Evaluation vegetation cover change under the influence of climate change in the Al-Taji area using modern technologies

Abstract

Abstract: The research aims to identify changes in vegetation cover and their relationship to climate change. Statistical methods were used to analyze climatic elements, revealing changes in all climatic elements of the region. Solar irradiance showed a positive change at the Hilla station and a negative change in Baghdad. Temperatures all showed a positive increase, with the highest temperatures at the Baghdad station and the lowest at Hilla. Wind speed showed a positive change at the Baghdad station and a negative change at Hilla. Annual changes (relative humidity, evaporation, evaporation-transpiration) showed a negative change at both study stations. Rainfall and effective rainfall decreased, with the highest amounts recorded at the Baghdad station during the recent period. The climatic water balance showed a water deficit at both study stations, which negatively impacted vegetation cover according to the vegetation cover index and the relative vegetation index for average soil in the vegetation cover assessment process for the years (1985-2022) for both dry and wet seasons. The study, through cartographic modeling, found a clear change in the vegetation cover of all its types in the region. The statistical model showed that the variable (evaporation-transpiration) is one of the variables that has a clear role in the variation of vegetation cover, and their relationship reached (71%), while R2 reached (51%), and at a significant level (95%), which indicates the existence of a strong relationship between them.