Classification of Aerosols Types Over Iraq, using MODIS Date

Abstract

Abstract The optical properties of aerosols are derived from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) observations for the period 2003–2021 at seventeen regions in Iraq, which were used to determine the different types of aerosols using threshold values based on Aerosols Optical Depth (AOD) and Angstrom Exponent (AE), seasonal aerosol classification was performed. This approach was verified and used in the detection process. Six aerosols categories: maritime, dust, mixture, urban, dust desert, and biomass burning were examined in this study. The result indicates that dust is most frequently detected in the summer and spring seasons, while the maritime type is most common in the winter and autumn, with wide variability in mixture type. The relative contribution during the winter months revealed a clear predominance of Maritime-type aerosols in the northern part of Iraq. Maximum contributions recorded in Erbil (93%), and Sulaymaniyah (90%). The maximum relative contributions of dust are found in the range of 71%–77% over Qaim and Haditha, while the southern regions of Iraq have a percentage ranging from 54%–65% in the summer season. The results of the monthly classification of aerosol type indicate that dust type are overhead maritime aerosols between March and September in the west, northwest, and south regions of Iraq. The highest contribution of desert dust was recorded in Basra, 60% during July and August. The maximum urban type was recorded at 50% in Baghdad in June. Biomass-burning type contribution was very little.