Changes in rainfall and its impact on climatic water balance in the wave zone of Iraq

October 2025 , Pages 241 - 259

Authors

ا.م.د. ئاشتى سلام صديق صديق 1 ; م.م. فەرامۆش كاكەلاو سليم سليم

1 قسم الجغرافيا، كلية التربية، جامعة كويا، كويا

DOI logo 10.17656/11767

Keywords

Abstract

Climate change is one of the most significant global issues today due to its detrimental effects on numerous countries worldwide. These changes have led to reduced precipitation in certain regions, resulting in decreased water availability and increasing aridity. In contrast, other regions have experienced increased rainfall, which has led to flooding. As a result, climate change has become a major topic of interest among researchers. These climatic shifts are the primary cause of disturbances in ambient ecosystems. This study examines variations in rainfall and their impact on the climatic water balance in the undulating regions of Iraq from 1980 to 2023. Data from eight weather stations (Sinjar, Rabi'a, Mosul, Erbil, Kirkuk, Duz, Khanaqin, and Darbandikhan) were used to apply the FAO Penman-Monteith method in conjunction with (CROPWAT 8.0) software. The findings indicate that the undulating regions of Iraq have experienced a continuous decline in rainfall over the past (44) years. This decline has adversely affected the climatic water balance, resulting in more months of water deficit, particularly in recent years. This study provides crucial insight into rainfall changes across this vast region. The main objective of this research is to identify annual and monthly rainfall variations and assess their effects on the climatic water balance. The results show that changes in rainfall significantly impact water availability, emphasizing the need for appropriate water resource management strategies. The most important findings of the study are:

·            The water deficit period has increased from 7 to 11 months.

·            The water surplus period has decreased from 5 to 1 month in some areas.

These findings highlight the urgent need for immediate and long-term strategies to manage water resources.

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  • First online20 October 2025
  • Published at20 October 2025

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