Characteristics of climate variation indices in Iraq using a statistical factor analysis

Abstract

For over three decades, Iraq has suffered from climate variability and desertification. Rainfall rates have decreased with abnormal high-temperature degrees, recurrence of dust storms has been increasing and many agricultural areas have turned into barren land. In this article, to study these climatic variations and detect important climate indices in Iraq, ten indices (total rainfall, average temperature, maximum temperature, minimum temperature, number of days of dust rising, number of days of dust storm, relative humidity, atmospheric pressure at sea surface level, total evaporation and wind speed) were investigated at 24 meteorological stations in Iraq for 30 years. January in winter, July in summer and annual rates of climate indices were analysed through a factor analysis method. As a result, total rainfall, minimum, maximum and average temperature were found as the strongest indices of the two seasons in Iraq. However, in the annual rates, the total rainfall indicator ranked last in the second component of the factor analysis. The contour lines for the factors of rainfall and maximum temperature offered a clear guide to patterns of the characteristics in winter, summer and annual rates. The northern regions were characterized by high values of rainfall in winter in comparison to the central and southern parts of Iraq. However, high temperatures were found in Baghdad and the southern regions in summer, which showed more than 45 ∘ C.

Apprehensive Drought Characteristics over Iraq: Results of a Multidecadal Spatiotemporal Assessment

“…Shubbar et al [70] reported that precipitation has decreased over Iraq and it has been accompanied by very high temperature and dust storms especially in summer when temperature higher than 45 • C has been recorded in Baghdad city (the capitol of Iraq) and the southern parts of Iraq. Furthermore, Hoerling et al [39] showed that the winter precipitation has changed toward drier conditions during the period of 1902-2010 in the Mediterranean region.…”

Investigation of Permeable Pavement Implementation in Baghdad Using PCSWMM Model

“…Al-Huryai is located in the west of Baghdad, Iraq. It has a climate between continental and subtropical with average annual precipitation of about 213mm per year (Al-Ansari et al, 2014) and average temperatures ranging from 48 C˚ in summer to below 0 C˚ in winter (Shubbar et al, 2016). The site is currently managed with combined sewer systems where both sanitary and storm flow can be disposed.…”

Drought severity and increased dust storm frequency in the Middle East: a case study from the Tigris–Euphrates alluvial plain, central Iraq

“…The main type of precipitation in central Iraq is frontal rainfall from systems that originate in the Mediterranean region during the winter, moving east across northern Iraq before changing to a southerly direction (Shubbar et al ., ). The passage of Mediterranean low pressure systems gives rise to rain during winter and spring, particularly in Baghdad (Iraq), Tehran (Iran) and Amman (Jordan) (Babu et al ., ).…”