO3 water type meanwhile, 2009 and 2011 groundwater samples are located in domain I, represent Ca-HCO3 water type. Subsequently, HFE-D diagram was produced to determine the evolution process of salinization or freshening of coastal groundwater. In this study, all of groundwater samples were in freshening stage except during dry season 2007 groundwater sample was in the phase of saltwater intrusion.

No abstract

Soil erosion is one of the foremost factors giving rise to watershed deterioration due to improper and unwise utilization of natural resources without proper vision, particularly in developing countries like Iraq. Since it is not possible to implement rehabilitation programs over all areas at a time, prioritization plays a major role in identification of the areas which are in need of immediate actions. Accordingly, the current study was conducted to perform morphometric analysis as the basis for prioritization. To achieve the above objective, 30 watersheds of different scales were delineated within Erbil governorate and standard procedures were followed to carry out morphometric analysis. Prioritization ranks were determined for the study watersheds based on computation of compound factors and on the technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS). The results indicated that nearly two approaches offered similar results. The regression analysis indicated that the priority rank from (TOPSIS) can be predicted from the priority rank from compound factor computation with a reasonable accuracy. Based on TOPSIS approach, watersheds: Kawlan-smelan, Nawandee, Warte, Prdi-qasre, Nawprdan, Darbandy-rayat, Dargalla and Mergasor fall within the very high priority class and as a consequence immediate actions should be taken to protect these watersheds. By contrast, the watersheds: Kasnazan, Smaquly, Bestana, Kawanyan, Rulka and Degala 1 are categorized under the low prioritization level. Further improvements in specifying the priority ranks can be expected upon coupling land use/land cover with morphometric analysis.

Soil erosion by water is an extensive and increasing problem worldwide. Albeit, this problem has been recognized as a significant hazard in Iraq, yet the number of studies on this topic is very limited. Most of the models used for estimating soil erosion contain parameters for slope length factor (LS). A major constraint is the difficulty in extracting the LS factor. Accordingly, the current study was initiated with the main objective of deriving models to predict the slope length from relatively easy to measure basin characteristics with a reasonable accuracy. To achieve the above objective, standard methodologies were employed to describe 30 main basins with the upper part of Iraq in terms linear, areal and relief morphometric parameters. The majority of the delineated watersheds were characterized by having high slope lengths indicating lower drainage density and higher erosion rate. Linear and non-linear least squares techniques were applied to predict the slope length from other basin characteristics. Different indicators were used to test the performance of the proposed models and the approach was validated using K-fold procedure at independent basins. The results indicated that the 4-parameter regression model outperformed the remaining models of watershed slope length. The regressors of this model are bifurcation ratio, perimeter, and basin length and slope gradient.

A systematic monitoring programme has been carried out on the water supply in the Belawai catchment area since August 1987 to gather information and data on the quality and quantity of the water as well as the trend of domestic water demand; the information is essential for the proper development and management of the groundwater system of the Belawai water supply. The aquifer in the Belawai Catchment Area is shallow and underlain by beach sand and marine sand.