Study of Spatial Distribution of Greenhouse gases (methane gas) Over Iraq using Geostatistical Analysis

Abstract

Wetlands are one of the most important natural resources on Earth. Marshes are important wintering and resting area for migratory water birds and other migratory birds. Historical data on bird migration in the Marshes suggest that they were one of the largest wintering areas for migratory water birds in the Middle East. The Iraqi marshlands lies in the floodplain which is created by the Tigris-Euphrates river system in the lower part Mesopotamia basin. The existence of water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane and ozone in the troposphere makes surface of our planet habitable. The greenhouse gases absorb thermal radiation and also emit these wavelengths, making the mean surface temperature of the earth higher, and contribute to global warming. Human activities produce large amounts of greenhouse gases, like carbon dioxide, methane, ozone and others. Methane is produced by the decomposition of plants in wetlands. Geostatistical interpolation methods are adopted in this paper. We use the analyst in ArcGIS to apply cross-validation. The cross-validation calculate some criteria to insure the accuracy of predictions made using the ordinary kriging method. Maps were created for methane over Iraq. Cross validation errors were calculated using ArcGIS. The produced maps assure that lower Mesopotamian basin have high concentration of Methane gas which make it as a wintering and resting area for migratory water birds.