GIS-Based Rainfall Analysis using Remotely Sensed Data in Kirkuk Province, Iraq

Abstract

This research aims to calculate the rate of rainfall for two consecutive years, 2018 and 2019, to study and analyze the drought periods during these years. The research was conducted in Kirkuk province north of Iraq, by dividing the study area into five regions based on five stations of rainfall records. Two types of data used in investigations; remotely sensed daily precipitations from integrated multi-satellite retrievals and monthly precipitations average rate from NASA power application. The methodology involved the calculation of rainfall rats by three methods; Mean, Thiessen’s polygons, and the Isohyetal technique. Data were analyzed, and final maps were produced using Geographic Information Systems. For the year 2018 the average annual rainfall rate produced by Mean, Thiessen’s polygons, and Isohyetal technique were; 1.376, 1.341, and 1.343 respectively. But, for the year 2019 the average annual rainfall rate produced by Mean, Thiessen’s polygons, and Isohyetal technique were; 0.966, 0.932, and 0.882 respectively. The results showed the scarcity of water and the lack of rainfall during the study years, which has a great impact on the region's exposure to drought, represented by the drying up of rivers.

Keywords

• Drought
• Isohyetal technique
• Rainfall rate
• Thiessen’s polygons
• GIS