Monitoring of Iraq Vegetation Dynamics Using MODIS Data From 2000-2023

Abstract

Abstract This research paper is made to investigate the vegetation land cover and no vegetation land cover that changes in Iraq during the period 2000-2023 Utilizing the 1-month/1000 m composites of the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) derived from data collected by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS; product code MOD13Q1). The period was divided into five years (2004, 2009, 2014, 2019, 2023) and compared with the start year 2000; to calculate changes (increase and decrease) in vegetation cover. The results of the spatial analysis using the ArcGIS program showed that by comparing April (the growing month in Iraq) during 2000 as the start year with each selected year through the interval, the highest value of lands covered by vegetation observed in 2019, where vegetation land reached 223,780.17 km2 (51.2%) of the total area, while the start year 2000 was 63,462.53 km2 (14.5%) of the total area. In contrast, the lowest value of vegetation was in 2009, during this year vegetation land cover value was approximately 61,696.33 km2 (14%) of the total area. Maps also demonstrated that the highest increase in vegetation cover was concentrated in the northern part, moderate in the eastern part of the alluvial plain, and sparse in the southern regions. Overall, the research provides valuable insights into long-term vegetation trends in Iraq, crucial for understanding ecosystem dynamics and informing environmental management strategies.