Drought and Desertification Hazard in Iraq

About half of Iraq's area is desert having arid regions as an expansive territory that spans across significant portions of Syria, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia. These deserts are known for their little flora. During the summer, Iraq experiences a dry and hot climate, with the relative humidity gradually rising near the Arabian Gulf. During the spring and summer seasons, persistent desert winds laden with dust can persist for several days and extend to adjacent regions. Predominantly, precipitation in the mountainous areas of the north and northeast takes the form of rain or snow, primarily falling from November to April. The data demonstrates that average temperatures have risen by 2 °C over the previous three decades, specifically from 1990 to 2020, with a notable increase since 1998. This unequivocally indicates a significant shift in climate. July has the highest wind speed (4.2 m/s) and November the lowest (2.5 m/s). High temperatures increase humidity in summer and decrease in winter, as the average annual evaporation from 1990 to 2020 was 3169.6 mm/year. July has the highest evaporation rate, 522.9 mm/year, and December the lowest, 74.6 mm/year. Historical climate data shows that Iraq's temperature rises 5 °C every 60 years. The lack of rainfall and water provided by upstream countries resulted in water shortage, which included a lack of surface and groundwater, negatively impacting the agriculture industry. Iraq is currently confronted with significant environmental difficulties, including water scarcity, pollution, desertification, and loss of soil and natural habitats. Various programs are being implemented to promote conservation, reforestation, and the development of irrigation technologies. These projects have the goal of improving the sustainable management of resources.