Assessment The Effects Of Climate Factors On Marshes Of Southern Iraq By UsingSatellite Images

Abstract

Remote sensing techniques have been used to measure the changes of Iraqi
Marshland's area as well as the changes in the spectral reflectivity of types covered
in the Marshland (water, soil and plants). This study comprises the main three
Marshes in southern Iraq (Huwyizamarsh, Central Marshes and Hammar marsh).
Satellite images of the satellite Terra-Modis on 15/1/2009, 20/4/2009, 21/8/2009 and
7/11/2009 have been selected in order to study the seasonal changes on the marshes
took place during 2009. Result of supervised classification indicated presence on six
land cover classes in marshes.The study shows that the dry soil reflectivity wasn’t
obviously influenced by the climatic factors and that both temperature and
evaporation influence directly on the other classes reflectivity. The rainfall influence
reversely on the reflectivity of the dark soil, dense and spread vegetation but do not
obviously affect the reflectivity of water and dry soil. The most bands show that the
reflectivity of the marsh’s types has been directly affected by wind speed and
inversely by relative humidity.