Study the Spatiotemporal Variations of some Cloud Properties Over Iraq

Abstract

A cloud is a collection of water droplets or ice crystals, or both of them suspended in the air. The aim of this work is to study the spatiotemporal variations of cloud properties over six selected cities in Iraq which they are (Mosul, Khanaqin, Baghdad, Rutba, Kut, and Basra) at multi-pressure levels using remote sensing data for the period from (1981) to (2020). The study results show that the values of temperature and specific humidity over all six selected cities decrease with increased height and the maximum value occurred in summer months, and the relative humidity increased in winter months and decreased in summer months for all cities, and the maximum value more than 60% happened in Mosul and Khanaqin cities. Also, the cloud occurred over all cities at level 300 hpa, and the maximum fraction of clouds of more than 0.14 occurred over Mosul city from Mar to Mid Apr. The ice water content (CIWC) occurred in upper levels with a maximum value of more than 13 kg/kg occurred over Mosul city and liquid water content (CLWC) extends from the surface to about 500 hpa for all cities with a maximum value of more than 13 kg/kg occurred over Mosul city, while the snow water content (CSWC) extends from surface to 300 hpa over Mosul, 900 to 300 hpa over Khanaqin, 800 to 300 hpa over Baghdad, Rutba, Kut and Basra with maximum value more than 13 kg/kg occurred over Mosul city and the rain water content (CRWC) occurred in levels from 750 to surface over all cites except Rutba there is no rainwater content existed in the cloud and the maximum value more than 3 kg/kg occurred over Mosul city. The results of monthly rain showed that the rainfall occurred over all cities in the months from Oct to May and the maximum value of rainfall reached about 65 mm occurred in Mar over the Mosul and Khanaqin cities. Also, Mosul city has the maximum monthly average of rain from other cities reach to about 35 mm because the meteorological and microphysical variables of clouds over Mosul city are higher than other.