Characteristics of climate variation indices in Iraq using a statistical factor analysis

Abstract

ABSTRACTFor over three decades, Iraq has suffered from climate variability and desertification. Rainfall rates have decreased with abnormal high‐temperature degrees, recurrence of dust storms has been increasing and many agricultural areas have turned into barren land. In this article, to study these climatic variations and detect important climate indices in Iraq, ten indices (total rainfall, average temperature, maximum temperature, minimum temperature, number of days of dust rising, number of days of dust storm, relative humidity, atmospheric pressure at sea surface level, total evaporation and wind speed) were investigated at 24 meteorological stations in Iraq for 30 years. January in winter, July in summer and annual rates of climate indices were analysed through a factor analysis method. As a result, total rainfall, minimum, maximum and average temperature were found as the strongest indices of the two seasons in Iraq. However, in the annual rates, the total rainfall indicator ranked last in the second component of the factor analysis. The contour lines for the factors of rainfall and maximum temperature offered a clear guide to patterns of the characteristics in winter, summer and annual rates. The northern regions were characterized by high values of rainfall in winter in comparison to the central and southern parts of Iraq. However, high temperatures were found in Baghdad and the southern regions in summer, which showed more than 45 °C.