The College of Science at Mustansiriyah University discussed a Ph.D. Thesis on assessing declining rainfall and its impact on some environmental problems using remote sensing techniques and geographic information systems by the postgraduate student, Ms. Sarah Ali Matar.
The thesis highlighted analyzing the relation between declining rainfall rates and accompanying environmental changes, besides the study based on long-term data collected from 38 ground stations covering various parts of the country, along with satellite images from NASA and the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform.
The thesis reviewed a significant decline in annual rainfall over the past four decades, particularly after 2000, which was reflected in a significant increase in the severity and frequency of droughts.
The thesis confirmed a close relation between declining rainfall, decreased soil moisture, and reduced vegetation cover, along with increased rates of dust storms and suspended particles.
The thesis demonstrated that the impact of declining rainfall varies geographically, with its effects being most pronounced in the northern regions while its severity is less pronounced in the south and west, as well as highlighting the importance of understanding the spatial dimension in understanding climate and environmental changes.
