Satellite-Based Statistical Analysis of Hilla River Water Quality Parameters, Iraq

Abstract

Since industrial and human activities have been developed, water quality intensely degrades in Hilla River, Iraq. Using remote sensing technology provides data for assessing and monitoring water quality in surface water bodies. Thus, in this study, Landsat 8 satellite images (2016 to 2021) were statistically tested for developing linear models capable of estimating water quality parameters in the river based on field data, including turbidity (turb), electric conductivity (EC), hydrogen ions (pH), total suspended solids (TSS), chloride ions (Cl), sulfate ions (SO4), Alkalinity (ALK), total hardness (TH), calcium (Ca), potassium (K), sodium (Na), magnesium (Mg), and total dissolved solids (TDS). The results showed that seven parameters have a significant relationship with the spectral bands ratio (p-value less than 0.05). Some of them (TDS, SO4, and ALK) are positively correlated with bands ratio (Band10/Band3, Band10/Band3 and Band10/Band4, and Band3/Band7), respectively. Others (Mg, Ca, TH and pH) are inversely correlated with (Band4/Band7, Band1/Band4, Band1/Band4, and Band1/Band2), respectively. However, K, Na, TDS, Cl, EC and turb have an insignificant correlation with any band ratio.