Impact of vegetation cover on climate change for different regions in Iraq

Abstract

Vegetation determines the percentage of soil covered with green vegetation. Spatial and temporal changes of vegetation occur in the same year due to plant cycle, crop harvesting, animal grazing, and plant pruning, and vegetation areas can be divided into five main types: forest, grassland, tundra, desert, and ice cover. Climate, soil, the soil's water-holding capacity, and the slope or angle of the land determine the types of plants that will grow in a particular area, As Relative humidity is the amount of moisture in the air at a given temperature compared to what the air can hold at that temperature. The air isn't able to hold onto the water vapor because it's moving so fast. To understand the expected changes in the climatic elements of the atmosphere and water, changes in the behavior of Temperature, Relative humidity, and Vegetation cover were studied. Four stations were used over Iraq extending from north to south. The reason for choosing these stations is due to the difference in climatic changes and not only that, as the geographical nature plays an important role in determining the difference of these variables from one region to another and other weather phenomena. Obtained from the European Center for Medium-range Weather Forecast, which includes average monthly and annual temperatures, dew point, and relative humidity during the period (1988-2018) for selected stations in Iraq. Several results were reached, including that the highest value of vegetation cover for four selected stations during the study period recorded in Baghdad station was more than 0.9, and the lowest value observed in Basra station was less than 0.4. The highest relative humidity value was recorded in the Mosul station where it covered 69% in the northern and central regions of the country specifically in the winter season, and 18% in the western regions of the Rutba station in the spring and autumn. And 13% in the southern regions in the summer as seen in the Basra station. We note that the maximum temperatures were recorded in the summer in July and August due to evaporation in these areas as they are of a dry or semi-arid nature, reaching 55º C and the lowest value in the Mosul station in December and January because this area enjoys green plants and forests and precipitation. When using Spearman's test, it was found that the strength of the correlation is strong between relative humidity and vegetation cover and the relationship is positive between them, in contrast to the relationship between vegetation cover and temperature, the relationship is inverse and the strength of the correlation is weak to medium range, Finally, it was found that the spring and autumn seasons are characterized by dense vegetation cover, and this period is important for plant growth due to the availability of appropriate weather and environmental conditions.

Spatiotemporal Distribution of the Monthly and Seasonal Mean of High Vegetation Cover, Total Precipitation, and Temperature in Iraq for the Period (1950-2022)

“…During the winter which makes it has a moderate, rainy climate during this season [15]. In addition, Iraq's location close to the Arabian Gulf region exposes it to hot and humid winds accompanied by air depressions most of the time, which causes dust to be raised [16]. The proximity of Iraq's location to the Tropic of Cancer is reflected in the length of the summer season, which is The longest season in it, as it imposes its climatic characteristics on the rest of the other seasons of the year, especially the seasons (spring and fall), and even the winter season, which is a moderate season in the central and southern part of Iraq, which allowed a long period of drought during which the soil depletes most of its moisture and thus turns it into dry soil.…”

Calculating the Environmental Drought Index using the De Martonne Equation for the Rainy Months in Iraq

“…This means that the definition of a drought in one area may not apply to another, because this kind of drought is region-specific [13]. A hydrological drought is characterized by a long period of low precipitation that lowers the level of surface water in areas such as rivers, reservoirs, streams, or groundwater supplies, sometimes to the point of exhaustion [14,15]. Agricultural tendencies cause agricultural droughts when there is not enough water available to cover the needs of crops or livestock at a given moment [16].…”

The Effect of Vegetation Cover on Air Temperature Data for Weather Stations Intended for Agricultural Purposes

“…Changes in land use directly affect changes in climate elements (temperature, relative humidity, wind speed and direction) and other elements. [2] .Vegetation cover is the percentage of the Earth's surface that is covered by plants of various types, Changes usually occur, whether temporally or spatially, in this cover during one year as a result of either the life cycle of the plant or the result of harvesting crops, grazing livestock, or clipping the plant [3]. this Vegetation plays important role in creating and developing the climate, regardless of its appearance and the major role it plays as food [4].…”