Tigris River Basin Research Articles

Two species of Rhabdochona (Nematoda: Rhabdochonidae) from the cyprinid fish Luciobarbus kersin (Heckel) in northern Iraq, including R. (Globochona) kurdistanensis sp. n.

A new nematode species, Rhabdochona (Globochona) kurdistanensis sp. n. (Rhabdochonidae), is decribed based on specimens collected from the intestine of the barbel Luciobarbus kersin (Heckel) (Cyprinidae) in the Greater Zab (type locality) and the Lesser Zab Rivers, Tigris River basin, Kurdistan Region, northern Iraq. It is mainly characterized by a prostom with 8 anterior teeth, the presence of basal prostomal teeth, bifurcated deirids, length ratio of the muscular and glandular portions of oesophagus (1:14.4-17.8), conspicuously short left spicule (180-204 microm), arrangement of genital papillae, nonfilamented eggs, and by having cuticular ornamentations on the tail tip (2 lateral denticular outgrowths in female and numerous fine spines in male). Description of a gravid female of Rhabdochona (Rhabdochona) sp. with 14 anterior prostomal teeth and filamented eggs, recorded from L. kersin of the Greater Zab River, is also provided. R. kurdistanensis sp. n. is the fifth valid species of Rhabdochona Railliet, 1916 and the only representative of the subgenus Globochona Moravec, 1972 recorded from Iraq.

An integrative case study approach between game theory and Pareto frontier concepts for the transboundary water resources allocations

Summary In the context of transboundary issues, this paper introduces a composite water resources allocation approach that integrates both game theory and Pareto frontier concepts over the case of the Euphrates and Tigris Rivers. The proposed approach searches for an acceptable and viable solution set over the Pareto Frontier Surface via game theory based rationality constraints. For this purpose, the used base model is the Euphrates and Tigris River Basin Model, which is a linear programming model maximizing net economic benefits while optimally allocating scarce water resources in the basin. Results indicate that game theory based strategies and associated constraints provide a determinative backbone for an efficient and effective use of generated Pareto Frontier Surfaces. Additionally, estimated marginal values imply that the upstream countries have upper hand positions regarding their geographic and climatic contexts. After all the generation schemes, it appears that Turkey is the critical partner for inclusion into any form of coalition in the Euphrates and Tigris River Basin.

Spatial and temporal variations in surface water quality of the dam reservoirs in the Tigris River basin, Turkey

Abstract Multivariate statistical techniques, such as cluster analysis (CA), principal component analysis (PCA), factor analysis (FA) and discriminant analysis (DA), were applied to evaluate the temporal/spatial variations of water quality data sets for Kralkizi, Dicle and Batman dam reservoirs in the Tigris River basin, obtained during 1 year (2008–2009) of monitoring. This study highlights the usefulness of multivariate statistical techniques for the evaluation and interpretation of complex water quality data sets, apportionment of pollution sources/factors and the design of a monitoring network for the effective management of water resources. Hierarchical CA grouped 12 months into two clusters (wet and dry seasons) and classified ten monitoring sites into four clusters based on similarities in the water quality characteristics. PCA/FA identified five factors in the data structure that explained 80% of the total variance of the data set. The PCA/FA grouped the selected parameters according to common features to help evaluate the influence of each group on the overall variation in water quality. Discriminant analysis showed better results for data reduction and pattern recognition during both spatial and temporal analysis. Temporal DA revealed nine parameters (water temperature, dissolved oxygen, total alkalinity, total hardness, nitrate nitrogen, ammonia nitrogen, total phosphorus, chloride and calcium), affording 100% correct assignations. Spatial DA revealed eight parameters (water temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, electrical conductivity, nitrate nitrogen, orthophosphate phosphorus, sodium and total suspended solids), affording 92.5% correct assignations. Therefore, DA allowed a reduction in the dimensionality of the large data set and indicated a few significant parameters responsible for large variations in water quality that could reduce the number of sampling parameters.

Coalition possibility of riparian countries via game theory and fuzzy logic models

In many respects, water resources allocation problems have fuzzy characteristics owing to uncertainty and imprecision not only as numerical data but also as linguistic data, in addition to the political nature of resource allocation. All classical techniques require numerical data and cannot treat linguistic data, but fuzzy inference systems (FIS) can deal with both types of data. Hence, it is suitable to reflect the dynamic nature of country benefits, reflective variations in the main drainage and subdrainage basin flows, and various system parameters in search of a coalition among a few riparian countries. The size of core, which is generated from a series of linear programming (LP) optimization models and game theory concepts, shows the potential extra benefit advantage of being in grand coalition to all parties, but it does not provide a sufficient condition to assemble a robust coalition unless an agreeable allocation scheme or principle is provided. In this respect, there is a fuzzy link between being in the grand coalition and percentage share received from a core. Hence, a proper FIS is proposed, and the necessary steps are developed with the Shapley value and the core as game theory methods, which provide a methodological base in the evaluation of possible allocation schemes among the parties. The application of the methodology is presented to search for coalition possibilities among the riparian countries: Turkey, Syria, and Iraq. Basic results are generated over the application of the Inter‐Temporal Euphrates and Tigris River Basin Model, which is an optimization model for the allocation of scarce water resources considering agricultural and urban uses, energy generation, and conveyance costs in the Euphrates‐Tigris basin.

Transboundary Water Dispute over the Euphrates and Tigris River Basin

Transboundary Water Dispute over the Euphrates and Tigris River Basin

Multiobjective Allocation of Transboundary Water Resources: Case of the Euphrates and Tigris

The allocation of water in a multicountry river system necessarily involves conflicting objectives, where increasing water benefits for one country entails losses for other countries. This paper presents the formulation and application of a multiobjective linear programming model, where each objective represents the benefits for a country from using water for agriculture, urban consumption, and energy production, net of conveyance costs. This model is applied to the Euphrates and Tigris River basin and its three riparian countries—Turkey, Syria, and Iraq. The model is used to delineate the set of nondominated solutions (Pareto frontier), and is extended to include political factors and distributional constraints, leading to an allocation of basin water and resulting benefits.

Regionalization of Climate Change Simulations over the Eastern Mediterranean

Abstract In this study, the potential role of global warming in modulating the future climate over the eastern Mediterranean (EM) region has been investigated. The primary vehicle of this investigation is the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics Regional Climate Model version 3 (ICTP-RegCM3), which was used to downscale the present and future climate scenario simulations generated by the NASA’s finite-volume GCM (fvGCM). The present-day (1961–90; RF) simulations and the future climate change projections (2071–2100; A2) are based on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. During the Northern Hemispheric winter season, the general increase in precipitation over the northern sector of the EM region is present both in the fvGCM and RegCM3 model simulations. The regional model simulations reveal a significant increase (10%–50%) in winter precipitation over the Carpathian Mountains and along the east coast of the Black Sea, over the Kackar Mountains, and over the Caucasus Mountains. The large decrease in precipitation over the southeastern Turkey region that recharges the Euphrates and Tigris River basins could become a major source of concern for the countries downstream of this region. The model results also indicate that the autumn rains, which are primarily confined over Turkey for the current climate, will expand into Syria and Iraq in the future, which is consistent with the corresponding changes in the circulation pattern. The climate change over EM tends to manifest itself in terms of the modulation of North Atlantic Oscillation. During summer, temperature increase is as large as 7°C over the Balkan countries while changes for the rest of the region are in the range of 3°–4°C. Overall the temperature increase in summer is much greater than the corresponding changes during winter. Presentation of the climate change projections in terms of individual country averages is highly advantageous for the practical interpretation of the results. The consistence of the country averages for the RF RegCM3 projections with the corresponding averaged station data is compelling evidence of the added value of regional climate model downscaling.

A Game Theoretic Approach to Assess the Impacts of Major Investments on Transboundary Water Resources: The Case of the Euphrates and Tigris

There are varying and inconsistent claims among countries sharing the same river basins. While upstream countries are asserting that they regulate flows through built-up reservoirs (enabling flood prevention) and reduce seasonal flow variations (providing water during drought seasons), downstream countries criticize upstream countries for excessive withdrawals and declining annual flows. Behind the scene, almost every basin country unilaterally envisions of ambitious projects demanding extensive water withdrawals for their prospective development and growth. This study establishes a methodology to measure the rational economic and political impacts of extensive reservoir projects throughout a basin, using the case of the Euphrates and Tigris. This methodology uses both linear programming applications calculating country and coalition benefits, and game theory concepts (core and Shapley value) for evaluating the impacts of reservoirs. The Euphrates and Tigris River Basin Model (ETRBM) is extended by adding the time dimension. In conjunction with time, reservoir capacities are incorporated into the model as a new set of parameters enabling resources allocations over multiple periods. In a rational economic view, the existence of reservoirs, while providing certain advantages in allocating water overtime, provides varying geopolitical powers to upstream and downstream basin countries. As a result of model applications, it is observed that basin-wide coalitions may potentially eliminate construction of excessive reservoir capacities, and, therefore, unnecessary investment costs and evaporation losses. It is also observed that assuming the absence of downstream reservoirs, the upstream reservoirs provide significant, first, economic benefit to the all forms of coalitions with upstream country and associated parties and, second, power to the country having the reservoirs in any coalition scenario. However, again in a game theoretic perspective, the power of upstream countries looses some of its weight when downstream reservoirs are incorporated. During drought years, the availability of reservoirs ensures extensive core solutions and encourages a grand coalition among all parties.

Benefit-sharing as a tool of conflict transformation: Applying the Inter-SEDE model to the Euphrates and Tigris river basins

The concept of benefit-sharing, as employed in the Inter-SEDE model, analyzes potential security, economic development, and environmental-related benefits to sharing the waters of the Euphrates and Tigris river basins. The article finds that Iraq scores fairly high on security and economics-related indicators, revealing the country's vulnerable downstream position. Syria's security score highlights this actor's vulnerable position as the mid-stream riparian. Turkey is favorably differentiated on some of the economic indicators. To enhance the potential for spill-over between watercooperation and conflict prevention, durable and peaceful relations among riparian states require that water-related benefits be shared.

Hydrological Risk Assessment in the Euphrates-tigris River Basin: A Stochastic Dual Dynamic Programming Approach

This paper analyzes the impacts of the Southeastern Anatolia Project (Turkey) on the hydrological regime of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. The Southeastern Anatolia Project, commonly called GAP, is a Turkish multi-dimensional development project involving primarily irrigation and hydropower generation in the Euphrates and Tigris river basins. For the last two decades, the GAP has been a source of tension between Turkey and the two riparian countries, Syria and Iraq, which are concerned by the modification of the hydrological regime of the Euphrates and Tigris rivers. The quantification of the hydrological risk faced by Syria and Iraq can be comprehended by an integrated management model that simultaneously considers the dispatch of the hydropower plants and the irrigation water withdrawals. The model assumes that the GAP hydroelectric reservoirs are dispatched so as to minimize the operating costs of the Turkish hydrothermal electrical system while meeting irrigation water demands. This optimization problem is solved by a stochastic dual dynamic programming (SDDP) formulation which allows a detailed representation of the Turkish hydrothermal electrical system including the GAP. Scenarios of future irrigation water demands in the GAP are constructed based on projected irrigation areas and on the main crops. Simulation results show that if the project is completed as planned, Euphrates and Tigris outflows will be reduced by 32% and 25% respectively, while the average production of hydroelectricity would reach 27 TWh. In addition, Turkey' commitment to deliver a minimum flow of 500 m3/s in the Euphrates could only be guaranteed 75% of the time. This percentage increases substantially (up to 95%) if only half of the irrigation projects are implemented.

Co-occurrence and zoogeography of the freshwater fishes of Iran

A zoogeographic analysis of the freshwater fish fauna of Iran based on the distribution of 164 species in 19 basins shows the existence of two major faunas, one influenced by the Caspian Sea basin, the other by the Tigris River basin. A new South basin is proposed, combining three basins in south-eastern Iran.